Ludza Castle
Ludza Castle | |
---|---|
Ludza, Latvia | |
Coordinates | 56°32′56″N 27°43′43″E / 56.54889°N 27.72861°E |
Type | Castle |
Site information | |
Open to the public | yes |
Condition | ruins up to 3 floors high |
Site history | |
Built | 1433 |
Built by | Livonian Order |
Materials | brick, stone |
Demolished | 1654 |
Ludza Castle (Latvian: Ludzas pils, German: Ordensburg Ludsen) was a medieval castle built in Gothic style located next to a Catholic church, on the site of a former Latgalian wooden castle in the centre Ludza, Latvia, a small town in eastern Latgale. Its main purpose was to be an eastern outpost to control trade routes from Russia. Nowadays the impressive fragments of the castle walls, including a three-floor high fragment, still remain. The ruins are the main tourist attraction in the Ludza District, and is considered a symbol of the town.
History
The first mention of the castle dates from 1433 when the Livonian Order built a larger and stronger fortress to replace an earlier wooden fortress built by the ancient Latgalians.[1] The Ludza stone castle had three stories, six towers, three gates and two foreparts.[2] It was built as an outpost for the Livonian order, mainly to strengthen the eastern border of Livonia and guard trade routes from Russia.
In 1481 the Russians invaded Livonia, occupied and devastated the castle. Only the 1525 through improved relations with
In 1577 Livonia was once again invaded by Russian troops under the guidance of
During the
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0-7546-6483-3. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ Drik, Lyudmila. Legendary roa (PDF). Ludza Tourist Information Centre. p. 14.
External links
- Media related to Ludza Castle ruins at Wikimedia Commons