Ludza Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Ludza, Latvia.
Ludza Castle is a fortress ruin positioned on a hill between two lakes, featuring remaining wall sections built from grey stone and red brick that rise to three stories high. The structure originally had a triangular layout with multiple towers and black glazed decorative details throughout its design.
German crusaders built this eastern border fortress in 1399 as part of their expansion into the Baltic region. The castle played an important role in securing and controlling this remote area throughout the following centuries.
This fortress served as a key defensive post that shaped the town of Ludza for centuries and controlled important trade movements. Visitors can observe how the stone walls positioned between two lakes held strategic importance for the region.
The castle ruins are currently undergoing conservation work, which limits direct access but allows viewing from a distance near Baznicas Street. The best vantage points to observe the ruins and their location between the two lakes are near the town area.
The fortress was built using black glazed bricks as decorative elements, an unusual choice for fortifications of that era and region that set it apart from other Baltic strongholds. This ornamental detail reveals the care taken in its construction beyond mere military function.
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