Koknese Castle
| Koknese Castle | |
|---|---|
Kokneses pils | |
| Vidzeme, Koknese municipality, Latvia Near Koknese | |
Ruins of the castle in 2007 | |
Castle from the northwest in the 17th century | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Castle |
| Owner | Municipal, state |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 56°38′17″N 25°25′3″E / 56.63806°N 25.41750°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1209 |
| Built by | Albert of Riga |
| In use | 491–492 years |
| Materials | Lime-gravel mortar bricks, light grey dolomite |
| Fate | Demolished in 1701 |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Kokenhausen (1601) Northern War of 1655–1660 Great Northern War (1701) |
Koknese Castle (Latvian: Kokneses pils, German: Burg Kokenhusen) is a complex in Koknese, in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, dating from the 13th century. The castle was situated on a high bluff overlooking the Daugava river valley. In 1965 a hydroelectric dam was built downriver, creating a water reservoir that partially submerged the castle and flooded the surrounding valley.
The castle was heavily contested between Polish, Swedish and Russian forces in the 16th and 17th centuries. It changed hands many times, while the native inhabitants endured periodic slaughter, capture, and famine. In 1701, during the Great Northern War, Koknese was blown up by retreating forces to avoid the strategic castle falling into advancing Russian hands.