Description of the attraction
Ventspils Castle is the oldest fortress in Latvia, for 800 years this castle has stood on the banks of the Venta River. Moreover, this is not only the oldest fortress in the country, but also a medieval prison that has survived to this day in such an excellent form. The first mention of Ventspils Castle in historical chronicles dates back to 1290. The same year is considered to be the year of foundation of the city of Ventspils, which was formed around the castle.
All buildings of the castle were built in the 14th century. They formed a complex of buildings with a courtyard. A document dated 1442 has survived, which says that 7 knights live in the Ventspils castle, as well as weapons for 32 people, 6 cannons and other weapons. During this period, Ventspils was included in the list of trading cities of the Hanseatic League. Since the fortress was located near an important sea route, the castle towers were used as a lighthouse.
There were many long underground passages in the Ventspils castle, which could be used as a refuge in case of danger. One of these passages went to the right bank of the Venta, into the forest. Nowadays, at the place where the course ended, there is a huge cobblestone. One legend is connected with this place, according to which the daughter of the manager of the castle fell in love with a simple fisherman. Her father, of course, was against such love, and repeatedly repeated that it would be better to give his daughter to the devil than to a fisherman. And then, one night, the daughter and father argued again, and exactly at midnight, as soon as the manager repeated this phrase again, the devil jumped out and dragged the girl away. The old man immediately got a blow, and the devil dragged the beauty along the underground passage.
As soon as they got to the stone to which the mechanism was attached, the devil lifted the stone and climbed out. While the girl was crawling through the passage, the mechanism suddenly broke, and the stone fell, pinching the girl's hands. No matter how the devil tried to free e, nothing worked. With the crowing of roosters, the devil disappeared, and the girl remained in this very place to die from grief and cold. Since then, at midnight, groans have been heard at this stone - this is the manager's daughter calling her favorite fisherman …
In 1832, at the end of the rebuilding of the Ventspils castle, from that time it became a district prison. Also, during this period, an administrative building and buildings for single cells were built. The prison existed in the castle until 1959. Further on its territory was the base of the border part of the Soviet Union.
Restoration work in the castle was carried out in 1977, during this time the facade of the Ventspils castle was renewed, and the territory was equipped. A weather vane was placed on the castle tower. In addition, large-scale studies were carried out on the territory of the castle, which resulted in the discovered fragments of unique frescoes of the 15-17 centuries.
The repair and restoration work carried out returned the castle to its former appearance, now the Ventspils castle looks exactly the same as in the 19th century. Now it houses the Ventspils Museum, which is a must-see. The presented composition, which tells about the history of the castle and the city, was developed using computer technology and is the most modern in the entire Baltic region. So, for example, going down to the "ghost cellar", you will see a black pig running past, in the exposition called "prison" moans of prisoners will be heard. Various mass events, theatrical performances are often held in the courtyard of the castle, in addition, you can shoot from a real bow.
