Aizkraukle
Aizkraukles pilskalns – Augstie / Kraukļu hills · Aizkraukles Pilskalns · Ascheraden (German) · Aizkraukle Hillfort
Late Iron Age Baltic → Livonian Crusade 1213·Latgallian → Liv (Livs) → Livonian Order (Sword Brethren)·🇱🇻 Aizkraukle Municipality, Aizkraukle Parish, on Daugava right bank 82 km southeast of Riga (Livonian Chronicle Ascheraden hillfort), Latvia
About
About Aizkraukle
Aizkraukle (Ascheraden) — Latgallian → Liv hillfort and later stone castle hill (Iron Age–16th c) on Daugava right bank 82 km southeast Riga, 40 m above Daugava, ~67 m a.s.l. Augstie/Kraukļu Hills, one of most significant Latvian hillforts per visitaizkraukle. Iron Age Latgallian fort, 13th c Livonian Order stone castle 1213 (Ascheraden), destroyed 1680s, ruins stone wall. Excavated J. Graudonis, rich Daugava trade layer, Daugava waterway route Riga–Polotsk. Viewpoint over Pļaviņas reservoir. Daugava island Lokstene shrine nearby revives Dievturība paganism since 2017. Archaeological park with marked trails from Aizkraukle town.
Why it mattersIconic Daugava Livonian hillfort — 40 m bluff controlling Daugava trade Riga–Polotsk
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Latgallian vs Liv priority
Theories
- 01Daugava toll fort Riga–Polotsk
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Iron Age Latgallian; stone castle 1213 Livonian Order (Ascheraden)
- Period
- Late Iron Age Baltic → Livonian Crusade 1213
- Culture
- Latgallian → Liv (Livs) → Livonian Order (Sword Brethren)
- Builders
- Latgallian fortifiers then Livonian Order masons
- Purpose
- Daugava waterway control hillfort and crusader castle controlling Riga–Daugava corridor
- Abandoned
- 1680s castle ruin
- Rediscovered
- Livonian Chronicle 1213; excavated J. Graudonis
- Excavation
- Excavated
Iron Age
Latgallian timber-earth fort on Daugava bluff
1213 CE
Livonian Order builds Ascheraden stone castle
1680s
Castle ruin, hillfort park
On the ground
Structures & features
56.6042° N · 25.2539° E · 67 m · 3 mapped features
Augstie (High) Hills Plateau
plateauMain hillfort plateau 120×60 m 40 m above Daugava, Latgallian layer
56.6045° N · 25.2535° EStone Castle Ruins 1213
castleLivonian Ascheraden limestone ruins on hill, 2 m walls destroyed 1680s
56.6144° N · 25.1533° EDaugava Bluff Rampart
earthworkDaugava scarp rampart and Pļaviņas reservoir view
56.6038° N · 25.2550° E