The ruins
At the water's edge.
Ainars Brūvelis — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ainars Brūvelis — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Karlis Ustups — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0
Koknese Castle is a historic complex in the town of Koknese in Latvia's Vidzeme region, dating from the 13th century, about 87 km southeast of Riga in a straight line. The castle stood on a high bluff overlooking the Daugava river valley. Before the stone castle, the site was a wooden hill fort inhabited by the Balts; in 1209 the Bishop of Riga ordered a stone castle built here, named Kokenhusen. In 1965 a hydroelectric dam was built downriver, creating a reservoir that partly submerged the castle and flooded the valley around it. The crumbling red and grey stone walls, with towers and arched windows, stand right at the water's edge and are mirrored in the wide, calm reservoir. A green park with tall trees surrounds them on the riverbank. Visitors wander among the ruins and in the surrounding park and look out over the river from the bluff. It is lovely at sunset and makes a stop on the road between Riga and Daugavpils.
At the water's edge.
On the reservoir.
On the bank.
Koknese, Vidzeme, Latvia
At sunset.
Yes, between Riga and Daugavpils.