Turaida Castle

Address: Turaidas iela 10, Sigulda
Coordinates: 57.186824   24.847800
Phone: +371 67972376
E-mail: turaida.muzejs@apollo.lv
www.turaida-muzejs.lv

Working hours
01.05. - 30.09. 9.00 - 20.00
01.10. - 31.10. 9.00 - 19.00
01.11. - 31.04. 10.00 - 17.00
01.04. - 30.04. 10.00 - 19.00

Price
Admission fee:
Summer season (01.05. – 31.10.):
Adult - 6.00 EUR
Retiree - 4.30 EUR
Student - 3.00 EUR
Pupil - 1.15 EUR
Disabled person - 0.70 EUR

Prices in the parking-lot:
Car – 1.50 EUR
Minibus (up to 18 seats)– 3.50 EUR
Coach or bus – 6.00 EUR
Motorcycle  - 1.00 EUR

Winter season (01.11. – 30.04.):
Adult - 3.50 EUR
Retiree - 2.15 EUR
Student - 1.50 EUR
Pupil - 0.70 EUR
Disabled person - 0.30 EUR

Prices in the parking-lot: for free

Turaida Castle (Latvian: Turaidas pils, German: Treiden, Treyden, Russian: Турайдский замок; meaning Thor's garden in Livonian) is a recently reconstructed medieval castle in Turaida, in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, on the opposite bank of the Gauja River from Sigulda.

History
Turaida castle dominates the Museum Reserve and is visually, its most impressive element. When seen from the air, or the opposite bank of the river Gauja in Sigulda, Turaida castle rises above the trees like mighty ship built of red brick. The forepart of this imaginative ship is formed by the northern forecastle's gate tower. The main tower, which is the highest, is like a spar in the middle of the ship, and the rear of the ship is the southern forecastle with its tower shaped southern section.

Building of the castle was started in 1214, upon directions given by Albert, Archibishop of Riga to his Livonian Brothers of the Sword (soon to merge with the Teutonic Order) at the place where previously had stood the wooden castle of Liv. A 'castellum' type fortress was built and named Fredeland, which translates as 'Land of Peace', but became better known locally by the Livonian name of 'Turaida', which has survived until the present day. The castle was constructed largely in the classic red-brick construction of the Baltic crusading orders. Improving the castle's defensive system continued in later centuries, and in the 14th century, the tower shaped southern section was built; at the beginning of the 15th century, when fire arms were invented, the semi rounded western tower was built. Domestic buildings and living accommodation were also erected in the inner yard of the castle. Minor reconstruction work was carried out in 17th century although the castle started to lose its strategic importance. After a fire in 1776 it was abandoned and gradually became ruinous.

By the beginning of the 20th century, only separate fragments of the defensive wall and some buildings – the main tower, semi-rounded tower and the western section, were left. From 1976 regular archaeological excavations were carried out, which were followed by restoration and conservation works revealing the castle's earlier state. Exhibitions about the history of the brick castle and Gauja Livs are available in restored buildings. From the viewing place of the main tower, you can see the unique landscape of picturesque Gauja Gauja valley and the territory of Turaida Museum Reserve.
en.wikipedia.org

Most of visitors consider Turaida brick castle as main dominance of Museum Reserve and its visually most impressive element. When looking down from hot air baloon or in autumn eventide in the sunset beams from the oposit bank of the river Gauja in Sigulda, Turaida castle rises above green foliage of trees like mighty ship built of red brick. Forepart of this imaginative ship is formed by northen forecastle gate tower, main tower, which is the highest one. It is like a spar in the middle of the ship but back of the ship is southern forecastle with towershaped southern section.

Building of the castle was started in 1214 according to directions given by Albert, archibishop of Riga in the place where in former times was located wooden castle of Liv leader Kaupo. “Castellum” type fortress was built and named Fredeland in translation it means “Land of Peace”. This name was not popular and but the local name Turaida survived till nowaday. Perfection of defensive system of the castle continued also in the next centuries – in 14th century was built towershaped southern section, in the beginning of 15th century when fire arms were invented was built semirounded western tower. Along with formation of fortifications household buildings and living houses were erected in the inner yard of the castle. Small reconstruction work was carried out in 17th century though castle started to loose its strategical meaning. After fire in 1776 it was not reconstructed and in the course of time it was ruined.

In the beginning of 20th century from Turaida castle there were left over separate fragments of defensive wall and some buildings – main tower, semirounded tower and western section. Since 1976 regular archeological escavations were carried out which were followed by restauration and conservation works as a result castle regained a part of its initial shape. Exhibitions about history of brick castle and Gauja Livs are available in restaured buildings. From the view place of the main tower you can see the unique landscape of picturesque Gauja valley and territory of Turaida Museum Reserve.
www.tourism.sigulda.lv

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