Dundaga Castle
Encyclopedia
Dundaga Castle is a medieval castle in Dundaga
, Latvia
, in the Dundaga municipality
. Latvia considers Dundaga Castle to be a monument of archaeological and of architectural importance.
settlement (Dundagas Kalnadarzs hillfort). The exact time of construction is not known, though it is first mentioned in written sources in 1318. It is assumed that the castle was constructed in the late 13th century, and several times captured by Livonian Order
.
In 1434 the castle was sold to the Bishopric of Courland
, and sold again in 1559 - to the King of Denmark
who in turn granted it to his brother Magnus, Duke of Holstein - future Curonian Bishop.
In the middle of the 17th century it was transformed from a medieval fortress to a representative residence of a country nobleman by Anna Sybil (born Osten-Sacken). The third floor was added in 1785. The family of Osten-Sacken were owners of the castle up to 1920.
Dundaga Castle suffered heavily in a fire in 1872 and its historical interiors were destroyed. It burned again in 1905, and was renovated beginning in 1909 after the design of H. Pfeiffer. As a result the castle was modernised and transformed.
Since 1926 the castle has been used as a public building - as a local municipal administration, school, and cultural institution.
The castle is the source of numerous legends, tales and ghost stories which, in many cases, are close to real historical events.
The castle covers 48 x 69 meters (157 x 226 feet), rectangular, surrounded with high defensive walls. In the inner yard a well
has been preserved. The castle has been transformed in numerous renovations and does not have a specific architectural style.
Interesting monuments of art are bas reliefs at both sides of the main entrance in the inner yard - made by A. Voltz in 1909. One represents an monk, the other - a bishop.
Dundaga
Dundaga is a village in Courland, Latvia. From 2009 its an administrative centre of Dundaga municipality.Dundaga is famous for its castle from late 13th century, constructed by Archbishopric of Riga. From the 16th until the 20th century, Dundaga Castle was the centre of the largest private estate...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, in the Dundaga municipality
Dundaga municipality
Dundaga municipality is a municipality in Courland, Latvia. The municipality was formed in 2009 by merging Dundaga parish and Kolka parish, the administrative centre being Dundaga.- References :...
. Latvia considers Dundaga Castle to be a monument of archaeological and of architectural importance.
History
The Archbishopric of Riga gained control over the lands of Dundaga in 1237. Dundaga Castle was constructed next to a CuronianCuronians
The Curonians or Kurs were a Baltic tribe living on the shores of the Baltic sea in what are now the western parts of Latvia and Lithuania from the 5th to the 16th centuries, when they merged with other Baltic tribes. They gave their name to the region of Courland , and they spoke the Old...
settlement (Dundagas Kalnadarzs hillfort). The exact time of construction is not known, though it is first mentioned in written sources in 1318. It is assumed that the castle was constructed in the late 13th century, and several times captured by Livonian Order
Livonian Order
The Livonian Order was an autonomous Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order and a member of the Livonian Confederation from 1435–1561. After being defeated by Samogitians in the 1236 Battle of Schaulen , the remnants of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword were incorporated into the Teutonic Knights...
.
In 1434 the castle was sold to the Bishopric of Courland
Bishopric of Courland
The Bishopric of Courland was the second smallest ecclesiastical state in the Livonian Confederation founded in the aftermath of the Livonian Crusade...
, and sold again in 1559 - to the King of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
who in turn granted it to his brother Magnus, Duke of Holstein - future Curonian Bishop.
In the middle of the 17th century it was transformed from a medieval fortress to a representative residence of a country nobleman by Anna Sybil (born Osten-Sacken). The third floor was added in 1785. The family of Osten-Sacken were owners of the castle up to 1920.
Dundaga Castle suffered heavily in a fire in 1872 and its historical interiors were destroyed. It burned again in 1905, and was renovated beginning in 1909 after the design of H. Pfeiffer. As a result the castle was modernised and transformed.
Since 1926 the castle has been used as a public building - as a local municipal administration, school, and cultural institution.
The castle is the source of numerous legends, tales and ghost stories which, in many cases, are close to real historical events.
Description
The castle is surrounded by water on three sides. The fourth side was defended by a moat in medieval times, today it is on level ground.The castle covers 48 x 69 meters (157 x 226 feet), rectangular, surrounded with high defensive walls. In the inner yard a well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
has been preserved. The castle has been transformed in numerous renovations and does not have a specific architectural style.
Interesting monuments of art are bas reliefs at both sides of the main entrance in the inner yard - made by A. Voltz in 1909. One represents an monk, the other - a bishop.