Ventspils Castle
Ventspils Castle is the largest surviving castle of the Livonian Order in Latvia. Today it is a museum with a digital exposition about the history of the castle, the city and the port — a "Living history", which is considered the most modern in the Baltic States.
Ventspils Castle of the Livonian Order reviews
Overview of Ventspils Castle of the Livonian Order
Ventspils Castle
The Ventspils Castle was built in 1290 as a "convention" type castle with four residential buildings and a castle tower on the southeast corner. The thickness of the stone wall of the castle reaches 2 m. The castle has been rebuilt several times, and not all of its buildings have been preserved. After the reconstruction work, the Ventspils Museum is located in the castle. The main tower of the castle is considered to be the oldest lighthouse in the Baltic States. Jousting tournaments, theatrical performances and City Day celebrations are held in the courtyard of the castle.
From 1706 to 1835, the castle housed an Evangelical Lutheran Church, from 1845 to 1901 an Orthodox Church, and in 1832-1959 the castle was used as a prison. During the restoration work, unique wall paintings of the XV, XVI and XVII centuries were discovered under layers of plaster and paint. The most ancient of them are a fragment of a "devil's head" with a stylized lily flower on the second floor of the tower and crosses of consecration (an act of sacrament in the Catholic Church) in the former chapel.
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Ventspils Castle of the Livonian Order on map
March 29, 2024
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