Nature territory of local significance (decision No 210, 20.10.1981.). It is located in Rūjiena, on the right bank of the Rūja River, behind the former priest’s manor park. Nowadays concrete rings have been placed in the spring and it is used as a well. Next to the spring there is a cross stone and a stone with an inscription. An art monument of local significance (resolution No. 210, 20.10.1981.). Local inhabitants call the cross stone the German Cross. The stone seems not to lie in its original place. The stone itself is made as a stylized cross. In the central part of the stone a ring has been driven in. About 50 m from the cross stone at the very bank of the Rūja River a granite block was shown which had been cut from all sides, slantingly toppled and is surrounded by bushes and nettles. On the downward facing stone surface there were hard-to-read letters and numbers carved with an iron tool: UPSI [GEG 1875 II].
Narrative
The landlady remembered the legend about a Swede who attacked either a castle or a church and was seriously injured. After that he managed to get to the sacred spring and healed himself with its water. This was commemorated by putting up a cross stone. It may indeed happen that next to the old cult site later a cross stone was placed as a symbol of Christianity. (J. Urtāns, 1985)
