Location: Zemgale region Map
Constructed: 1335-1339
Dobele History Museum
Brivibas 7
Tel. 6372 1309
Open: 12pm- 6pm Wed
11am- 4pm Thu- Sat
Dobele Castle, situated in the town of Dobele within Latvia's Semigallia region, represents a key medieval fortification built on the west bank of the Bērze River. Originally the site of a Semigallian hillfort, it evolved into a stone castle constructed by the Livonian Order in the 14th century. Today, the structure exists primarily as ruins, but it has been partially restored and transformed into a multifunctional cultural and tourism center, attracting visitors with expositions on local history, archaeology, and legends. The castle's history spans from prehistoric settlements to crusader conquests, ducal residences, and wartime occupations, reflecting broader shifts in Baltic power dynamics.
Pre-History and the Semigallian Period
The area around Dobele
has been inhabited since ancient times, with the site serving as a
Semigallian hillfort that functioned as the administrative center of
Dobele County. This timber-and-earth stronghold provided protection
for nearby settlements and was first mentioned in written records in
1254, when it was granted to the Teutonic Knights as part of an
agreement dividing southern Latvian territories between the order
and local bishoprics. At this point, the fortifications were likely
still under partial pagan Baltic control, constructed from wood and
earth rather than stone.
The hillfort's strategic location on a
hill with natural defenses—high slopes on three sides and a moat
connecting to the river—made it a formidable position. It became a
focal point during the Livonian Crusade, enduring multiple sieges as
the Semigallians resisted Christianization and conquest by the
crusaders.
The Livonian Crusade and Conquest (1279–1289)
The late 13th century marked intense conflict in the region. Between
1279 and 1289, fierce battles raged as crusader forces repeatedly
besieged the Semigallian stronghold at Dobele. The hillfort
withstood six sieges by the Livonian Order, never falling to direct
capture.
Key assaults included:
In 1279, a force from
Kuldīga, aided by allied Curonians, attempted to conquer the fort
but failed.
During the winter of 1280–1281, Livonian Master
Konrad von Feuchtwangen led an unsuccessful attack.
In the winter
of 1288–1289, a large crusader army under Master Kuno von
Hazzingenstein (also referred to as Cono de Hattensteen), including
Estonian and Latgalian allies, pillaged and burned the surrounding
town but could not seize the fortress itself.
By 1289,
prolonged scorched-earth tactics and famine weakened the
Semigallians. Rather than surrender, they burned their own wooden
castle to prevent it from falling into enemy hands and migrated to
the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Dobele hillfort was among the last
Semigallian strongholds in present-day Latvia, and its destruction
in 1288 effectively broke local tribal resistance by the early 14th
century.
Construction by the Livonian Order (1335–1376)
Several decades after the Semigallian departure, the Livonian
Order—a branch of the Teutonic Knights—began constructing a stone
castle on the abandoned hillfort site in 1335 under Master Eberhard
von Monheim. The building process lasted until around 1339, with
further expansions after 1345 under Goswin von Herike, who also
fortified other regional sites. By no later than 1376, the castle
was complete, as evidenced by the appointment of its first
commander, Dietrich Holtey.
Architecturally, the castle featured
an irregular layout adapted to the hill's terrain, with a spacious
walled courtyard narrowing from south to north. The upper ward was
trapezoidal, housing representative rooms in the southern wing,
including basements, a ground-floor chapel (later converted in the
16th century), a refectory, and dormitory. Materials consisted of
erratic stones with brick details, and unique features included
small corner turrets—rare in Livonia but common in Prussian Teutonic
castles. The outer bailey served economic and military purposes,
with long walls up to 2.5 meters thick and multiple entrances. A
chapel was built around 1335, dominating the complex, and a park was
later established.
A small settlement of craftsmen and merchants
soon developed around the castle, fostering local economic growth.
Medieval Period as a Commandry (1376–1562)
From 1376, Dobele
functioned as a commandry (komturei) of the Livonian Order, serving
as the seat of the Dobele commander until 1562. During the 15th
century, it operated with fewer than the required 12 brothers,
indicating staffing challenges. The castle hosted several regional
assemblies (Landtage) in the 16th and 17th centuries, underscoring
its administrative importance.
Post-Secularization and the
Duchy of Courland (1562–17th Century)
Following the
secularization of the Livonian Order in 1562, the commandry ceased
operations, leading to a dispute between the last commander, Mathias
von der Recke, and Gotthard Kettler. The castle eventually became
Kettler's property and, in 1566, part of the Duchy of Courland and
Semigallia.
In the early 17th century, the castle was rebuilt for
greater comfort, aligning with expanding settlements. From 1643 to
1649, it served as the residence of Elisabeth Magdalena of
Pomerania, widow of the Duke of Courland, who lived there with her
foster son, the future Duke Jacob Kettler.
Wars, Occupations,
and Decline (17th–18th Centuries)
The castle endured multiple
occupations during regional conflicts. In 1621 and 1625, Swedish
forces under King Gustav II Adolf briefly held it. During the
Polish-Swedish Wars, Swedes captured it again in 1658, after which
Duke Jacob Kettler ordered partial restorations.
In 1701, amid
the Great Northern War, Swedish troops occupied the castle once
more, with King Charles XII of Sweden staying for six days. The war
caused heavy damage, and the structure was never fully rebuilt.
Plague outbreaks decimated the local population, contributing to the
castle's abandonment around the mid-18th century. It was officially
deserted in 1736 (or 1730 per some records) and fell into ruin.
In 1915, during World War I, German Emperor Wilhelm II visited the
hill near the ruins while inspecting Imperial Army units.
Modern Times: Restoration and Current Use
The mid-14th-century
castle ruins, with most stone walls intact, remained a historical
monument through the 20th century. In 2020, the chapel was rebuilt
and repurposed as the "Dobele Castle" multifunctional center,
featuring expositions on the hillfort's archaeology, pre-history,
Livonian Order era, and role in the Duchy of Courland, alongside
legends and a medicinal plant garden. This restoration won the top
prize in Latvia's "Best Building 2020" competition for restoration.
The site now offers guided tours, operates seasonally, and serves as
a hub for cultural events and tourism, preserving its legacy as one
of Latvia's iconic medieval fortifications.
Construction History
The site's history begins with a Semigallian
wooden fortress around 1000 BC, which withstood multiple sieges in the
13th century before being burned by its defenders in 1289 to avoid
capture by the Livonian Order. Stone construction commenced in 1335
under Master Eberhard von Monheim, with expansions after 1345 led by
Master Goswin von Herike. The castle was likely completed by 1376, as
records mention the first commander, Dietrich Holtey. It functioned as a
commandry until 1562, housing up to 12 brothers at its peak, though
numbers declined by the 15th century.
In the 16th century, after the
secularization of the Livonian Order, it passed to Gotthard Kettler and
became part of the Duchy of Courland. Early 17th-century rebuilds
focused on enhancing living quarters and developing the surrounding
settlement. The castle was captured by Swedish forces in 1658 and 1701
during the Polish-Swedish wars, leading to its decline. By the mid-18th
century, after a devastating plague, it was abandoned and gradually
ruined. Modern restorations, starting in 2002, have conserved the walls
and rebuilt the chapel, preserving the ruins' silhouette while adding
functional spaces like entrances and exhibits.
Materials and
Building Techniques
The castle was primarily constructed from erratic
stones (large boulders sourced locally), which formed the bulk of the
walls and structures for durability and availability. Bricks were
employed selectively for architectural details, such as vaults, portals,
and decorative elements, a common practice in Livonian Order castles
influenced by Prussian Teutonic designs. Walls varied in thickness,
reaching up to 2.5 meters in defensive sections, providing robust
protection. Gothic elements, like stellar vaults, highlight the medieval
craftsmanship.
Layout and Defensive Features
The castle's
layout is divided into an upper ward and an outer bailey, adapted to the
natural promontory for enhanced defense.
Upper Ward: Positioned
on the northern promontory, this core area follows a trapezoidal plan,
measuring 32 meters in length and varying from 18.5 to 37 meters in
width. It housed the main residential and representative functions. The
southern wing dominates, protruding eastward and protecting a small
internal courtyard.
Outer Bailey: South of the upper ward, this
expansive area served economic purposes, possibly including stables,
workshops, and troop accommodations. It features a series of rooms along
the eastern curtain wall, approximately 142 meters long and 15 meters
wide, though its medieval extent may have been smaller or less unified.
The overall courtyard is irregularly shaped and unusually spacious
for Teutonic castles, extending 180 meters north-south and narrowing
from 94 meters to 18.5 meters. This asymmetry stems from the hill's
contours and pre-existing earthworks.
Defensively, the site leverages
high slopes on three sides, supplemented by a moat on the south and west
that connects to the Bērze River on the north. Curtain walls enclose the
perimeter, with entrances including a pointed portal near the southwest
corner and another on the western side, guarded by a tower that
transitions from a four-sided base to a cylindrical top. The massive
southern wing and thick outer bailey walls (2.5 meters) added to the
fortifications.
Key Buildings and Architectural Features
Southern wing (upper ward main building)
The most prominent surviving
structure. It measures about 33.6 × 11 m with walls up to 2 m thick. It
originally contained three levels (basements, ground floor, first floor)
divided into larger three-bay rooms (roughly 22 × 7 m) and smaller
two-bay rooms (about 9 × 4 m). The grander spaces likely served as
refectory and dormitory. A large ground-floor room was later converted
into the chapel. The wing projects 6 m eastward, creating additional
defensive depth. Small corner turrets at its ends are a rare Livonian
feature more typical of Prussian Teutonic design.
Chapel
Its
original medieval location is uncertain. By the 16th century a
ground-floor room in the southern wing was adapted as the chapel. Fully
reconstructed in 2020, it now features multiple entrances (main west
portal, secondary south doors, north basement access for staff), a
preserved Gothic stellar vault, and stairs to upper levels. Today it
functions as a multifunctional cultural space with exhibits and roof
access offering panoramic views.
Towers and turrets
A prominent
defensive tower guards the western entrance, transitioning from a square
base to a round upper section. Small corner turrets on the southern wing
add both defensive capability and a distinctive Prussian stylistic touch
uncommon in most Livonian castles.
Outer bailey eastern range
A
long line of rooms along the eastern curtain wall (approximately 142 m ×
15 m, with 2.5 m thick walls) likely served economic and logistical
purposes — stables, storage, workshops, or troop accommodation.
Current State and Importance
The ruins preserve substantial portions
of the upper ward’s three surviving wings, with the chapel now rebuilt
to its approximate medieval form. Conservation work has stabilized
structures without major reconstruction beyond the chapel, maintaining
the evocative ruined character. As one of Latvia’s largest and
best-preserved medieval castle complexes, Dobele Castle remains a
striking example of Livonian Order architecture adapted to local
conditions, blending Gothic elements, practical defense, and regional
building traditions.