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Lielstraupe Castle today

Latvia · Restored

Lielstraupe Castle

Lielstraupes pils

Lielstraupe Castle (Gross-Roop) is a two-winged castle complex in Straupe Parish, Vidzeme, Latvia, built from a medieval tower core and remodelled in the Baroque era. The complex surrounds an inner courtyard, includes a square tower with a Baroque hood and an attached former castle church, and stands beside parkland and dammed ponds on the Brasla river. It was remodelled under Count Peter von Lacy and reached its Baroque form in the mid-18th century.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1743

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1743

What Lielstraupe Castle looked like in its prime.

Two wings meet at almost right angles to enclose an inner courtyard; masonry is mostly brick, plastered in yellow and white, with red clay tile roofs and hipped forms. Where the wings join rises an almost square medieval tower (approx. 9 × 9.45 m) topped by a curved Baroque hood with an open lantern, four clock faces and a weather vane dated 1743. The southern residential wing bears a blown-up/curved gable akin to Riga cathedral, the long northeast wing contains the main gate with a coat of arms, and the eastern range adjoins a former Gothic castle church with high pointed-arch windows. The site sits beside parkland with ponds and remnants of a ring wall.

Its story

The story of Lielstraupe Castle.

Lielstraupe Castle, Gross-Roop in German, was originally built in the 13th century by the von Rosen family, an old Livonian noble house that ranked among the most influential vassals of the Archbishop of Riga. A Rosen castle at Roop is first mentioned in writing in 1310, when it was besieged by Lithuanians, and the village of Straupe began to develop around it in the 14th century.

In 1529 the complex was purchased by a line of the House of Hochrosen; in 1629 it was sold for 3,100 speciestaler to Elisabeth, widow of Jürgen von Albedyll, and in 1704 the von Stackelberg family followed the Albedylls as lords of the castle, acquiring a complex already restored twice after a severe fire in 1684. Count Peter von Lacy then rebuilt the war-damaged castle in Baroque style by 1743, the year still shown on the tower's weathervane, and remodelled the castle church to its present form.

In 1780 Gross-Roop was sold to Lacy's nephew Georg Graf Browne, Governor General of Livonia, and later came to the Counts of Solms and Tecklenburg. The two-winged complex, its square tower topped by a Baroque hood and open lantern, eventually returned to the Rosens and remained inhabited until it was expropriated from Hans von Rosen in 1939.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1743.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Lielstraupe Castle, including 2 interiors: knights' hall (ground floor), castle church interior, choir and pulpit. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach across the western pond and parkSquare tower with Baroque hoodNortheast wing main gate and courtyard-facing portalInner courtyard looking toward the portalSouthern residential wing and curved/stepped gableKnights' Hall (ground floor)Castle church interior, choir and pulpitRemains of the ring wall and defensive ponds

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Whose castle

Clans who held Lielstraupe Castle.

The families that held Lielstraupe Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Rosen

    Built by the von Rosen family in the 13th century; expropriated from Hans von Rosen in 1939.

  • Albedyll

    Bought in 1629 by Elisabeth, widow of Jürgen von Albedyll; the family held it until 1704.

  • Stackelberg

    Lords of the castle from 1704.

  • Lacy

    Count Peter von Lacy rebuilt the damaged castle in Baroque style by 1743.

  • Browne

    Sold in 1780 to Georg Graf Browne, Governor General of Livonia.

Questions about Lielstraupe Castle

What is the history of Lielstraupe Castle?

Lielstraupe Castle began as a 13th-century castle built by the von Rosen family, vassals of the Archbishop of Riga. It is first mentioned in writing in 1310, when Lithuanians besieged it. The complex changed hands several times, suffered major fires and war damage, and was rebuilt in Baroque style under Count Peter von Lacy by 1743. It remained inhabited until Hans von Rosen was expropriated in 1939.

What is inside Lielstraupe Castle?

Lielstraupe Castle contains the Knights' Hall, the former castle church, its choir and pulpit. The church has a single-nave interior, with the vault preserved in the choir, and includes a painted pulpit from 1739 and stained-glass windows in the apse. Interior features also include oak stairs, doors, parquet and glazed-tile stoves dating from the early 20th-century restoration.

Why was Lielstraupe Castle built, and what was it used for?

Lielstraupe Castle was built as a fortified seat for the von Rosen family, who served as vassals of the Archbishop of Riga. Its position above the Brasla was protected by the river, dammed ponds, a rampart and artificial moats. It later became a residential and Baroque complex, while the adjoining church served the castle and its lords.

Who owns Lielstraupe Castle now?

Lielstraupe Castle is now owned by Cēsis Municipality. It was transferred to the municipality under a special law passed on 16 March 2023, to preserve and protect its cultural and historical value and use the property for public needs.

Where is Lielstraupe Castle?

Lielstraupe Castle is in Straupe Parish, in the Vidzeme region of Latvia. It stands beside the Brasla river in Cēsis Municipality, near the A3 route between Riga and Valmiera. The castle is surrounded by parkland and ponds, with the remains of defensive works nearby.

When was Lielstraupe Castle built?

Lielstraupe Castle belongs to the 13th century, although its exact first-raised year is not recorded. The complex developed in phases: a medieval tower formed its earliest core, later wings and a Gothic church were added, and the castle reached its Baroque form in the 18th century, completed by 1743.

Was Lielstraupe Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Lielstraupe Castle was besieged by Lithuanians in 1310. The surviving account records the attack but does not state whether the castle held or fell. It was also badly damaged during the Northern Wars, and the castle and church were severely damaged by fire in 1684; further destruction followed during the Great Northern War and in 1905.

Which family or clan held Lielstraupe Castle?

The von Rosen family held Lielstraupe Castle from its construction in the 13th century, with interruptions. The Albedyll family acquired it in 1629 and held it until 1704, when the Stackelberg family became its lords. Count Peter von Lacy rebuilt it by 1743, and Georg Graf Browne bought it in 1780. The castle later returned to the Rosens.

What did Lielstraupe Castle look like in its prime?

In its Baroque form, Lielstraupe Castle has two wings meeting at almost right angles around an inner courtyard. Its mostly brick walls are plastered yellow and white, with red clay tile roofs. A nearly square medieval tower rises at the junction, topped by a curved Baroque hood, open lantern, four clock faces and a weather vane dated 1743.

Is Lielstraupe Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Lielstraupe Castle is still standing and restored, not a ruin. It has been rebuilt after severe damage, including the 1684 fire, the Great Northern War and the 1905 revolutionary fire. The 1906–1909 restoration reconstructed destroyed parts as far as possible, while also adding some later elements such as the second floor of the northeast wing.

Who built Lielstraupe Castle?

Lielstraupe Castle was built by the von Rosen family, while the later Baroque rebuilding was commissioned and carried out under Count Peter von Lacy. The available material names no architect for the medieval foundation. The 1906–1909 restoration was undertaken according to plans by the Riga-born architect Wilhelm Bockslaff.

Can you visit Lielstraupe Castle?

Lielstraupe Castle is open to visitors. The complex was opened for viewing after it passed into the ownership of the Pārgauja administrative district in January 2018. It had previously housed a state clinic, which ceased operations at the end of 2017 because the buildings had deteriorated.

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