Alūksne Castle

Alūksne Castle
Vidzeme, Latvia
Alūksne Castle 1661 from North-West
Type	Castle
Site information
Open to the public	yes
Condition	about 5 m high walls visible
Site history
Built	1342
Built by	Livonian Order
Materials	boulders, brick
Demolished	1702 (blown up)

Alūksne Castle (Latvian: Marienburgas pils, Alūksnes pils; German: Marienburg) is a castle of Teutonic Knights in current Alūksne, North-Eastern Latvia.

History

The castle was built in 1342 on the largest of the islands in the Lake Alūksne and called Marienburg (after Mary, the mother of Jesus). The first castle was constructed by the Landmeister Burkhard von Dreileben. It was part of a major reinforcement of the Eastern border of Livonia, the same year another major castle nearby (in Vastseliina) was founded as well. Soon thereafter, center of komturei was moved from Gaujiena to Alūksne. ^[1]

The strength of the castle was repeatedly proven by repelling a number of attacks in the 16th century. Alūksne was captured by the troops of Ivan IV of Russia in 1560 during the Livonian War. It was incorporated into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1582. The town became part of the Swedish Empire in 1629.

After the fall of the Old Livonia, the castle remained habitable. It was finally destroyed in 1702 in the Great Northern War by its Swedish garrison to avoid falling in the hands of Russians. The ruins remained largely untouched. Today, it houses an open-air scene and forms a part of a recreational area of the Pils (Castle) Island.

Architecture

The initial castle was built of wood. Later, the outer walls were constructed of fieldstone and the convent house of bricks. The plan is in many ways similar to that of Viljandi Castle, including the convent building with a flanking tower. The outer wall originates partly from the same time as the convent house, partly from later periods, notably from the time of the political tensions in the early 16th century. The main gate, protected by two round towers, is also of late medieval origin.^[1]

Later, at the end of the 17th century, the castle was supplied with ravelines and ramparts.

Gallery

The walls from inside, 2010.
Plan of the castle according to Karl von Lövis of Menar.

References

1 2 Tuulse, Armin (1942). Die Burgen in Estland und Lettland, pp 147-148. Dorpater Estnischer Verlag

External links

Media related to Alūksne Castle at Wikimedia Commons

Latvia: Castles, Palaces, and Fortresses

Castles	Aizkraukle Aizpute Alsunga Alūksne Bauska Cēsis Daugavgrīva Dinaburga Dundaga Dobele Ēdole Embūte Grobiņa Jaunpils Koknese Krimulda Krustpils Ludza Nurmuiža Piltene Rauna Rēzekne Riga Sigulda Sigulda New Turaida Valmiera Ventspils

Palaces	Bīriņi Cesvaine Cīrava Jelgava Kazdanga Krāslava Laidi Mežotne Pope Preiļi Rundāle Snēpele Stāmeriena Varakļāni Vērgale

Manors	Adamova Aizupe Apriķi Arendole Asare Aumeisteri Baldone Bebrene Beļava Bēne Biksēre Biksti Blankenfelde Boja Bornsminde Bramberģe Brukna Cēre Cirsti Dikļi Dole Drabeši Dunalka Durbe Dursupe Dzelzava Dzērbene Dzērve Dzimtmisa Ērberģe Eversmuiža Ezere Felicianova Gārsene Igate Ilga Īvande Jaunauce Jaungulbene Jaunmokas Jaunmuiža Jasmuiža Jaunsvente Jumurda Juzefinova Kabile Kalna Kalnmuiža Kameņeca Katvari Kaucminde Kokmuiža Lamiņi Lielauce Lielmēmele Lielzalve Litene Lizums Lūznava Malnava Mālpils Mazsalaca Mencendarbe Mežmuiža Mūrmuiža Naukšēni Nogale Odziena Ozolmuiža Padure Palsmane Pasiene Pastende Puikule Reģi Remte Reņģe Rikava Salnava Sasmaka Sērmūkši Skaistkalne Stende Stukmaņi Suntaži Svēte Svitene Šēnheida Šķēde Taurupe Tiņģere Trapene Ungurmuiža Vadakste Vaiņode Valdeķi Vandzene Vāne Vārkava Varme Vecauce Vecbebri Vecborne Vecgulbene Vecmēmele Vecsaliena Veselava Vestiena Zaļā Zaļenieki Zante Zasa Zemīte Ziemeri Zvārtava

Also see: List of castles in Latvia

Coordinates: 57°25′14″N 27°02′55″E / 57.42056°N 27.04861°E / 57.42056; 27.04861

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