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The main tower: The Bergfried
Work on the tower began in the 13th century. It has five floors, with vaults on the third and fifth floor and a fireplace on
the third floor. The most endangered side of the tower was the northern side, and the thickness of the walls here is as much
as 3.7 m. To the South, where the yard of the castle is, the walls are approximately 2.9 m thick. The walls of the tower are
covered with particularly long bricks (9x15x33.5 cm). The height of the tower to the top of its roof – 38.25 m. The height of the
stonework is 29.20 m. The external diameter of the tower is 13.40 m, and the internal diameter is 6.8 m. The upper part of
the tower was restored during the 1950s.
The exhibition “The Main Tower of
the Turaida Castle: The Bergfried:
Construction of the tower during the first half
of the 13th century
The large and round tower, or Bergfried, is the main
component of the castle, and that is why it is known as
the main tower. It is meant for observation and protec-
tion, and it was the last refuge for the castle’s defenders
during an attack. The entrance of the Bergfried is on
the third-floor level – 9.5 m above the ground. There
was a wooden ladder to get up to the entrance, and it
was demolished if there was an attack. The Bergfried
was one of the first buildings of the castle. There was
a cone-shaped cupola at the top of the tower, and the
walls had cornices and apertures for firearms. Only the
upper level was used to observe the surroundings and
protect the castle. Lower floors were not of use for
this purpose, because the narrow windows were only
meant to admit light. The Bergfried was not populated
during peacetime. It may be that an arch on the eastern
side of the tower once contained a crucifix with a small
semi-circular roof above it.
The main tower, 13th century,
drawing by architect G. Jansons
A chandelier on the third floor of the main tower, reproduction
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THE STONE CASTLE OF TURAIDA