Lihula Castle: A Medieval Stronghold in Estonia
Visitor Information
Google Rating: 4.6
Popularity: Low
Country: Estonia
Civilization: Crusader
Site type: Military
Remains: Castle
History
Lihula Castle is located in the municipality of Lihula, Estonia, and was built by the Livonian Order and the bishopric of Ösel-Wiek during the 13th century. The castle stands on a site historically occupied since the early Iron Age, originally an Estonian settlement.
In the early 13th century, the area that would become Lihula Castle was a focal point of political and military struggle. Bishop Albert of Riga played a crucial role in shaping the region’s ecclesiastical structure. In 1211, he appointed Theoderich, abbot of Dünamünde monastery, as bishop with the intention of making Lihula the episcopal seat. Later, in 1220, Albert installed his brother Hermann as bishop over Lihula and the wider Estonian territory. During this formative period, local Estonian tribes, the Livonian Order, Swedish and Danish forces vied for control. Swedish troops briefly occupied the site in 1220 but were driven out, resulting in the destruction of the wooden settlement there. Peace treaties followed raids and attacks by native elders around 1218–1219.
Between 1234 and 1251, Lihula served as the residence of the bishop of Ösel-Wiek. Simultaneously, from 1241 to 1247, it functioned as the commandery center of the Livonian Order, reflecting its dual religious and military importance. The stone castle itself was constructed over four years, from 1238 to 1242, built jointly by the Livonian Order and the bishopric. After 1238, the castle’s management was formally divided: one half belonged to the bishopric, the other to the order. Control of the castle’s main gate and gate tower was entrusted exclusively to the bishop’s soldiers, with limitations placed on the order’s building rights within their portion.
Lihula Castle became a significant stronghold during regional conflicts. In 1298, during a civil war within Livonia, forces of the Livonian Order captured the castle from the bishopric, taking Bishop Konrad I captive. This event also saw the destruction of the Elisabeth church within the castle grounds, likely as part of the military action.
The strategic importance of Lihula persisted into the 16th century. During the Northern Seven Years’ War in 1563, it fell under Swedish control and was administered by Swedish military leaders such as Klaus Kursell and Gerhard Dönhoff. However, in the subsequent Livonian War from 1575 to 1581, Russian troops captured the castle. Swedish forces recaptured it in 1581, but the castle suffered significant destruction during the conflict and was ultimately abandoned, never to be rebuilt.
Despite its ruinous state, Lihula Castle remained a recognized landmark in diplomatic documents; the 1595 Treaty of Teusina formally acknowledged Russian renunciation of claims to Lihula and other Estonian castles, marking the end of competing territorial ambitions over the site.
Archaeological interest in Lihula Castle revived in 1990 under the direction of archaeologist M. Mandeli. Excavations uncovered parts of the castle’s gate, chapel, and outer fortifications, prompting conservation efforts focused on preserving the remaining foundation walls.
Remains
Lihula Castle was constructed on a limestone promontory known locally as Lihula Lossimägi. Its location took advantage of natural defensive features: a steep escarpment to the north and a semicircular moat to the south. The castle’s layout was oval, enclosed by a high ring wall that physically divided the complex into two halves. One half was reserved for the bishopric, the other for the Livonian Order, reflecting the shared but contested control over the site.
The main entryway to the castle, including the gate and its substantial gate tower, was under the bishop’s control. Restrictions placed on the Livonian Order prevented them from erecting towers within their portion of the castle. This division highlights the castle’s dual religious and military functions.
To the castle’s south, considered the most vulnerable side, two layers of outer defenses were built. These consisted of concentric fortifications accompanied by moats designed to slow and deter attackers. In the 16th century, these defenses saw further enhancement through the construction of two earthen bastions and additional moats. Bastions are projecting parts of a fortification allowing defenders to cover adjacent walls with fire.
Excavations have uncovered sections of medieval masonry, including the remains of the castle’s gate and a chapel. Archaeologists also discovered a spiral staircase cellar, a feature indicative of the vertical circulation within castle towers or keeps. These structural remains offer insight into the original layout and defensive strategies employed at the site.
At present, the castle ruins survive only in fragmentary form and are considered to be in poor condition as of mid-2024. Conservation efforts have focused on stabilizing and preserving the foundations revealed during archaeological work to prevent further decay. The remains stand as a testament to the turbulent history and shifting powers in medieval Estonia.
