Āraiši Castle

Āraiški Castle is a fortress on a peninsula in Lake Āraiški in Latvia. The stone walls form a rectangular defensive structure with lower walls still visible today from when it was originally built.

The fortress was built around 1350 by the Teutonic Order to protect against Lithuanian attacks. Swedish forces destroyed it in the 17th century, ending its role as an active military stronghold.

The grounds feature an archaeological museum with reconstructions of ancient Latgalian lake dwellings. These reconstructions show how people lived here centuries before the fortress was built and used water as protection.

The castle is accessible by a path leading onto the peninsula and can be visited year-round. An exhibition center offers guided tours in multiple languages and displays original artifacts found during excavations.

The site features a largely reconstructed fortified lake settlement from the 9th century, the only one of its kind in Europe. Visitors can see authentic structures showing how early inhabitants of this region lived in protected water-based communities.