Grobiņa Castle

Grobiņa Castle
Courland, Latvia

Type	Castle
Site information
Condition	Ruins
Site history
Built	1253
Built by	Livonian Order
Demolished	18th. century

Grobiņa Castle is a medieval castle located in the town of Grobiņa, Latvia, in western Courland. The ancient Curonian castle hill (Skābāržu kalns) is located only 100 m from the castle. It is supposed to be the famous Seeburg, which is mentioned in Scandinavian sources already in ninth century.

History

The Livonian Order erected the castle in 1253 to protect the roads from Livonia to Prussia. It was a square type building and was a three storey high living block in the southern aisle. It also had a gate tower in the middle of the western wall. The castle was built of bricks and crude stone. Once it had arched ceilings. It was a residence for the local viceroy of the Livonian Order from 1399 to 1590. As support base in south Courland it was many times rebuilt and fortified.

In the times of the Duchy of Courland, the castle was destroyed and rebuilt many times. In the sixteenth and seventeenth century sand walls were erected around the castle. They had a bastion in each of the four corners and a stockade. Later the castle was used as a residence for local German landlords. The castle was destroyed in the eighteenth century. Many famous people have visited the castle, for example: Duke Jacob Kettler of Courland, The King of Sweden, Carl XII and the King of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm III.

Castle ruins today

In the 1970s major conservation jobs were made in the castle, so today the castle ruins are in a quite good condition. Most of the walls are still standing in three story height. Today's castle is a major tourist attraction and also a place for local gatherings and concerts.

References

External links

Media related to Grobiņa Castle ruins 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: 56°32′03″N 21°09′45″E / 56.53417°N 21.16250°E / 56.53417; 21.16250

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