- Address: Koluvere, 90702 Lääne County, Estonia;
- Foundation date: XIII century;
- Website: koluvereloss.com.
The castle of Coluvere, which in different sources is called Lod or Loden, is located in Lääne County of Estonia . Every year hundreds or more tourists come here to admire the amazing nature, against which the towers of the castle turn pink.
The Confused History of Coluvere Castle
In the history of the castle there are many dark spots, starting from the very moment of foundation. According to one source, the fortress was founded by the noble family of Lode at the end of the 13th century. But there is also other information that the castle for the bishop in the parish of Goldenbeck of Hansal was built in 1226. When inspecting the ruins, tourists are shown the oldest part of the castle - a high quadrangular tower, which was preserved in good condition.
Substantial work to strengthen and rebuild the castle began after he was transferred to the possession of the Saar-Läänemaa bishop.
The result of the action can be seen firsthand by modern tourists, because the castle acquired the appearance of a rectangular castellum with a courtyard in the center. The castle of Coluvere is included in the list of Estonia's most powerful castles , and is also recognized as the largest fortress of the bishop. With the location of the castle is connected one interesting point - it is built on the highest point of the country above sea level.
Around it, one can still see the remains of the former defensive water ditches, where the waters of the Liivi River were heading. The round gun turret was built at the beginning of the 16th century and was used for artillery needs. The castle survived the siege by the peasants when they rebelled against the German landowners in 1560. The uprising was suppressed, and the structure was subjected to another attack three years later, but by Swedish forces.
In the following years, the castle was repeatedly attacked, besieged, but it did not receive serious damage. In 1646, the King of Sweden presented him to his relative, who turned the fortress into an estate. Thus, the building lost its military importance and began to be used as a residence for important people.
After the recognition of Estonia's independence, the castle passed into the state ownership, and now it is an architectural monument.
What to expect for tourists?
The area around the castle is calm and serene, so guests like to stroll to the old water mill, look at the ducks swimming in the pond. There is also an old park, which impresses with its ancient beauty. Not everyone succeeds from the first time to overcome the intricacies of bridges and water channels, so tourists first get to the mill, and then just find the way to the castle. Tourists will certainly tell a lot of interesting stories from the life of the owners of the castle.
How to get there?
You can get to the castle of Colouver by car, having made a trip on the Tartu- Tallinn highway, after reaching the intersection of the Riga - Tallinn highway, after about 25 km there will be Colouver. Another option is to go on a sightseeing bus.