
"What an interesting place to build a medieval castle - in a narrow peninsula at the lake" - a foreigner may think when first time seeing Koknese castle ruins. Actually he would be misled. Firstly, the waters surrounding the castle ruins isn't a lake - it's Latvia's largest river Daugava (called also the "river of fate"). Secondly, the castle ruins weren't always like this - in front of the water. Just around half century ago they were on the top of a high hill - just like almost any other "normal" medieval castles/castle ruins. So, what's happened before those ~50 years?
MAIN FACTS | |
---|---|
LOCATION | Latvia, Koknese parish |
ARCHITECTURE | Gothic |
BUILT | 1209 |
ABANDONED | 1701 |
RATING (8,3/10) | ![]() |
The rise and fall of Koknese castle
Koknese castle was one of the first and most important fortresses of crusader invaders - it was started to build by Bishop Albert already in 1209, so just a bit after the Riga castle. Koknese back then was an important trading city - a bit later it also became a member of Hanseatic League. Koknese castle turned into a hot spot of neverending power struggle between Riga Archbishops and Livonian Order - the Order several times overtook the castle and locked in the Archbishop and here. The eclipse of the castle (and also of Koknese town itself) started at the end of 17th Century, after the Polish-Swedish wars when the castle were conquered several times. Finally, in 1701, the two of five towers of the castle were blown up by Saxons who left the castle after their army lost the battle against Swedes in Spilve meadows (next to Riga). Since then the castle is uninhabited. It became a popular tourism object at the end of 19th Century.The attack of... engineering progress
Charmful place still today
Nowadays Koknese castle ruins functions as one of the popular tourist destinations in Latvia. The beautiful landscape around the castle ruins attracts water travelers and the castle ruins is also a popular spot for wedding photo sessions. Just around kilometer farther there is being gradually developed a new, large, symbolic park of national importance on the island of Daugava - called "Likteņdārzs" ("The Garden of Fate"). 






PHOTOPLACES GALLERY #5: Koknese castle ruins, Latvia

















Kas ir foto autors - Kokneses pilsdrupas?
AtbildētDzēstLabdien, visu šajā lapā publicēto fotogrāfiju autors esmu es. Sīkāku informāciju par lapu un tās autoru varat skatīt: https://www.photoplaces.eu/2018/08/what-is-photoplaceseu.html
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