Burtnieki Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Burtnieki Parish, Latvia
Burtnieki Castle consists of stone ruins standing on the southern shore of Lake Burtnieks in the Vidzeme region. The remnants reveal the layout of a medieval fortress with thick walls and foundations, set within open grassland and surrounding woodland.
The Livonian Order built this fortress in 1284 to defend their territory in the region. Damage during the Livonian War in the 16th century was so severe that the structure was never fully restored.
The ruins show how people in the medieval period built fortresses to protect themselves and their land. Walking through the site, visitors can see the scale and design that made such castles central to regional control.
The site is open and free to explore on foot, allowing time to walk around the ruins and understand their layout. Ground conditions vary with seasons, so sturdy footwear is useful and a flashlight helps when looking into darker corners of the structure.
A manor house dating to the 14th century stands on the grounds with a park planted in 1860 containing over 70 tree and shrub species. This green space offers a glimpse into 19th-century garden design alongside the medieval ruins.
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