www.zudusilatvija.lvAlsunga Castle (Latvian: Alsungas pils; German: Schloss Alschwangen) is a castle in Alsunga village, in the historical region of Courland, in western Latvia. It was built for the Livonian Order during the first half of the 14th century.
History
Alsunga Castle was built near the Curonian castle mound, which was later called Alsungas Dižgabalkalns, in written sources it was mentioned as Aliswangis.
The settlement was mentioned in the written sources for the first time in 1231 in a contract between the elders of a Curonian tribe and the papal envoy Baldwin of Alna. During the time of the king Lammechinus Alshav was part of his Bandava country.
In 1341, the Livonian Order Kuldiga Commandry in Alsvang was fortified, and in 1372 the Order built a quadrangular stone castle, which was later supplemented with round towers. The Order Cemetery, which was subordinated to the Kuldiga Commandry, was established there.
In the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia from 1573 to 1728, Alsunga Castle Manor belonged to Marshal Schwerin of the Duchy of Courland in the Alsunga Parish. In 1623, then landlord Johan Ulrich von Schwerin married in the Catholic Church tradition Miss Barbara Konarska of Polish-Lithuanian descent and Catholic. In 1632, he brought the Jesuits to Alsunga. As a result of the Jesuit missionary work, part of the people turned to the Catholic faith, nowadays their descendants live in Latvia Suiti folklore.
In 1738, Alswangen came into the possession of the dukes of Duchy of Courland and Semgallen. Since then, the complex was the administrative center of the estate Alswangen.
In 1741 the castle was rebuilt into a castle in the baroque style.
After the castle had been nationalized in 1920, a dairy was established there in 1925. In 1939 the second floor was extended and the building rebuilt for the local school.
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The first stone castle in Alsunga was built in 1372, starting with the central part of the southern wing. The authorised representative of the Livonian Order, who was subject to a higher-ranking official in Kuldīga, lived here. The guard towers and other parts of the castle were gradually added between the 15th and the 18th century. The Baroque castle with its two towers is quite impressive. The castle is unique in and outside of Latvia in that it is one of the rare Medieval castles to have survived to the present day in part, but in its original historical appearance. The castle offers an exhibition about its history. Visitors can look at a Suiti kitchen, write a letter with a fountain pen in Barbara’s boudoir, or celebrate a special event in the romantic venue of the castle’s round tower. Renovation of the castle began in 2018, and it is closed to visitors. Still, you can look at its exterior and tour its garden.