The first time Koknese is mentioned is in the famous 1205 Chronicle of Henry of Livonia. However archaeological digs have shown that the territory was already inhabited by 1 BC. The building of the stone castle began with the arrival of German Bishop Albert in 1209 (Albert of Riga) on the same place where an ancient Latvian wooden castle once stood. The castle was built on the hilltop overlooking the confluence of the Perse and Daugava rivers. The castle has been reconstructed several times. The walls were made from dolomite quarried from the Daugava's banks, with bricks used for door and window frames. A settlement of merchants and craftsmen formed around the castle in the 13th century. The Bishop of Riga granted Koknese its town charter in 1277. Later Koknese joined the Hanseatic League and the town's representatives took part in assemblies of Livonian towns. When Livonia collapsed, Koknese came under Polish rule for a while, but in 1577 during the Livonian War, the castle was taken by the Russians. On the orders of Ivan the Terrible, the entire Koknese garrison was killed, the town demolished and its population taken as hostages. During the later Northern War, Koknese was taken by a Polish-Saxon army and the castle was partially blown up in 1701. Since then Koknese castle has remained a ruin. Since the creation of the Pjavinas hydro-electric station, the water of the Daugava has lapped at the bottom of the castle walls. Currently, maintaining the glory and reputation of the old time, theatrical performances, concerts, coinage, wedding ceremonies in medieval and ancient Latvian style, and the traditional Cat-fish Waking Festival takes place at the Koknese Castle ruins. The historical exhibition in the pavilion of the ruins provides an insight about the landscape that cannot be seen anymore. It is possible to purchase souvenirs with symbols of Koknese at the visitor pavilion.

Type of Data Point - Publicly Available Information

Koknese Castle Ruins - Public Info

Visit page of the element - Koknese Castle Ruins

Inserted: 14-10-2022 22:10:02