Cesis castle was built in the early 1200s and was the mightiest Livonia medieval stronghold in Latvia in 1500s. We were given a lantern with candle inside so we could visit the tower and dungeon. The reconstruction work has been fairly minimal, mostly just trying to stop further rot.
There was one cannonball still in the moat from a battle with Ivan the Terrible from Russia.
In the courtyard there were indents on the brick wall in the shape of an arch. We later found reconstruction of domed roofed rooms for guards ie shaped like a aircraft hangar.
The young man in charge of the reconstruction explained the problems. The state gives them €10000 per year for the repair which obviously is insufficient but they have recently got some EU funding - ¼ million so will be able to do things to stop further deterioration ie cover the window holes with shutters and put covers over the towers to prevent weather damage.
There was one cannonball still in the moat from a battle with Ivan the Terrible from Russia.
In the courtyard there were indents on the brick wall in the shape of an arch. We later found reconstruction of domed roofed rooms for guards ie shaped like a aircraft hangar.
The young man in charge of the reconstruction explained the problems. The state gives them €10000 per year for the repair which obviously is insufficient but they have recently got some EU funding - ¼ million so will be able to do things to stop further deterioration ie cover the window holes with shutters and put covers over the towers to prevent weather damage.
Walking the township
We then heard an organ playing. This was coming from St Johns church, consecrated in 1284. It was originally catholic but later became Lutheran. It is gothic in style with 32 metre wide three spanned basilica and 65 m high tower with a 15 m tall gothic spire. There are old gravestones now up on the back wall, including one knight buried in the 1500s which is still legible. There are also stained glass windows but they came in the late 1800s and were extensively damaged during WW2. We had given a donation when we entered and as we started to leave the little old lady in charge came and told us we could climb the tower.
