Embūte Manor and the Masonry Castle Ruins

The ruins of the Embūte Castle are the remains of the masonry castle of the Bishopric of Courland (German: Bischofsburg Amboten) and the manor (Schloss Ambothen) in Embūte.

The masonry castle was built for defense against the incursions of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania’s army in the 13th and 14th centuries, but it was destroyed around the year 1700 during the Great Northern War.

On the original walls of the castle, a manor house was built, which was expanded in the 19th century by demolishing one of the old gate towers of the castle. The manor has not survived to this day—it was destroyed in a fire around the 1920s. After the Second World War, the local collective farm used the castle’s stones in construction.

To this day, the surrounding embankment remains and some walls have survived.

The Embūte Manor's farm building has been restored. Since 2006, the Embūte Tourism Information Center has been located there. In the yard, there is a gazebo where visitors can relax and enjoy the beautiful landscape. In the Tourism Information Center, visitors can view large-scale models of the Embūte Valley, thematic exhibitions, and purchase local souvenirs. There is also a seminar room with a capacity of up to 50 people and accommodation for 20 people with additional sleeping arrangements on mattresses.

The surrounding area is perfect for nature walks. The Embūte Nature Trail passes through the Embūte Hillfort and the Embūte Valley, with stairs, viewing platforms, and a lookout tower along the trail.