Wanderlust: Castles!

Livonian Order Sigulda Castle (1209)

On a day trip in Latvia we headed to Sigulda, an up and coming tourist attraction for those seeking a bit more adventure. This was my first experience with authentic old castles and it did not disappoint. We spent about 4 hours walking around the rolling hills taking in the 3 main castle areas and their museums.

The Livonian Order Sigulda Castle was originally built in 1209 for the the Livonian Brothers of the Sword who were German warrior monks. It was damaged in the Livonian War, the Polish-Swedish War, and again in the Great Northern War in the 16th and 17th centuries . Fortunately, the main structures were repaired each time due to its strategic importance in the Gauja River Valley. Age and abandonment have destroyed most of the outer walls of the compound, but the main buildings have been repaired to attract tourists and are beautiful structures with towering thick walls and amazing views of the valley.

The Turaida Castle Complex is an impressive set of red brick structures originally built in 1214 by the archbishop of Riga. The entire complex was destroyed in a fire in 1776 and was left in disrepair until the 20th century. The grounds around the castle cover about 100 acres and are full of old structures throughout the ages displaying unique cultural traditions of Latvia.

Turaida Medieval Castle - Main Tower (1214)

The Krimulda Medieval Castle was built in the 13th century by the Riga high council and was considered impossible to conquer since it was backed by a steep valley was surrounded on the other sides by a moat. It was involved in a number of wars, but was eventually burned down by the Polish during the Swedish-Polish war in 1601 so that it wouldn't fall into the hands of the enemy. It has never been repaired and is located in a lush forest with lovely paths winding down to the Gauja valley below.