Turaida Castle

Turaida Castle

Turaida Castle is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Latvia and the Baltics. Built of red brick and dolomite stone, it was commissioned in 1214 by Bishop Albert of Riga to strengthen his power over the surrounding lands and to control the trade routes along the Gauja.

Over the centuries the castle changed hands many times: it belonged to the Archbishops of Riga, the Livonian Order and later the King of Sweden, and it lived through wartime destruction and rebuilding. In 1776 a devastating fire badly damaged the castle, and for a long time it stood in ruins until careful restoration began in the 20th century.

Today Turaida Castle is the heart of the Turaida Museum Reserve and one of the most visited destinations in Latvia, where you can climb the main tower, explore the historical exhibition and breathe in the medieval atmosphere that is also closely tied to the legend of the Rose of Turaida.

The red-brick walls and tower of the medieval Turaida Castle

A legend of love and loyalty

In the early 17th century, when Swedish troops besieged Turaida Castle, Grīvs, a servant of Turaida church, found a small girl in the ruins of the castle. He took her in and named her Maija, after the month in which she was found.

The girl grew into an exceptionally beautiful young woman, and people called her the Rose of Turaida.

Maija was engaged to Viktors Heils, the gardener of Sigulda Castle. The lovers met in the evenings at Gutmanis Cave, a place that became the silent witness of their meetings.

But a Polish soldier, Jakubowski, also served at the castle, and Maija could not return his feelings. Rejected, he forged a letter to lure Maija to the cave alone.

When they met in the cave, Maija tried to save herself by offering Jakubowski her red silk scarf: she said it was enchanted and would protect its wearer from a sword blow. Jakubowski tested her words with his sword, and Maija chose death rather than submit to violence.

The tragedy took place in the summer of 1620.

Maija was buried in the cemetery on Turaida church hill, where a memorial plaque with the words "Here rests the Rose of Turaida" was later fixed by an ancient linden tree. To this day newlyweds bring flowers to her grave, and every year the Turaida Museum Reserve holds a festival of roses and autumn flowers dedicated to this legend.

A postage stamp with the Rose of Turaida – a depiction of the legend of Maija and Viktors