HomeNews 5 castles and manors to see in Cēsis Municipality

5 castles and manors to see in Cēsis Municipality

There are amazing historical castles and manors in Cēsis Municipality. Here are a few tips for which of them are worth visiting!

First, visit the Cēsis Castle Complex. Cēsis Castle, with its historically romantic environment, creates a special charm for both the citizens of Cēsis and its guests. More than ten centuries of Latvia’s cultural history meet here, each with its own period and historic mood, and message for our present and future. The castle complex is located in the very centre of the city, with a few unique objects from different eras gathered in a small area.

The Āraiši lake dwelling Archaeological Park is also worth a visit. The Āraiši lake dwelling is the only reconstruction of a fortified residence from the 8/9–10th century in Europe, a unique object that was nominated as a Latvian archaeology site in 2020. The park stands out with its unique archaeological finds, the location of the reconstructed dwelling in its original environment, and the well-preserved cultural and historical landscape typical of Vidzeme.

Come and see the Veselava Manor Complex! The manor complex was built in the 1840s and has survived almost entirely. The two-storey manor house is U-shaped, located on a plot of land surrounded on all sides by a ditch, imitating medieval castles. It is recommended to take a look at the unique heating system of the building in its attic, as well as the rooms with collections of antiquities and objects, including tools and household items.

Visit the medieval castle of Lielstraupe, which has been preserved to this day, and is the only castle in Latvia that includes a church. The castle is open to the public and offers its guests a journey through centuries along with orienteering in the castle’s mazes. The castle has 26 staircases, with more than 300 steps, and its interior is decorated with oak stairs, various glazed tiled stoves from the beginning of the last century, as well as slightly mysterious hospital scenes.

The current complex of the Dzērbene Castle Manor was built in the place of a stone castle built in the 1300’s and destroyed in 1577. The manor house (late 18th century, classicist style) has undergone several destructions during its existence (1905, World War I) and a subsequent restoration. In late 19th century, it was expanded with an impressive Neo-Gothic tower. Between 1927 and 1975, there was an agricultural school in the castle, and now it houses the Dzērbene Parish Administration, the local community centre and the music school. The castle is surrounded by a park with a cascade of seven ponds. There is a local history museum in the castle, with materials and exhibits from different historic periods. It also includes a Cimdu Jettiņa memorial room.