- Type
- Ruin
- Origins
- 1209 · 13th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Coordinates
- 57.3133°, 25.2700°
History
The Livonian Brothers of the Sword began building Wenden Castle around 1209, next to a hillfort of the local Vends. After the order's defeat at Saule in 1236 it passed to the Livonian Order, a branch of the Teutonic Knights, and became one of its strongest fortresses; in the 15th and 16th centuries it was the residence of the masters, among them Wolter von Plettenberg. In 1577 the castle was besieged by the army of Ivan the Terrible. Badly damaged during the Great Northern War in the early 18th century, it fell into ruin. In 1777 the Sievers family built a Neoclassical manor beside it, known as the New Castle.
What to see
Visitors are handed candle lanterns to climb the dark spiral stairs of the Western and Lademacher towers, which look out over the town and the Gauja valley. A medieval garden has been laid out around the ruins, and old crafts are demonstrated in season. The New Castle houses the Cēsis History and Art Museum, and its tower gives views over the park and pond.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q2512369
Popularity: articles about this site in 19 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).