Cēsis Medieval Castle
Cēsis Medieval Castle
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
473 reviews
Excellent
277
Very good
144
Average
44
Poor
4
Terrible
4
Mike J
Chepstow, UK873 contributions
Nov 2022
If you are visiting Cesis as a tourist you must see the remarkable medieval castle that dominates the town. We purchased tickets which include admission to the castle, grounds and museum and for the castle were given a lantern with a candle to light our way around the towers and other dark areas. Being the largest medieval castle remaining in Latvia it is well worth a visit but do be aware that the steps in the towers are steep and unlit. The attached museum is well laid out and it is worth spending an hour or so wandering around.
Written December 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
averyglenthorne
London, UK63 contributions
Sep 2022
I visited in September 2022. Cesis is an elegant town but the main attraction is the castle. I caught the train from Riga, at an incredibly cheap fare, and was able to arrive in the morning, view the castle and then catch the train back towards Riga by mid-afternoon. Be aware that train information at the station is very limited and the on-train announcements give the next station and the one after so don't be caught out by that. However, the trains do run on time. Cesis train station is large and elegant so does stand out from the norm. The castle is reasonably well sign posted from the station. The best view is from the grounds through and at the back of the castle. Also it is worth walking down the hill to the lake - and of course back up the hill!
Written September 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Middle_Aged_Guy
Fremont, CA321 contributions
Sep 2022
This castle is worth the 1.5 hour drive from Riga. It is quite large and well maintained. It has several very interesting 3-D graphic video clips in the towers. Besides the towers, be sure you also go to the museum next to the castle and included as part of the same admissions price.
It is a steep climb up and down the towers, the museum provides you a candle to light the way since the towers are dark even during the day. I think this adds to the authenticity of the castle.
It is a steep climb up and down the towers, the museum provides you a candle to light the way since the towers are dark even during the day. I think this adds to the authenticity of the castle.
Written September 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sophie B
Riga, Latvia67 contributions
Oct 2022
What a stunning place. I like the fact efforts have been made to make the site informative and easily navigable but I think some more work needs to be done on this as some of the notice boards and sign posting was a little limited. The 'historic staff' giving candles to hold for the darker areas could have been a bit more welcoming. However these small niggles don't detract from a truly marvellous site which really will leave a good impression on you. Additionally, it has some weaponry in the gardens to look at (a trebuchet and a mangonel I think) along with workshops for another view into medieval life. Very much worth your while for a day trip if visiting Latvia.
Written January 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Shahab H
Helsinki, Finland3 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
It was really nice place. I’m not fan of castles but I had nice time there. We spend over 2 hours. Make sure that you climb to the top of towers and also watch the “history of the castle” in a show room in in the middle level of the tower.
Written August 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Gauja National park
Sigulda, Latvia23 contributions
Jun 2022
The guided excursion with a castle servant will take you around the castle with bright lanterns in your hands. You will be also shown the Western Tower and the living room of the master, proud of unique interior from the 16th century with a luxurious star vault. The attic reveals a breath-taking view over the rest of castle ruins, castle-front, park, and the town.
Written June 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Krisjanis Baltins
Ogre, Latvia1 contribution
Jun 2022 • Family
Did not let us in the exposition even through we arrived exactly on time for the last admision 45 minutes before closing time.
We traveled 2.5 hours with our family to get There and even after explaining the situation the cashier refused to let us in. Even sarcastically replying to Come back next time.
Disapointing expierence.
We traveled 2.5 hours with our family to get There and even after explaining the situation the cashier refused to let us in. Even sarcastically replying to Come back next time.
Disapointing expierence.
Written June 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sanni
Tartu, Estonia62 contributions
Jun 2020 • Friends
We really enjoyed our visit. The castle itself is quite spectacular, guests are given lanterns and let loose to explore the castle.
The unexpected highlight was the amazing staff demonstrating medival crafts and passtimes in the castle yard. I never thought I’d be interested in medival dice making, but the passion and knowledge of the person demonstrating this was incredibly infectious. The same was true for most of the other people making these demonstrations.
The newer part has an extensive museum that we did not really have time to go through, but it seemed well designed.
The unexpected highlight was the amazing staff demonstrating medival crafts and passtimes in the castle yard. I never thought I’d be interested in medival dice making, but the passion and knowledge of the person demonstrating this was incredibly infectious. The same was true for most of the other people making these demonstrations.
The newer part has an extensive museum that we did not really have time to go through, but it seemed well designed.
Written June 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rexonaut
Brussels, Belgium750 contributions
Aug 2021
As we wanted to see on our way to Riga also something else, we decided to visit it and it was worth taking a longer way to Riga. It has an interesting history and it is well restored. It was the strongest castle in Livonia. Some similarities with Kuressaare, but bigger and stronger. Turaida castle is not worth taking a trip, but this is. Also our 10 years old kids enjoyed it.
Written August 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Similtiades
Riga, Latvia3,576 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
As Cesis Castle is, by a long way, the largest and most important site of the town, it's already somewhere you're going to visit if you decide to make the trip. Whilst a reasonable walk from the main public transport links to Cesis, it dominates the park in the centre of the town - even if it is small enough that it is possible for the other buildings around the centre to block it out. The entrance is easy to find though, and well signposted.
Once inside the modern entrance building, which also functions as the museum upstairs, the staff on the desk speak English and Russian as well as Latvian. We started the tour with an exploration of the old castle, which involved a hefty trek though the late-January snow (around 30cm in some parts of the grounds), so dress warm if visiting in winter! In summer though, the weather would be the same as in most of Europe.
The desk gave us two candle lamps to explore the castle with, which made the whole thing so much more atmospheric and enjoyable. True, it wasn't the best source of lighting and it's not the most accessible place in the world, but honestly it just felt so much more authentic as a historical sight this way, instead of with the over-the-top health & safety features of UK that essentially restrict visitors from doing or seeing anything. You cannot go up the broken tower at Cesis Castle, but the rest of the main keep and tower was available, and we spent a good half an hour or so wandering around the historic halls with snippets of information.
The museum is way larger than it seems though, after handing back the candles once inside. At first it seems like just a few rooms down a corridor, but then there is an upstairs with two more wings, and another floor above that - with a temporary exhibition space to boot. The museum dived greatly into in-depth history about Cesis and the history of the town, castle, and people who lived there. We spent a good few hours there, until we were actually told by the museum security that they would be closing in 30 minutes; so we rushed the last few rooms and missed one or two of them altogether due to early closures.
I'm not sure how other reviewers can complain about the language barrier with the museum: each room had a translation card by the door (as is customary in most museums in former-Soviet countries) offering translations in English, Russian, French, German, Estonian, and Lithuanian. The upstairs temporary exhibition space was the only place that did not have at least an English and Russian translation, but when my girlfriend began translating for me the security guard on duty there was also happy to help me understand.
All in all, Cesis Castle is an entirely worthwhile trip to make - even just as a day trip from Riga like we did. Even in the winter, when it gets very snowy in Cesis, there is plenty to see and explore. However, I look forward to returning in the summer and seeing it when they can open up the whole site and gardens as well.
Once inside the modern entrance building, which also functions as the museum upstairs, the staff on the desk speak English and Russian as well as Latvian. We started the tour with an exploration of the old castle, which involved a hefty trek though the late-January snow (around 30cm in some parts of the grounds), so dress warm if visiting in winter! In summer though, the weather would be the same as in most of Europe.
The desk gave us two candle lamps to explore the castle with, which made the whole thing so much more atmospheric and enjoyable. True, it wasn't the best source of lighting and it's not the most accessible place in the world, but honestly it just felt so much more authentic as a historical sight this way, instead of with the over-the-top health & safety features of UK that essentially restrict visitors from doing or seeing anything. You cannot go up the broken tower at Cesis Castle, but the rest of the main keep and tower was available, and we spent a good half an hour or so wandering around the historic halls with snippets of information.
The museum is way larger than it seems though, after handing back the candles once inside. At first it seems like just a few rooms down a corridor, but then there is an upstairs with two more wings, and another floor above that - with a temporary exhibition space to boot. The museum dived greatly into in-depth history about Cesis and the history of the town, castle, and people who lived there. We spent a good few hours there, until we were actually told by the museum security that they would be closing in 30 minutes; so we rushed the last few rooms and missed one or two of them altogether due to early closures.
I'm not sure how other reviewers can complain about the language barrier with the museum: each room had a translation card by the door (as is customary in most museums in former-Soviet countries) offering translations in English, Russian, French, German, Estonian, and Lithuanian. The upstairs temporary exhibition space was the only place that did not have at least an English and Russian translation, but when my girlfriend began translating for me the security guard on duty there was also happy to help me understand.
All in all, Cesis Castle is an entirely worthwhile trip to make - even just as a day trip from Riga like we did. Even in the winter, when it gets very snowy in Cesis, there is plenty to see and explore. However, I look forward to returning in the summer and seeing it when they can open up the whole site and gardens as well.
Written April 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ganesh M
London, UK37 contributions
Hello. We are looking to visit the castle on May 3rd. We found out that the closing time is 6 pm from May. We would like to know if we enter the castle 45 minutes before closing time, will be able to stay after 6 pm or does the castle close and everyone has to leave by 6 pm? Thanks in advance.
Gert-Jan G
The Netherlands115 contributions
Hi Ganesh, a visit 45 minutes should be possible, but your second question is difficult to answer and you should address to the castle itself, sorry for that!
Hello! Could you say me please, if it possible to visit the Cēsis castle at 07.01.2019? What are opening hours? Thank you in advance for the information!
Nastasia
Moscow, Russia208 contributions
Hello Sherpa! Yes, you can. It will work from 10:00 to 17:00. Have a good time
Здравствуйте! Подскажите, пожалуйста, работает ли замок 07.01.2019. На сайте противоречивая информация.
altermann
Obninsk, Russia469 contributions
Даже не знаю, мы были раньше.
Cēsis Medieval Castle (Cesis) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Cēsis Medieval Castle
- We recommend booking Cēsis Medieval Castle tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 6 Cēsis Medieval Castle tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Cēsis Medieval Castle:
- Full-Day Private Trip to Cesis, Sigulda and Turaida from Riga (From $288.55)
- All Inclusive Honest History Tour - Āraiši, Cēsis, Līgatne, Sigulda (From $288.55)
- Road Trip to Cēsis, Līgatne, Āraiši and Sigulda - All Inclusive (From $642.54)
- Medieval Cesis Photoshoot Tour (From $144.81)
- Cesis: Medieval Heritage and Natural Treasures (From $128.72)
- Hotels near Cēsis Medieval Castle:
- (0.12 mi) Hotel Cesis
- (0.11 mi) Vanadzina Maja
- (0.12 mi) Apartments Vitenberg
- (0.17 mi) Katrina Hotel
- (0.20 mi) Hotel Gustavs
- Restaurants near Cēsis Medieval Castle:
- (0.10 mi) Vinetas un Allas Kārumlāde
- (0.09 mi) Mākslas telpa Mala
- (0.11 mi) H.E. Vanadzins Ziemelu restorans
- (0.11 mi) Bekko
- (0.12 mi) Kafe Priede