Location: Zemgale region Map
Constructed: 14th century
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Jaunpils Castle, also known historically as Neuenburg or Nienborch, is a medieval fortress located in Jaunpils Parish, Tukums Municipality, in the Semigallia region of Latvia. Constructed primarily as a defensive stronghold by the Livonian Order, it has evolved over centuries from a fortified castle into a manor house and, more recently, a cultural and hospitality site. Surrounded on three sides by a mill pond that served as a natural moat, the castle's architecture reflects its origins as a water castle, with thick walls, a round defensive tower, and an irregular quadrangular layout. Today, it houses a museum, hotel, medieval tavern, and cultural center, preserving its historical charm while offering modern amenities.
Construction and Early History (14th–15th Centuries)
The
construction of Jaunpils Castle is dated to 1301, according to some
historical datings, though other sources suggest it may have begun
in the second half or even toward the end of the 14th century. It
was built under the orders of Gottfried von Roga, Master of the
Livonian Order, to defend the southern borders of Livonia against
Lithuanian raids and to serve as an administrative center for the
Dobele Komturei. The castle was designed as an irregularly planned
structure with an inner courtyard, enclosed by defensive walls made
of boulders and bricks, and protected by a ditch on the eastern
side, making it a peninsula fortress. Access was originally via a
drawbridge, the only link to the surroundings.
The first
documented mention of the castle appears in 1411 in the Order's
castle lists. As firearm technology advanced during this period,
fortifications were enhanced: a large, squat cylindrical defensive
tower (approximately 11.5 meters in diameter) with loopholes was
added in the southwestern corner in the late 15th century to protect
the gate and entrance. The ground floor lacked windows for security,
serving economic purposes, while residential quarters were on the
upper floors, connected by external wooden porches. Possible
additions included corner bartizans and a Gothic frieze with pointed
arcades, remnants of which are still visible on the northern side.
16th–17th Centuries: Ownership Transition and Wars
In the
early 16th century, following the secularization of the Livonian
Order, the castle housed elderly or infirm Teutonic Knights, and a
chapel was built in 1548 during the residence of Eberhard (Evert)
von Schieren, the penultimate commander of Dobele, marking the first
major reconstruction for residential use. On February 18, 1576,
after conflicts with Duke Gotthard Kettler, the last Dobele komtur,
Matthias (Ties) von der Recke, acquired the castle and its
surrounding 13-square-mile estate as a freehold independent of the
duke. This marked the beginning of the von der Recke family's
ownership, which lasted over 300 years until 1920.
In 1592,
construction of the adjacent Jaunpils Church began. A notable event
occurred in 1605 during the Polish-Swedish War: Matthias von der
Recke fought Swedish King Charles IX in close combat at the Battle
of Salaspils (Kirkholm), capturing the king's hat and receiving a
silver sword as a gift. Around 300 Swedish prisoners were brought to
Jaunpils to build a stone wall, later called the "Swedish Wall."
The castle suffered heavy damage in 1625 when Swedish forces
attacked during the war, serving briefly as a prisoner-of-war camp.
Reconstruction followed in 1646 under Matthias Dietrich von der
Recke, transforming it into a more residential manor: a new
apartment block was added, floors were raised, a kitchen house
built, and decorative elements in Mannerism style incorporated,
including a weather-vane dated 1646. In 1648, von der Recke and his
wife Susanna von Denhoff donated a luxurious altar and pulpit to the
Jaunpils Church on their wedding day. By the late 17th century, a
third floor was added, and stone cloisters replaced wooden ones,
shifting its function from fortress to comfortable manor.
18th–19th Centuries: Noble Life and Cultural Significance
The
18th century brought partial reconstructions, with the von der Recke
family remaining loyal subjects of the Duchy of Courland. In 1771,
Georg Peter Magnus von der Recke married Elisabeth Charlotte
Constance von Medem, who became a renowned poet, publicist, and
public figure; her portrait by M. Brašmane still hangs in the
castle's tower hall. The Jaunpils watermill was constructed in 1803.
By the 19th century, the castle was a bustling estate with a large
complex of farm buildings. In 1871, a Song Day event was held in the
manor park, featuring choirs from nearby areas and conducted by
Jānis Bētiņš. The castle retained its medieval appearance externally
but functioned as a noble residence.
20th Century:
Revolution, Reforms, and Modernization
On the night of December
23–24, 1905 (or January 6, 1906, by some accounts), during the
Russian Revolution, revolutionaries set fire to the castle,
destroying interiors, the von der Recke family archives, library,
and art collection. Reconstruction began in 1906–1907 under
architect Wilhelm (VLN) Bockslaff (also spelled Boxlaf or
Bockslaff), with interiors redesigned in simplified Baroque style by
Balthasar von Campenhausen, removing the kitchen house and
modernizing rooms while preserving medieval halls, cellars, and
features.
In November 1919, the Latvian state took over the
castle following agrarian reforms, establishing the State Jaunpils
Manor Model Farm. Von der Recke ownership ended in 1920. From
1920–1944, it housed elementary school classrooms, a livestock
school (1927–1944), experimental station offices, apartments, a
shop, and a cultural center. During World War II, it served as a
German army hospital.
Under Soviet occupation post-1944, the
castle was used as offices and a community center, with extensive
modernization in the 1960s–1970s by architects V. Druģis and E.
Kalniņš, introducing contemporary Soviet-style interiors that often
disregarded historical preservation. It became municipal property in
1961.
Modern Era: Restoration and Current Use
In 1991, the
Jaunpils Museum was founded, and the castle became property of the
Jaunpils municipality. The 2000s saw renewed interest: in 2000, it
was ranked among Latvia's ten most beautiful castles; a 2004 stamp
featured it in the "Castles of Latvia" series; and in 2005, it was
listed among the 100 best-kept European cultural monuments in
Latvia. Latvian designers in the 2000s refitted interiors into
luxurious medieval-style apartments, blending history with modern
luxuries.
Today, the castle operates as a hotel, museum
showcasing the von der Recke family history and art exhibitions, a
medieval pub with authentic cuisine, and a cultural center hosting
events. Gradual restorations continue, preserving its medieval
elements like the round tower and Gothic frieze while adapting for
tourism.
Overall Layout and Plan
The castle's footprint forms an irregular
quadrangle, measuring approximately 40.5 meters by 29.6 meters,
enclosing a trapezoidal inner courtyard roughly 30 meters by 43 meters
in size. This asymmetrical plan is a hallmark of Livonian Order
fortifications, prioritizing defensibility over symmetry. The structure
is built on a small peninsula, originally surrounded by water on three
sides via the Jaunpils mill pond and a moat on the eastern side (which
was later filled in), isolating it as a true water castle accessible
only by a drawbridge. The courtyard serves as the central hub, flanked
by residential and utility buildings along the southwestern and
southeastern walls, while the northeastern and northwestern sides were
initially just defensive walls. This layout creates a self-sufficient
enclosure, with ground-floor spaces dedicated to storage and utilities,
and upper floors for living quarters connected by wooden porches and
galleries.
The main entrance is positioned in the middle of the
southwestern wall, featuring a gate opening 2.88 meters wide. A notable
remnant is a hollow in the wall for an oaken beam used to secure the
gates from the inside, underscoring the castle's fortified origins. In
the 17th century, expansions included a new apartment block on the
northeastern side outside the original defensive wall, a small gate
tower, and the addition of a third floor to the existing blocks,
transforming the space into a more residential manor while preserving
the courtyard's open feel. Galleries along the inner yard walls and an
external ascent to the second floor were likely added during this
period, with the walls plastered for a more refined appearance.
Materials and Construction Techniques
Jaunpils Castle's construction
draws on regional Baltic building practices, utilizing locally available
materials for durability in a humid, forested environment. The
foundational and lower walls are built from large boulders, providing a
sturdy base that exceeds 2 meters in thickness in many sections—a
critical feature for withstanding sieges. Upper portions incorporate
brickwork, a signature of Livonian Order architecture, allowing for
precise detailing and lighter weight in elevated structures. This hybrid
approach reflects Gothic stylistic elements, such as pointed arcades
supported by stone consoles along the northern walls, which add both
aesthetic and structural interest. Ceilings in the original two-story
blocks were constructed with horizontal wooden beams, while basements
underlie these blocks and the tower for storage and potential refuge.
The roofs, originally likely steep and gabled to shed heavy snowfall,
now feature orange tiles that enhance the castle's picturesque
silhouette. A distinctive weather-vane in Mannerism style, dated 1646
and bearing the initials "MDVDR" (for Matthias Dietrich von der Recke),
crowns the gate tower, symbolizing the shift from pure fortification to
noble residence.
Defensive Features
As a Livonian Order
fortress, Jaunpils was designed with robust defenses suited to the era's
warfare. The high perimeter walls, rendered in stone and up to 2.1
meters thick in places, formed the primary barrier and even served as a
prisoner camp during the Great Northern War. A key addition in the 15th
century was the prominent round tower in the southern corner, with a
diameter of 11.5 meters, positioned to guard the main gate and entrance.
This cylindrical structure includes loopholes adapted for early
firearms, reflecting the evolution of military technology. The
surrounding moat and mill pond acted as natural moats, enhancing
isolation and deterring assaults.
Additional fortifications include
the "Swedish Wall," a stone barrier constructed around 1700-1721 by
approximately 300 Swedish prisoners of war, which bolstered the castle's
perimeter. The ground floor lacks windows, a typical defensive trait to
prevent easy access, while upper levels feature narrow slits for archers
or gunners.
Interior Spaces and Historical Modifications
Internally, the castle integrates vaulted spaces, such as those beneath
the knights' dining room in one of the oldest sections, preserving a
medieval ambiance. A chapel was established in 1548, adding a spiritual
dimension to the layout. The 17th-century reconstruction under Matthias
Dietrich von der Recke (1646) marked a pivotal shift, adding a kitchen
house to the northwestern block and decorating apartments in a more
luxurious style suitable for nobility.
A devastating fire in 1905 led
to major rebuilding in 1906-1907 by architect Wilhelm Bockslaff (also
spelled Boxlaf or Bokslafs), who removed the kitchen house, modernized
rooms for comfort, and introduced simplified Baroque elements while
retaining key features like the Big and Small Halls, the Room of Elise,
the Blue Room, wine and beer cellars, and a fireplace room. Further
restorations in the 1960s-1970s, led by architects V. Druģis and E.
Kalniņš, focused on preserving the structure's integrity, adapting it
for modern use as a hotel with medieval-themed apartments that blend
historical authenticity with contemporary amenities. Unique details
include a devil figure at the end of a drainpipe, a small spiral
staircase, a medieval garderobe (latrine), and a marble relief of
Madonna with Child in the hall, which add character and historical
intrigue.