The Bip Castle was constructed in 1795-1797 under the project of architect V. F. Brenna by the order of emperor Paul I. There were remains of old sweden fortification on the place of construction. This place is rather convenient for such kind of buildings. The Castle was included in the military register of fortresses of the Russian Empire and there was small garrison under command of commandant Arakcheev. The drawbridge was lifted at the sunset and gun fired a shot on midday.
After Paul's I death various institutions had accommodation here such as the School for deaf children, Clinic of cavalry regiment, Aleksandrovskij college, Pavlovsk city board. After October 1917 coup d’etat there were orphaned house, military komissariat, sovdep(local council of 'peoples' deputies). During WWII the Bip Castle has burned down, but today it is restored as a hotel.
References:House of the Blackheads (Melngalvju nams) is a building situated in the old town of Riga. The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried German merchants in Riga. Major works were done in the years 1580 and 1886, adding most of the ornaments.
The structure was bombed to a ruin by the Germans June 28, 1941 and the remains demolished by the Soviets in 1948. The current reconstruction was erected from 1995 to 1999. Today the House of Blackheads serves as a museum and sometimes concert hall.