Ruins of the Livonian Order Castle Add an Object
Ruins of the Alūksne Livonian Order Castle
In 1342, the Livonian Order completed the construction of a brick castle on the largest island of Lake Alūksne - Pilssala. It was consecrated on the day of the Proclamation of Mary, hence this place acquired a new name - Marienburg. Over the centuries, the rulers of the castle changed, it belonged to both the Russians, Swedes, and Poles. The Northern War was fateful for the castle and Alūksne. In August 1702, Russian troops led by Count Boris Sheremetev entered Alūksne. In order to prevent the castle from falling into Russian hands, the Swedish captain Wolf blew it up. In retaliation, Russian troops burned down the inhabited area and killed or captured all the residents.
The people of Alūksne still remember the story of a girl named Maria who is said to be bricked up in one of the castle walls, hence the island on which the castle was located is called both Pilssala and Maria's Island.
Today, the ruins of the castle have an open-air stage. You can reach Pilssala via a wooden bridge that was renovated in 2007.
After the events of the Northern War, the fortress was not restored to its former glory, and its model can be seen at the Alūksne Museum.
Categories:
Castles and manors;
Location on the map
Location:
Address: Alūksne
