Bērzaune: Church and Castle Ruins

Bērzaune focuses on two historical subjects: the Lutheran church and the medieval castle ruins. Their history spans different periods, from the parish founded in 1334 to accounts of the castle in the 16th century. Protected natural features and a bookable trip to a goat farm offer other points of interest. This makes it possible to plan a stay based on an interest in church and castle history or a specific excursion.

Getting your bearings

The small tourist information point of the Bērzaunes pagasts administration is located in the building at Gaiziņa iela 7. The building is 200 m from the P81 Bērzaune–Vestiena–Ērgļi road. The address and road reference provide a specific point of orientation for planning.

Church history across several periods

The church’s history is marked by several dates. The parish was founded in 1334, and the Bērzaune Lutheran Church was built in 1881. A local cultural heritage description dates the altar area to approximately 600 years ago. These details refer to different aspects: the parish, the church building and the altar area. The history therefore extends beyond the church’s construction date.

The church contains a 16th-century tombstone of the Tiesenhausen family, which is considered a cultural monument of national significance. The church’s more recent history includes several milestones: the parish was re-established in 2001, and the church was restored in 2009 after standing in ruins for more than half a century.

The church is listed as open on Sundays from 15:45. Check before arriving whether a visit is possible then.

Bērzaune Castle

The medieval castle ruins are the remains of a castle belonging to the Tiesenhausen family, built in the 14th century, before 1382. Members of the family were episcopal vassals. The Rusow Chronicle reports that Muscovite troops captured and looted the castle in 1577.

The date when the castle came to an end is also uncertain: it is thought to have been abandoned either in the second half of the 17th century or during the Great Northern War. The family name links the castle’s history with that of the church: the church contains a 16th-century tombstone of the Tiesenhausen family.

Natural features and another excursion

A protected avenue is listed in Bērzaune under the name “Aizsargājama aleja.” Gaiziņkalns is part of the wider context of Bērzaunes pagasts: it lies in Gaiziņkalns Nature Park, which extends across the parishes of Vestiena, Bērzaune and Arona.

For a different kind of outing, the Z/S Līvi farm in the nearby area offers trips to a goat farm with nearly 300 goats and a production facility. The trip must be booked in advance.

Discover more destinations: Tīrumskanuļi, Dzelzava, Madona, Stalīdzāni, Sarkaņi, Jaunlubāna, Kalsnava, Ozoli.

For the wider travel overview: Madonas Novads.