List of castles in Latvia

This is the List of castles in Latvia, which includes fortified residences of Western European conquerors built in the area of present-day Latvia before the 17th century. There are about 140 medieval castles in the area, therefore this list is not complete. After the name of the castle comes the year of construction and a short description of its present-day condition.

Table of contents

Courland

Name Town Districts Established Status Notes RefsAizpute CastleAizpute South KurzemeEnd of the 13th centuryRuins Alsunga CastleAlsungaKuldīgaBefore 1341Preserved In use Dundaga CastleDundagaTalsiLate 13th century Preserved In useĒdole CastleĒdoleKuldīgaFrom 1264 to 1267 Preserved In useEmbūte CastleEmbūteSouth KurzemeAround 1265Ruins Walls stand up to 7 meters highGrobiņa CastleGrobiņa South Kurzeme1253RuinsA wooden castle before 1265Nurmuiža CastleLaucieneTalsiAround 1598Preserved Under reconstructionPiltene CastlePilteneVentspilsEnd of the 13th centuryRuins Ventspils CastleVentspilsVentspils cityBefore 1290Preserved In use

Zemgale

Name Town Parish Established Status Notes RefsBauska CastleBauskaBauskaBuilt after 1443Under reconstructionMedieval part in ruins and Renaissance part reconstructedDobele CastleDobeleDobeleFrom 1335 to 1359Impressive ruinsJaunpils CastleJaunpilsTukums1301Preserved In useRundāle PalacePilsrundāleBauska1768, museum opened in 1963Preserved In useŠlokenbeka CastleMilzkalneTukumsBuilt before 1544Preserved and transformedIn use

Vidzeme

Name Town Parish Established Status Notes RefsAizkraukle CastleAizkraukleAizkraukleSecond half of the 14th centuryRuins Walls standing up to 5 meters highAlūksne CastleAlūksne AlūksneAround 1342Ruins Walls higher than 5 meters highBurtnieki CastleBurtnieki ValmieraBuilt before 1366Ruins Walls up to 4 meters highCēsis CastleCēsis CēsisAround 1213-1218Impressive ruinsDaugavgrīva CastleDaugavgrīva Rīga1208 Only earthen rampartsGaujiena CastleGaujiena SmilteneAround 1236-1238Ruins Walls standing higher than 10 metersKoknese CastleKoknese AizkraukleAround 1210Impressive ruinsKrimulda CastleKrimuldaSiguldaMiddle of the 13th centuryRuinsLielstraupe CastleStraupeCēsisEnd of the 13th centuryPreserved In useLielvārde CastleLielvārdeOgreBuilt before 1248RuinsUldevena wooden castleLielvārdeOgreBuilt before 1213ReconstructedRauna CastleRaunaRaunaBuilt before 1381Impressive ruinsRiga CastleRigaRīgaBuilt in the 1340sPreserved In useSalacgrīva fortressSalacgrīvaLimbažiBuilt in 1226Ruins Barely visibleSigulda Medieval CastleSigulda SiguldaFrom 1207 to 1209Impressive ruinsTuraida CastleTuraidaSiguldaBuilt in 1214Partly reconstructedVecdole CastleDole islandSalaspilsBuilt before 1226Ruins Barely visibleVecpiebalga CastleVecpiebalga CēsisBuilt before 1318Ruins Walls standing up to 6 metres high

Latgale

Name Town Parish Established Status Notes RefsDinaburga CastleEast of DaugavpilsAugšdaugavaAround 1273-1277Excavated and exposed ruinsKrustpils CastleJēkabpilsJēkabpilsSecond half of the 13th centuryPreservedIn useLudza CastleLudzaLudzaBuilt in the 14th centuryImpressive ruinsViļaka CastleViļakaBalviEnd of the 15th centuryRuinsStone castle after 1516Rēzekne CastleRēzekneRēzekneBuilt before 1324Ruins

See also List of castles List of castles in Estonia List of palaces and manor houses in Estonia List of palaces and manor houses in Latvia List of hillforts in Latvia List of castles in Lithuania

Additional information References

Sources

External links Ambermarks - Medieval castles of Latvia - list