Turaida medieval castle

One of the oldest visible castles in Latvia is Turaida castle – it is built in 1214. Few buildings in Latvia are located in such a splendid landscape – castle is set on some 80 meters high strip of land between two ravines at Gauja River. There is marvelous view from its 27 meters high tower over the forested Gauja valley.
Castle has been built for Riga Bishop/Archbishop and has experienced more warfare than most other medieval castles in Latvia. It is not inhabited since 1776 and gradually was turning into ruins – until in the second half of 20th century there was started rebuilding of the castle for boosting of the tourism and rising the knowledge level. Nowadays the complex of the Turaida castle belongs to most interesting and most impressive culture landmarks in Latvia. It could be considered to be the best explored medieval castle in Baltic states.
Before the current castle was built starting from the 13th century on, here stood the wooden castle of the last mighty Livonian chief Kaupo. The story of Turaida castle is also closely related to the story of bringing Christianity to these lands. Also, archaeological excavations have revealed a fragment of the scallop shell, the sign of Medieval pilgrims on Saint James Way. A clay bottle which used to be attached to the belt of a pilgrim is on display at the Turaida Castle Museum alongside other exhibits telling of the tradition of pilgrimaging in Medieval Livonia.