Turaida Castle

Sigulda, Latvia

Turaida Castle is a recently reconstructed medieval castle in Turaida. The castle was originally constructed in the Brick Gothic style in 1214 under Albert, archbishop of Riga, on the site of the destroyed wooden castle of the Livonian leader Caupo of Turaida. Construction and development of the fortifications continued to the 17th century, when the castle started to lose its strategic importance. It was badly damaged by fire in 1776 and not reconstructed, and in the course of time fell into ruin.

Restoration began in the 1970s and a castle wing is now the centrepiece of the Turaida Museum Reserve, which also includes the oldest wooden church in Vidzeme and its surrounding Livonian cemetery, containing for example the the grave of Maija, the Rose of Turaida, a sculpture park celebrating Latvian folksong and the beautifully landscaped castle grounds. The current count of Turaida is Kristaps Peake and it maintains a small garrison.

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Address

Gauja National Park 4, Sigulda, Latvia
See all sites in Sigulda

Details

Founded: 1214
Category: Castles and fortifications in Latvia
Historical period: State of the Teutonic Order (Latvia)

More Information

www.latvia.travel
en.wikipedia.org
www.pilis.lv
www.inyourpocket.com
www.turaida-muzejs.lv

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Sigulda Castle Ruins (1,8 km)
Sigulda New Castle (1,9 km)
Krimulda Castle Ruins (1,7 km)


Cesis Castle (29,2 km)
St. John's Church (29,2 km)
Birini Palace (13,4 km)
Lielstraupe Castle (19,2 km)
Lielvarde Castle (52,4 km)
Ikskile Church Ruins (46 km)
Dikli Manor (48,6 km)

User Reviews

Martin k Mathew (12 months ago)
Good place to visit and don't forget to climb to the top of the tower
Tracy Simpson (14 months ago)
Lovely partly ruined castle which is an impressive presence on the hill. We visited in February when some of the buildings were closed, but loved the views. There is a car park over the road, and a few mins drive away a good pizza place. I'm sure in summer you could spend hours there as there are several walks around the countryside.
Arvids Godjuks (2 years ago)
Great place for a visit and a good walk around the property surrounding the castle.
Katrina Korotkiha (2 years ago)
Very nice both castle and park, especially in autumn. Castle well restored.
Roman Valášek (2 years ago)
I was very excited to see that castle neverethless "huge" disappointment. There is not so much to see. Outlook tower is however nice. But thats all.
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The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians. The county became a privileged refuge for persecuted Cathars.

The castle, often besieged (notably by Simon de Montfort in 1211 and 1212), resisted assault and was only taken once, in 1486, thanks to treachery during the war between two branches of the Foix family.

From the 14th century, the Counts of Foix spent less and less time in the uncomfortable castle, preferring the Governors' Palace. From 1479, the Counts of Foix became Kings of Navarre and the last of them, made Henri IV of France, annexed his Pyrrenean lands to France.

As seat of the Governor of the Foix region from the 15th century, the castle continued to ensure the defence of the area, notably during the Wars of Religion. Alone of all the castles in the region, it was exempted from the destruction orders of Richelieu (1632-1638).

Until the Revolution, the fortress remained a garrison. Its life was brightened with grand receptions for its governors, including the Count of Tréville, captain of musketeers under Louis XIII and Marshal Philippe Henri de Ségur, one of Louis XVI's ministers. The Round Tower, built in the 15th century, is the most recent, the two square towers having been built before the 11th century. They served as a political and civil prison for four centuries until 1862.

Since 1930, the castle has housed the collections of the Ariège départemental museum. Sections on prehistory, Gallo-Roman and mediaeval archaeology tell the history of Ariège from ancient times. Currently, the museum is rearranging exhibits to concentrate on the history of the castle site so as to recreate the life of Foix at the time of the Counts.

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