Cēsis castle is the largest and best-preserved medieval castles remaining medal in Latvia. It is located in the center of Cesis, went down in history under the German name Wenden. Based Wenden little later, after the castle of the same name, probably, Wendy (or Wends), as indicated by the title. Castle built on the site of a wooden castle of the people.

Cēsis castle was built at the site, which has strategic importance. There converged trade routes to Pskov, Dorpat, Lithuania. Later, he became a part of the fortifications Gauja corridor, protecting land in Estonia and Northern Latvia.

In 1206, the Knights of the Order of the Sword, under the direction of Master tively (Wine) background Rohrbach began construction of a stone castle. After 3 years, the building was completed. Year of inception of the castle is regarded as the year of foundation of Cesis.

After the Battle of Saule in 1236 of the Order of the Sword broken entered the Teutonic Order and formed as an offshoot of the Livonian Order of Teutonic Knights.

Since the beginning of 1237, for many years cēsis castle was the residence of Master of the Livonian Order, but with some interruptions, since about half the time the residence was located in Riga. From the original form of the remains of the castle chapel nave in the eastern part of the castle and fragments of architectural details of white stone late-type. Usually, in the castle there were about 30 knights. Not far away was their family and mercenaries.

The castle was rebuilt in the late XIV - early XV centuries. From it are preserved two buildings are connected at right angles, located on the south-west and south-east, and two tiers of the main western tower. Not far from it was entering the courtyard, as well as fragments of the outer arch of the gallery. The walls were built of limestone and boulders. Apparently, the windows in the castle were decorated with beautiful bindings of white stone.

In the late XV - beginning of XVI century, when the rules of Master Walter von Plettenberg, were built two round towers for the artillery with wall thickness up to four meters, and organized network Forburga.

Cēsis castle underwent a lot of attacks and sieges endured a lot. In 1577 the troops of Ivan the Terrible destroyed it almost. And in 1748, the castle was burned during the fire of the city. In 1777 the family of Baron Sievers bought the land and rebuilt the castle, turning it into a palace, created in the Gothic style. After the adoption of Latvia's independence was restored cēsis castle.

Currently, work is underway on the restoration of the castle in Cesis Vendensogo. The good condition of the West Tower, which is the Master's room. Looks good Lademaera tower, outbuildings and the east tower. It is the refectory - remter in which knights dinner.

For walks in the castle tour is issued flashlight, and that is very interesting - medieval helmet to give a special flavor and to protect themselves from attacks in the dark corridors of the schools and the narrow spiral staircase. In the basement is a prison of the castle, which can also be visited.

An interesting fact is that the writer A.Bestuzhev-Marly, Decembrist, created a novel about Vendenskom castle and its noble owner - "Castle Wenden. An excerpt from the diary of the Guards officer. May 23, 1821 "(this is one of its four" Livonian novels ").

Cēsis castle in Cesis is a unique attraction, as it is the most extensive and best-preserved medieval castle others in Latvia.