In the early 1900s this was just a mound. They have been digging, rebuilding and restoring since the 1950s. You start at the gardeners house where there is an explanation of the difference between the Livs and the Latvians. Eventually of course they merged.
The castle was a significant fortification of the Riga archbishopric, with building starting in 1214 on the site of an old Liv castle. The main tower ( reconstructed) is 38 metres tall with 5 floors. The original entrance door was on the 2nd floor with steps that could be pulled up. The tower was used for surveillance and as a last shelter in the event of a siege. It was otherwise unoccupied. Some of the ceilings were timber and some brick. The bricks back then were longer and the tower walls were thicker on one side than the other. Top floor had panoramic views over the Gauja valley.
The castle was a significant fortification of the Riga archbishopric, with building starting in 1214 on the site of an old Liv castle. The main tower ( reconstructed) is 38 metres tall with 5 floors. The original entrance door was on the 2nd floor with steps that could be pulled up. The tower was used for surveillance and as a last shelter in the event of a siege. It was otherwise unoccupied. Some of the ceilings were timber and some brick. The bricks back then were longer and the tower walls were thicker on one side than the other. Top floor had panoramic views over the Gauja valley.
