The territory of the medieval castle of Ērgļi
In the place that was historically the center of Ērgļi, but which later vanished, a beautiful landscape park is developing, which was created by the local masters themselves.
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History and culture
In winter
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The place is located in a scenic, natural area with a great view of the Ogre River and part of Ērgļi. The place is always well-maintained.
In order to increase the potential and attractiveness of the place by carefully using the cultural heritage, at the end of 2018, the association "Ērgļu sidrs", attracting funding from LEADER and the municipality of Ērgļi region, implemented the improvement works of the territory. The idea of the project is based on the legend of the former owners of the castle, the Tiesenhausen family, and its treasures, which are still found in the underground of the castle and are guarded by two large iron dogs. Residents of Ērgļi area believe that as long as these treasures are protected, Ērgļi will also exist.
Within the framework of the legend, several environmental objects have been created. The first object is the metal Ērgļi Watchdogs, whose heads are patted as a way to gain the favor and riches of the Tiesenhausens. The other object is a gazebo with wooden footbridges in the form of an arch, similar to what can be seen in drawings of the 19th century. It serves both as a viewing area and as a medium of information, as the gazebo shows illustrations of the history of the medieval castle of Ērgļi. Finally, a weathervane was created on top of the gazebo with the same eagle as on the coat of arms of former Ērgļi municipality.
The place is available for visitors of different generations.
The place is available for a large number of visitors.
Ērgļi Medieval Castle (German: Erlaa) was the Tiesenhausen castle of the vassals of the Riga archdiocese in the 14th-16th centuries. Before the Livonian Crusade, one of the main castles of the Jersika Kingdom of Negeste was located on the right bank of the Ogre River in present-day Ērgļi. After the partition of Letia in 1210, the northern part of the Kingdom of Jersica, which came under the control of the Crusaders, was divided between the Order of the Brothers of the Sword and Bishop Albert. At first, Negeste city district was given to the Order, but in 1213 it was given to the bishop. In 1229, the bishop of Riga, Nikolajs von Nauen, gave this city district to his vassal Tiesenhausen. According to J. G. Arnt, in 1341, Engelbert von Tiesenhausen started the construction of a stone castle, which was first mentioned in writing in 1397. It is thought that the stone castle was built to protect the fiefdoms of the Tiesenhausen lands against Lithuanian raids.
During the Livonian War in 1577, Ērgļi Castle surrendered to King Magnus of Livonia, so the Muscovite troops destroyed it in revenge. In 1582, in the peace treaty of Jama Zapolska, it was called the citadel of Ērgļi municipality (Latin: arx Orlia). After the conclusion of the peace treaty, its municipality was included in the Cēsis Voivodeship of the Pārdaugava Duchy belonging to Poland-Lithuania. The Polish king Stefan Bathory granted Ērgļi Castle to Macejs Dembinski. It became the center of starosty and was called Orlēna in documents. In 1598, Ērgļi was recovered by the Tiesenhausen family.
During the Polish-Swedish war (1600-1629), the Tiesenhausens fought on the Swedish side. The castle was captured in 1601. The commander of the Swedish troops, Duke Karl of Södermanland, stayed at the Ērgļi Castle before the Battle of Koknese.
In the 17th century, the medieval castle was abandoned. In 1722, the Tiesenhausens mortgaged the Ērgļi manor to Landrat Gotthard Wilhelm von Berg, who bought it in 1734.
Around 1830, when the drawing of the manor house was made for Marquis Paulucci, only the ruins of some walls and a full-height gate tower remained from the medieval castle of Ērgļi. The castle was destroyed during the Second World War, when fierce battles took place in the vicinity of Ērgļi against the attacking Red Army in 1944. Now, in place of the tower, there is only a pile of red brick fragments.
The place is available at any time of the year.
Working time
This place is always available.