Aizkraukle castle-mound

Aizkraukle castle-mound or High Hills (also known as Ravens’ Hills, Batareja) is located on the right bank of the river Daugava and rises 40 m above the level of the river Daugava.

The castle mound has got two plateaus – a smaller one to the eastern direction, the other twice as big to the western direction. Excavations give evidences that it had been an ancient trading site. The mound was inhabited by Livs. There was a port by the embouchure of the Askere River. At the foot of the mound between the castle-mound and the river Daugava there was the Old town of Aizkraukle with the ancient church of Aizkraukle which served until the middle of the 17th century.

The tale about the castle of Aizkraukle and Spidala, the daughter of Aizkrauklis, was used in the epos “Lacplesis” (Bear Slayer) by A. Pumpurs and in the play “The Fire and the Night” by Rainis.
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The Aizkraukle Castle Hill
Found on the right bank of the Daugava, approximately half a kilometre upriver from the Skrīveri Agricultural Institute, the hill is in a place where the bank of the Daugava River Valley is split by the deep Ašķere stream valley.  The castle hill was occupied beginning in the first millennium BC, with antiquities from the Lettigalian and Livonian tribes found there.  During the 13th century, a brick castle was built on the hill, but it was sacked during the 17th century.  Nothing remains of the castle.  The castle hill is also known as Raven Hills, and it offers one of the most beautiful views of the central part of the Daugava.  In the direction of Rīga, there is a field with a white cross that represents an ancient church.  There is a hiking trail along the Ašķere stream.  The area is well improved with four trails.  The longest is the Daugava trail (10 km).
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