St. Anne’s Lutheran Church is one of the largest and certainly the oldest church in Liepaja. First written references about this church were found in documents dated in 1508. Initially wooden St. Anne’s Church was built by the Master of Livonian Order and was located elsewhere in Liepaja. Construction works of the wooden church were finished in 1587. In the 17th century, the wooden church was bordered with brick walls, the tower was raised up and the majestic baroque style hand made wooden altar of 9.7 meter height, and 5.8 meter width was projected and built by Nicholas Sofrensa. During 17th, 18th and 19th centuries the building was several times renewed, rebuilt and renovated. In the end of the 19th century city architect MP Berchi order to rebuild the tower of the Church.
In the end of 19th century master Karl Hermann designed large organs - the owner of a majestic sound. The spellbinding Gothic style façade and remarkable interior are worth of seeing. Dark wooden seats are pointed into an outstanding three levels wooden altar embellished with wooden figures of the Saints’.
References:First record of Kastelholma (or Kastelholm) castle is from the year 1388 in the contract of Queen Margaret I of Denmark, where a large portion of the inheritance of Bo Jonsson Grip was given to the queen. The heyday of the castle was in the 15th and 16th centuries when it was administrated by Danish and Swedish kings and stewards of the realms. Kastelhoma was expanded and enhanced several times.
In the end of 16th century castle was owned by the previous queen Catherine Jagellon (Stenbock), an enemy of the King of Sweden Eric XIV. King Eric conquered Kastelholma in 1599 and all defending officers were taken to Turku and executed. The castle was damaged under the siege and it took 30 years to renovate it.
In 1634 Åland was joined with the County of Åbo and Björneborg and Kastelholma lost its administrative status.