Cēsis Castle

About

Cēsis Castle is one of Latvia’s most iconic medieval fortresses, a place where history, legend, and atmospheric ruins come together. Founded in the early 13th century by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, it later became a major stronghold of the Teutonic Order and an administrative centre of power in Vidzeme. Its thick stone walls, towers, and courtyards once hosted knights, diplomats, and battles that shaped the region’s political landscape. An especially interesting chapter is the castle’s dramatic role during the Livonian War. In 1577, facing an attack by Ivan the Terrible’s forces, the defenders chose to detonate their own gunpowder stores rather than surrender—a tragic event that left lasting scars on the structure. Today, visitors can explore the surviving towers, vaulted cellars, and reconstructed rooms, often illuminated by lanterns for an immersive medieval experience. Together with the adjacent New Castle and park, Cēsis Castle remains a powerful symbol of Latvia’s medieval heritage and one of the country’s most evocative historical sites.

Cēsis Latvia

Location

Cēsis Castle is a medieval fortress in the very heart of Cēsis, rising above Castle Square and surrounded by a green park on the edge of the old town. It dates back to the 13th century and its romantic ruins, towers and thick stone walls make it one of the best‑known castles in Latvia. Visitors can walk through courtyards, climb towers for views over Cēsis and explore reconstructed medieval rooms and craft areas. Right next to the ruins stands the New Castle, an 18th–19th century manor‑style building that houses the Cēsis History and Art Museum, creating a combined castle complex. Around it stretches Castle Park, with ponds, paths and viewpoints that lead naturally into the cobbled streets of the old town. Within a few minutes’ walk you can reach St John’s Church, Līvu Square and a number of cafés and small shops, as well as other cultural sites such as Cēsis Exhibition Hall, Burning Conscience and the Nordic Nature Medicine Museum, making the castle a perfect starting point for discovering Cēsis.