Cesvaine castle and park

Starting from spring 2022, one of the most legendary places in Latvia is finally open again from Tuesday to Sunday for viewing, exhibitions and guided tours in the castle and the castle grounds!

For events For families For groups (11+) History and culture In winter Landscape and nature Urban environment

The beautiful castle park is designed as a romantic landscape park. Several varieties of foreign trees and shrubs grow there. Here you can find a mound, where the former owner of the manor - Adolf von Wulf, is buried, a fragment of the medieval castle ruins, Sula river, ponds, a memorial sign for the repressed gymnasium students in 1941, and the graves of soldiers of the Soviet Army of the Second World War. Fragments of the ruins of the Riga Archbishop's castle, built in the 14th century and destroyed in the Livonian War, have been preserved next to the northern facade of the castle. Each traveller can independently go for a walk to see the historical buildings and places in the castle complex. You can find a map of the outdoor exhibition in the tourist center, on the stands near the castle and the parking lot.

The castle and the park are accessible to people of different ages and people with restricted mobility. It is possible to book excursions for children and families in advance.

The castle and the park are available for large groups, they can be visited with or without a guide. Pre-registration is mandatory for groups.

The history of the castle began in the ancient past. The first castle in Cesvaine was located in the territory of the current castle park - the Cesvaine castle hill, but the masonry castle of the Archbishop of Riga was built at the end of the 14th century. A manager who knew the entire Cesvaine municipality lived here. Cesvaine was thoroughly destroyed after the Polish-Swedish war (1600–1629). According to the audit there were only 32 men in 26 houses in 1638. The castle was destroyed in the middle of the 17th century during the Russian-Swedish war. Cesvaine and its castle were destroyed again in the Northern War (1701-1710). Now, only the foundations of the forecastle wall can be seen above ground from the medieval castle. The foundations are about 50 m long and are made of boulders. In 2002 and 2003, small archaeological monitoring works were carried out near the castle under the guidance of I. Ose. The construction of the new castle started in 1893. It was ready for habitation in 1895.

Cesvaine Castle accepts applications for the organization of various events, both private and corporate, and for renting premises. It is open to cooperation with representatives of creative industries for exhibitions, concerts, master classes, plein airs and other creative activities.

Cesvaine Castle is an example of European historicism, which combines architecture, sculpture, metal art and painting. It is open for individual and guided viewing. The owner of the castle, Adolf Gerhard Boris Emil von Wulf (1857 - 1904), built the building from 1893 to 1896 as a house for the young lords of Cesvaine Manor. It was designed by prominent Berlin architects H. Griesenbach and A. Dinklage. The Cesvaine Castle is built of hewn boulders. In order to create the impression of ancient architecture it uses Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Art Nouveau elements. The new castle is partly built on the site where both the old lord's house and the medieval castle used to be. In the middle part of the castle there is an entrance - a massive portal and a ramp for access. The doors of the castle are decorated with beautiful stonework in Renaissance style. There are decorative water drains in the corners of the facades. The left wing of the castle is for the gentlemen's rooms, its end is highlighted by a luxurious pediment, crowned by the figure of a wolf. Several buildings can currently be seen in the castle complex: horse stables (now a tourist center), forester's house (a private residence), barns near the castle (in one of them - the "NORD WOLF" strong drink factory), beer brewery and greenhouses (the "Divi Torņi" saloon ), manager's house (residential building), etc. Beer continues to be brewed in the Cesvaines Brewery in the tradition of the manor. Read more about the brewery and NORD WOLF here, on the "Vidzemēs" website.

The castle is open and easily accessible at any time of the year.