Koknese Castle Ruins Traditional Geocache

[ENG] Koknese Castle (Latvian: Kokneses pils) is a complex in Koknese, Latvia, dating from the 13th century. The castle was situated on a high bluff overlooking the Daugava river valley. In 1965 a hydroelectric dam was built downriver, creating a reservoir that partially submerged the castle and flooded the surrounding valley.

Before the arrival of the Teutonic Knights, Koknese was the site of a wooden hill fort inhabited by the Balts. In 1209 Bishop Albert of Riga ordered the construction of a stone castle at the site, naming it Kokenhusen. For the first 50 years of its existence, Koknese was solely used as a defensive fort, but by 1277, Koknese had enough population to receive city rights. Koknese also became a member of the Hanseatic League thanks to its strategic location on the Daugava trade route.

The castle was heavily contested between Polish, Swedish and Russian forces in the 16th and 17th centuries. It changed hands many times, while the native inhabitants endured periodic slaughter, capture, and famine. In 1701, during the Great Northern War, Koknese was finally blown up by retreating forces to avoid the strategic castle falling into advancing Russian hands. The castle was never rebuilt and fell to ruin.

The town around Koknese began to reappear in the 19th century, after serfdom was abolished and a railroad station was built in the village, facilitating movement to the area. In 1900, a park was established around the castle ruins, and Koknese became a popular summer resort. The area was known for its scenic waterfalls, cliffs, and look-outs.

In 1965, the Soviet government built Plavinas Hydro Power Plant in the town of Aizkraukle. The reservoir flooded the entire length of the Daugava to Plavinas. Koknese Castle, once sitting atop a high bluff, was placed at the river's edge, while the scenic Daugava valley was submerged.

Kokneses ordenja muura pils (senais vaacu nosaukums - Kokenhusen, Kokenhausen) ir viduslaikos celta pils, kas atrodas muusdienu Kokneses teritorijaa, Daugavas upes krastaa. Liidz musdienaam no agrakaas ordenja pils ir saglabajushaas tikai atsevishkjas kiegelu sienas.

Kokneses ordenja muura pils ir celta 1209. gadaa. Kokneses novada pirmais vasalis bija bruninieks Ruudolfs no Jerihovas. Sakumaa vasalja pils kalpoja tikai aizsardziibai, bet saakot ar 14.gs. to atbilstoshi sadziives prasiibaam iekaartoja dziivoshanai. Shajaa laikaa pils pagalmaa ceela koka eekas, bet 15.gs., kad saaka attiistiities uguns ierochi, tas pamazaam nomainiija ar muura celtneem. Jerihovas Ruudolfam sekoja citi – Meinards, Johans, Jordans. 1269. gada biiskaps Nikolajs vairakus novadus Koknese izleenjoja brunjiniekam Teodorikam un vinja sievai Sofijai. Peec Teodorika naaves ipashumi nonaaca Sofijas otraa viira H. Fon Tizenhauzena iipashumaa. Kokneses pili un citus iipashumus arhibiiskaps bija iecereejis sev par parvalde esoshaas teritorijas centru, par ko ieilga striids ar ordeni, lidz 1398. gada Koknesi un apkartni sev tomer izciinija arhibiiskaps. No 1397. – 1566.g. Koknese kljuva par arhibiiskapa rezidenci un Kokneses pilii uztureeajas arii arhibiiskapa galms – 800 – 900 cilveeku. Ik nedeeljas maizei un alum patereja 3900 puuru labiibas. 1582. gada Stefans Batorijs apstiprinaaja Koknesei jau agraak pieshkjirtas Riigas tiesiibas. Arii veelaak citi valdnieki Koknesei pieveersa uzmaniibu, it iipashi kaa tirdznieciibas vietai pie Daugavas. Tachu 17.gs. pilseetas noziime mazinaajaas. Zviedru laikos 17.gs. 20. gados pili parbuvee atbilstoshi jaunajaam fortifikaacijas prasiibaam. Sava novietojuma deelj taa bija praktiski neienjemama un shaada pastaav liidz 1701. gadam, kad to uzspridzinaaja. Peec tam pils vairs nav atjaunota.

Peec Kokneses pils uzspridzinaashanas 1701. gadaa, lai to gadiijumaa neatjaunotu ienaidnieks, Karlis XII paveeleeja pili galiigi izniicinaat. Taa pasha gada oktobrii notika sagatavoshanas darbi spridzinaashanai, un 27. novembrii tika sagrauts ziemeljpuses austrumu gals Broce paskaidrojumaa zem 1797. gada ziimejuma raksta, ka, uzspridzinot pili, vairaki lielgabali no pils tikushi aizmesti liidz Daugavas krastam netaalu no Peerses ietekas. 1868. gada sausajaa vasaraa tos izvilka malaa un uzstaadija kalna pils rietumu galaa uz dabiigas terases, kur tie staveeja liidz appludinaashanai. Viens no tiem jau pirms pirmaa pasaules kara bija nogaazts zemee, un ap 1950. gadu kaads luuznu vacceejs Rubenis aizveda to uz staciju. Tikai ar sabiedriibas iejaukshanos tika panakts, ka lielgabalu atveda atpakal un nosvieda celjmalaa. Tad saakas speekstacijas buuve, lielgabalus savaaca un aizveda pie Kokneses luteraanju bazniicas. Bazniica tolaik bija tapusi par maakslas un veestures muzeju. Kad vietejaa draudze atguva savu iipashumu, lielgabali atkal bija jaaparvieto, un tos nokraava Jaanjkalnaa pie vecajiem krustiem. 1862. gadaa nobruka pils ziemelju puses austrumu gals pret Peersi. Kaadus gadus pec appludinaashanas nobruka liels gabals turpat no rietumu gala. Jau Latvijas patstaavibas laikaa bija meegjinaajumi paglaabt pilsdrupas no sabrukshanas, censhoties biistamaakajaas vietaas betoneet muuru virspusi. Kaadreizeejaas pilseetas dienvidaustrumu sturii pashaa krastmalaa baronu laikos bija uzcelts muura paviljons, no kura, kaa reiz teicis kaads vecs muizhas kalps, baroniem skatiities ledus ieshanu Daugavaa. Dazhi to sauca par baronu teejas naminju. Iespeejams, ka tas bija celts uz kaadas senlaiku celtnes pamatiem, jo vairaakos senos ziimejumos tai vietaa ir kaada celtne vai vismaz taas atliekas. Ap 1950. gadu pec izremonteeshanas un piebuuves uzcelshanas sheit izvietojas Jeekabpils novadpeetnieciibas muzeja filiaale. Buuvejot speekstaciju, sho celtni naacas nojaukt. Paceltie Daugavas uudenji izskaloja krastus, un saaka atsegties seni apbediijumi ar rotaslietaam – bija atklaajies 11. – 12. gs. kapulauks. Veelaak, 80. gados, lai visu sho krastmalu pasargaatu no taalaakas izskaloshanas, to nobeera ar dolomiita shkembaam un blukjiem. Vadoties peec atrastajaam senlietaam, turpat Gundegu apkartnee 1986. un 1987. gadaa atklaaja un izpeetija 11. – 12. gs. kapulauku – 68 skeletkapus un 5 ugunskapus. Mirushie bijushi latgalji un seelji, arii liibieshi. Netaalu no pilsdrupaam 18.gs. izveidojas muizha. Kokneses muizhas kunga majaa no 1885. lidz 1887. gadam dziivoja rakstnieks Ruudolfs Blaumanis.