- Castle Of The Livonian Order In Sigulda - Sigulda Medieval Castle ruins are located on the edge of the Gauja valley in Latvia. The original castle was built in 1207 as a castellum type fortress, later rebuilt into a convent type building. It was the residence of the Land Marshal of the Livonian Order since 1432.
At the very beginning of the Livonian war, Sigulda Medieval Castle was damaged. In 1562 it became a part of the Duchy of Livonia and from 1566 the residence of the governor of Livonia.
At the end of the 16th century, the Poles repaired the castle and its surrounding buildings. During the Polish – Swedish war the castle was seriously damaged. After the war, the Swedes reported that the castle was empty and destroyed. In the 1622 it was again restored and a new residential building and sauna were built. In 1737 Sigulda became a private estate. It was first the property of the Governor of Livland.
In the 19th century the castle and its layout were remodeled and a gate, inscribed with the year 1867, was added to the front part of the castle.The gate tower surrounding the inner castle building was decorated with the Borch family coat of arms. Finally, between 1878 and 1881, a new castle was built by Prince Kropotkin’s family.
After World War I with the establishment of independent Republic of Latvia, the ruins have been under the auspices of the Monument Board. In depth research and renovation of Sigulda castle began in 1962. Measurements were made of the construction plan, facade and wall details. A topographic plan of the castle and its surrounding was created in 1978. Archaeological excavations of the ruins were supervised by Normunds Treijs from 1987 to 1988 and by Jānis Ciglis in 1997. In 2011, the European Union co-sponsored a project designed to assist with the renovations. It was officially titled “Reconstruction of Sigulda Castle Ruins and Infrastructure Adjustment for Tourism Development” and successfully concluded in 2012.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- English speaking driver
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Private trip
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Museum entrances
Embark on a private modern vehicle trip to Sigulda Medieval Castle and Turaida Castle, accompanied by an English-speaking driver. This is an excellent half-day excursion to one of the most scenic spots near Riga.
Kindly note that this tour does not include a licensed guide service. Our English-speaking driver will provide basic information, respond to your queries, guide you to the ticket booths, and suggest the best local restaurants for lunch. If you need a licensed guide, it could be organized at the destinations we’ll be attending; please let us know in advance if you require this service.
Please consider taking our Full-Day tour if you wish to spend more time exploring sights.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Please bring your walking shoes
- Coffee stops and detours can be arranged with driver
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
