Aizpute Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Aizpute, Latvia.
Aizpute Castle is a medieval castle ruin with a square layout located in the town of Aizpute, Latvia. The structure features two developed sides containing rows of buildings that encircle a large central courtyard.
The Livonian Order began construction of the castle in 1249 under Order Master Dietrich von Grüningen on the site of a former Curonian settlement. The fortress became important for military and administrative control of the region.
The entrance gate displays decorative plasterwork in sgraffito technique from the period of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia. These carved details still survive and show the artistic taste of that era.
The ruins are freely accessible during the day and night and are located at Liepājas iela 9 in Aizpute. Wear sturdy shoes when visiting, as the grounds are uneven and partially overgrown.
The fortress was used as a school from the late 1800s until the mid-1970s before being abandoned. This uncommon use of a medieval ruin as an educational facility shaped its recent past.
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