Sigulda New Castle

Sigulda New Castle is located in the municipality of Sigulda in modern Latvia. The site’s history is rooted in the development of a manor center that dates back to the 17th century under the rule of Swedish Livonia. Initially, the area was controlled by the Borgh family before passing to the Kropotkin family through marriage.

Between 1878 and 1881, Duke Dmitry Kropotkin and Duchess Olga Kropotkin constructed the present-day New Castle in a Neo-Gothic style. This residence was built on the site of an earlier fore-castle from the 17th century, using stones reclaimed from the medieval ruins that remained there. The manor served as a noble family home until it suffered significant damage during World War I in 1917.

Following important agrarian reforms in 1922, the castle entered a new phase as a creative retreat. Known as the Writers’ Castle, it became a boarding house offering full accommodation to members of the Latvian Union of Writers and Journalists, providing a place for literary work and cultural exchange. In 1934, ownership of the estate was transferred to the Latvian Press Society, which initiated comprehensive renovations from 1936 to 1937 under architect August Birkhans. These changes included adding a higher viewing tower, expanding the terrace, and constructing a second-floor balcony. The interiors were also transformed with modern national art created by prominent Latvian artists, enhancing its cultural significance.

In 1938, a monument honoring Atis Kronvalds, an important figure in the Latvian national awakening, was unveiled in the castle’s front yard. Sculpted by Teodors Zaļkalns, the statue stands as a symbol of Latvian identity linked to the cultural life fostered at the estate.

During World War II, the castle was requisitioned as the headquarters for the German army’s Nord division. An air-raid shelter was constructed near the main courtyard gates for protection. After the war, under Soviet control, the building served first as a recreational facility for government officials and later, beginning in 1953, it operated as a sanatorium managed by the Latvian SSR’s Ministry of Health. Following Latvia’s regaining of independence, the castle became the seat of local government in 1993, housing the council of Sigulda City and later, from 2003, the Sigulda Municipality Council.