Limbažu pils, Medieval castle in Limbaži, Latvia.
Limbažu pils is a castle with stone walls and defensive towers standing near the center of Limbaži, arranged around a spacious inner courtyard. The remains reveal the substantial scale of a fortified episcopal residence, with rooms positioned around the central space.
The castle began in 1275 under Bishop Albert of Buxhoeveden during the Christianization of the Baltic region. Major reconstruction occurred in the 14th century, when stone structures were built over the earlier wooden foundations.
The fortress served as a seat for Livonian bishops, shaping the town's religious identity for centuries. Walking through its spaces, you notice how the thick walls and layout reflect the combination of spiritual authority and political power that once centered here.
The ruins are freely accessible during daylight hours throughout the year and can be visited at any time. Guided tours available through the local tourism office help explain the layout and history of the fortification.
Beneath the later stone walls lie preserved traces of the original wooden construction from the first building phase, a rare example of medieval building methods. These layers show how 13th-century builders gradually transformed their structures from timber to stone.
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