Turaida
Turaidas pils · Turaida Castle · Treiden · Treyden
Livonian Crusade High Medieval 1214–16th c·Liv (Finnic) sacred hill → Livonian Order brick-gothic (German crusader)·🇱🇻 Vidzeme Region, Sigulda Municipality, Turaida village (Turaidas muzejrezervāts) in Gauja National Park on Gauja River right bank opposite Krimulda, Latvia
About
About Turaida
Turaida (Treiden) — brick-gothic Livonian hillfort→castle (built 1214 by Bishop Albert of Riga, Livonian Brothers of Sword) in Gauja National Park, on Gauja River right bank opposite Krimulda, 4 km from Sigulda. Red-brick 5 ha complex on 40 m hill, main tower 26 m, forework and bailey. Liv *Toreida* 'Thor's garden' — pagan Liv sacred hill before crusade. Archaeology: Liv settlement, 13th–16th c Teutonic, 1776 fire ruin then reconstructed 1953–. Turaida Museum Reserve with Dainu Hill folk songs. Sigulda–Turaida bobsleigh valley. Excavated J. Graudonis.
Why it mattersIconic brick-gothic Livonia — Thor's garden pagan hill turned crusader castle 1214
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Liv hill pre-crusade sacred?
Theories
- 01Gauja corridor control vs Sigulda
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 1214 CE Bishop Albert of Riga (Livonian crusade)
- Period
- Livonian Crusade High Medieval 1214–16th c
- Culture
- Liv (Finnic) sacred hill → Livonian Order brick-gothic (German crusader)
- Builders
- Bishop Albert's masons (Livonian Brothers of Sword, Brick gothic)
- Purpose
- Gauja corridor brick castle controlling Livonia, on pagan Thor's garden hill
- Abandoned
- 1776 fire ruin; restored 1953–1983
- Rediscovered
- Livonian Chronicle 1214; excavation 1950s
- Excavation
- Excavated
pre-1214
Liv pagan hill *Toreida* Thor's garden
1214 CE
Bishop Albert of Riga builds Treiden brick tower
1953–1983
Reconstruction to main tower 26 m
On the ground
Structures & features
57.1868° N · 24.8478° E · 30 m · 3 mapped features
Main Tower 26 m (Bergfried)
towerRed-brick main tower 26 m above Gauja, 1214 Albert layer
57.1870° N · 24.8475° EForework and Bailey
baileyOuter forework 100×80 m and bailey walls on hill
57.1865° N · 24.8485° ELiv Sacred Hill Foot
hillLiv *Toreida* Thor's garden pagan hill foot opposite Krimulda
57.1860° N · 24.8470° E
Gallery