Tukums Castle Tower

Tukums, Latvia

The castle tower is a fragment of the oldest building in Tukums. It is believed that the construction of the castle in Tukums was commenced in 1277 by the Livonian Order. The castle was surrounded by a 7.5 m tall and 1.6 m wide stone wall. The castle defence was ensured by an artificial, deep moat and its position on the high bank or the River Slocene. Only a small stone wall fragment has been preserved from the castle, but the castle tower built in the 18th century in turns hosted premises for a prison and the caronal stocks (granary). Nowdays, it hosts the history museum of Tukums town, telling about the town's history from the ancient times up until the modern day.

References:

Tukums Tourism

Address

Brīvības laukums 19, Tukums, Latvia

See all sites in Tukums

Details

Founded: 1277
Category: Castles and fortifications in Latvia
Historical period: State of the Teutonic Order (Latvia)

More Information

www.turisms.tukums.lv

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Slokenbeka Castle (4,5 km)
Durbe Manor (2,3 km)

Jaunpils Castle (27,3 km)
Kandava Castle Ruins (24,1 km)
Dobele Castle Ruins (38,7 km)
Nurmuiza Castle (37,7 km)
Igene Church (42,5 km)
Tervete Hill Fort (55,4 km)
Cere Manor (23,6 km)

User Reviews

Julia Maakar (3 years ago)
I came to Turkums on a working day but all the museums were closed. I was wondering around the town when I found the tower. I didn't expect anything but I got more than I wanted. The woman who worked there arranged a tour in the museum. She told me everything I wanted to know, all the historical facts not only about the cadtle but also about the town. I definitely recommend this place!

Yutaka Haramura (3 years ago)
Small museum, I like it.

Oskars Pundurs (4 years ago)
From outside it looks like just another small castle. Nothing particularly interesting.

Gints Varevics (4 years ago)
Ok

Aivars Zvīdris (6 years ago)
Fantastic place!

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Klearchos Kapoutsis

Historic Site of the week

Beckov Castle

The Beckov castle stands on a steep 50 m tall rock in the village Beckov. The dominance of the rock and impression of invincibility it gaves, challenged our ancestors to make use of these assets. The result is a remarkable harmony between the natural setting and architecture.

The castle first mentioned in 1200 was originally owned by the King and later, at the end of the 13th century it fell in hands of Matúš Èák. Its owners alternated - at the end of the 14th century the family of Stibor of Stiborice bought it.

The next owners, the Bánffys who adapted the Gothic castle to the Renaissance residence, improved its fortifications preventing the Turks from conquering it at the end of the 16th century. When Bánffys died out, the castle was owned by several noble families. It fell in decay after fire in 1729.

The history of the castle is the subject of different legends.