Castle
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Cēsis Castle
Cēsis Castle in the Vidzeme region is one of Latvia’s oldest and most historically significant medieval fortresses. Founded around 1213 by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword and expanded by the Teutonic Order, it served for centuries as the residence of the Livonian Landmeister. In 1577, during a brutal siege by Ivan the Terrible's forces, approximately 300 defenders committed tragic mass suicide inside by blowing up four barrels of gunpowder. Today, visitors equipped with candle lanterns explore the dimly lit Western Tower and subterranean dungeons, frequently reporting ghost encounters, unexplained whispers, and phantom footstep echoes.