Embūte Castle

Embūte Castle is a stone fortress ruin in western Latvia. The remains show two semicircular towers on the northeastern side and tall brick walls arranged around an irregular courtyard.

The fortress was founded in 1265 by Konrad von Mandern and served as a bishop's residence in Courland. From 1537 onward it passed to private owners and changed its purpose.

The site shows how local Curonians moved from wooden fortifications to stone structures built by German crusaders. Visitors can sense this shift in building traditions through the thick walls that remain standing.

The ruins sit in a remote forest location accessible only via unmarked trails. Wear sturdy shoes and plan your route ahead to navigate to this isolated site.

The walls blend erratic stones with bricks, while the gate structure uses only medieval red bricks throughout. This mixture reveals different construction phases of the fortress.

Location: Embūte

Inception: 1265

GPS coordinates: 56.50500,21.81833

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:28