The medieval castle of Rauna is one of the largest and best preserved castle ruins in Latvia. The precise date of construction of the castle is unknown, however, sources written by the Archbishop of Riga Johannes IV of Zinten allow to conclude that it was built in the 60s of the 14th century and was used as one of the principal residences of the Archbishop of Riga and his entourage, which was visited irregularly at all seasons.
Only few details are known about the medieval architecture of the masonry castle, since the castle has been rebuilt several times and most of the original structures are no longer seen today. Rauna Castle was built gradually, by building a castellum-type exterior walls of the building first. This means that initially the castle was built as a fortification with four masonry walls, and temporary wooden structures could have been built inside the fortified walls.
When the Livonian War started in 1558, the castle did not suffer much damage, since, due to the rumours of the brutality of Russian Knyaz Ivan IV, which spread rapidly, the army of the Dutchy of Russia took the castle without a fight. At the end of the 16th century, as indicated in the audit of 1582, the castle was still in good condition – all structures of the castle were preserved. The masonry castle of Rauna sustained the most severe damage during the conflict between Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and Sweden in early and mid-17th century: After the last conflict, the Swedish administration decided not to rebuild the castle and it lost its importance as a fortification. In 1683, an order to eliminate the fortifications of the castle was issued – sections of the fortifications of the bailey of the castle and protection towers between them were blown up.
The courtyard has been developed in a shape of a longitudinally extended rectangle. It is 11 metres wide and 37 metres long. The courtyard of the castle could be accessed through the courtyard gate. Upon entry to the courtyard, stone galleries were situated at the opposite wall and at both side walls of the courtyard. The stone galleries were made in the form of outdoor hallways at the level of the second floor. The premises of the second floor of the castle were accessible from the hallway. Entries to the ground floor of the castle were situated under the gallery, housekeeping and utility premises, as well as entrances to the cellars of the castle were situated on the ground floor. The yard was paved with medium sized stones with the sites of water gutter made of sloped stones still visible in the yard.
The beginnings of Rauna Manor Estate are associated with Rauna Castle. Rauna Castle was built in the 14th century and served as one of the residences of the Archbishop of Riga during the entire period of Middle Ages. Rauna Manor Estate was developed next to Rauna Castle in early 16th century, becoming the main element of cultural environment of the residential area of Rauna after the castle. As the political situation changed, the owners of Rauna Manor Estate changed as well. Owners of the manor estate changed several times and in the early 19th century it became the property of Bernhards Kristians Kleins, a banker from Riga. In co-operation with a merchant Zuckerberger, he opened a sugar manufacture and, at Baižkalns Manor – a paper manufacture, where paper for sugar packaging was produced. In 1821, the sugar factory went bankrupt and B.K. Kleins committed a suicide. In 1821, the Rauna Castle Manor Estate was purchased by Adolph Heinrich von Wulf (1765 – 1843) for 168,800 rubles. Von Wulf was one of the richest landlords of the Governorate of Livonia. He owned 25 manor estates.
Alexander von Wulf (1802 – 1832), the son of Adolph Heinrich von Wulf, has governed the manor estate for a short period of time. A legend goes that, in 1832, in Cēsis, the party of Vidzeme region landlords took place and Alexander von Wulf had an argument with the owner of Dzērbene Manor Estate, senior lieutenant Gottlieb Weissenstein. Alexander ridiculed Weissenstein for not having married and argued that, therefore, his family is on the road to extinction, as a result of which von Wulf was challenged to a pistol duel. On 24 November, a duel took place near Dzērbene Manor and both participants were wounded. Weissenstein died en route to Dzērbene, while von Wulf was taken to Rauna, where, on 6 December 1832, he died from the sustained injuries.
From 1906 to 1910, von Wulf family sold Rauna Manor Estate to Peasants’ Land Bank of Russia, which bought the property for 180,000 rubles. Shortly after the foundation of the Republic of Latvia, an agrarian reform was implemented, as a result of which former manor estate lands and equipment were incorporated into the Sate land fund and divided to small farmers and landless people. As Rauna Manor Estate developed and the castle ruins were abandoned, the landscape properties of the vicinity and the castle ruins were used to create a park. Rauna park is associated with the events of 1905 revolution and, therefore, a memorial place for revolutionaries shot during 1905 revolution is situated here. The revolution of 1905 affected Rauna Parish as well. A People’s Meeting was convened in Rauna, which requested more independence in decision making on local issues, as well as the activity of local revolutionaries was high and the meetings organised by them were widely visited.
The precise date of the construction of Rauna Church is unknown. The first mention of Rauna Church in written sources dates back to 1457.
Since first built, Rauna Church has significantly changed, as it was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. It was damaged during Livonian War, as well as during the Swedish – Polish war, and the church was restored every time. Information is available that, in 1613, the church did not have the roof, which was restored only in 1636. It was mentioned in the protocol of church visitation of 1691 that the roof of Rauna church is covered with flat wooden shakes and has an earthen clay floor.
In 1702, the army of the Russian Empire under the command of Sheremetyev burnt Rauna Church down, and the visitation protocol of the church of 1724 mentions that the church has collapsed. The tower of the church was restored in 1736, the new tower obtained a baroque shape and has retained it to date.
Rauna Church has undergone significant reconstructions over time. In 1793 – 1794, a sacristy was added to the church. In 1803 – 1804, the most extensive reconstruction in the history of the church occurred – the wall at the southern side of the church was destroyed and a section of the church was added. Currently the main entrance to the church is situated in this part, as well as the altar of the church was transferred from the eastern side to the northern wall of the church. It was done to expand the church, because in the late 18th century the congregation of Rauna parish consisted of 10,000 members.
After the World War II, despite Soviet ideology and limitations, the congregation of Rauna church remained active. Services have been held, celebrations, wedding and christening ceremonies have been organised. Up to the 50s of the 20th century festive consecration ceremonies of new congregation members were organised. In 1972, the 710th anniversary of Rauna Church was celebrated at Rauna Church. Thanks to the wisdom of the pastors, parish managers and members of Rauna congregation, Rauna Church and its cultural and historical heritage was preserved, saving the church from fate that overtook other churches. In January 1991, Rauna Church was the site that the participants of barricades from Rauna Parish departed from in order to join barricades in Riga. Before departure, the pastor of Rauna congregation held a sermon and blessed the departing people.
The opening of the society house occurred on 1 and 2 January 1911 and it was consecrated by the pastor of Rauna congregation. The society contained premises for the needs of the society, Rauna Credit Union, as well as a buffet, society shop, and two event and assembly halls.
The idea of building a house for the needs of Rauna Agricultural Society first occurred well before 1911. During the meeting of society members on 26 November 1900, Rauna Agricultural Society decided to build a stately house in the centre of Rauna. Three representatives, who were commissioned to conduct negotiations on the purchase of land, perform the planning works of the construction and the required calculations, were elected. Rauna Credit Union has come to acknowledge the same need. On 27 November 1908, Rauna Agricultural Society succeeded in buying a 674.2 m2 large land plot in the very centre of Rauna for 1,300 rubes from Rauna Parish Authority, on condition that the Agricultural Society may legally use this land plot for trading, organising social events and perform the required construction works, but they are not entitled to sell the land plot.
During the Soviet years, Rauna Agricultural Society house became the Clubhouse of Rauna. The cultural life in Rauna was rich, parties, concerts, events, memorial evenings, lectures, exhibitions and other events were held here.
In the 80s of the 20th century, the issue of restoration of the Clubhouse of Rauna has become increasingly topical. The times changed and the clubhouse failed to see its restoration. In the early 90s of the 20th century, the clubhouse became the property of Rauna Parish Authority, which transferred the building for privatisation. The building became the property of Kalēji family, who equipped shops here.
Rauna Agricultural Society house or Rauna Clubhouse is one of the main and most expressive accents of the historical centre of Rauna.
The beginnings of Rauna Freedom Monument can be traced back to 21 August 1929, when the head of the city of Cēsis and the head of the Cēsis district invited the most prominent public activists of Rauna Parish for a meeting, inviting them to honour the acquisition of freedom by building a monument in Rauna.
On 13 October 1929, a session was convened with the participation of representatives of various public organisations of Rauna and the Committee of the Monument to the Liberation of Rauna and the Surrounding Area was established.
The most complicated and time consuming task of the committee was the collection of funds required for the construction of the monument. Donations were collected, trade fairs, lotteries, festivals, theatre performances were organised, as well as personal invitations to different organisations were sent – asking them to donate larger sums of money.
A rock that would be suitable for the monument was found at a distance of approximately 4 km from the centre of Rauna, not far from Lorenči. Movement of the heavy rocks to Rauna was a difficult task. At the same time, the committee worked on the creation of the monument square. In spring 1932, the committee organised the planting of the memorial oak lane at the monument square. Each of the planted oaks served as a memorial tree for a member of Rauna parish, who died during the Latvian Freedom Battles. A bottle with the name and brief life history of the deceased soldier was buried under each of the planted oaks.
On 19 July 1932, a festive laying ceremony of the foundation stone of the monument was held. The foundations of the monument are laid approximately 10 feet deep, together with a solemnly signed deed, coins, newspapers and other items.
On 20 August 1933, the opening celebration of Rauna Freedom Monument took place. After the opening of the monument, it become one of the centres of the social and cultural life of Rauna and symbols of Rauna. All major festivals and events of Rauna Parish up to 1940 were organised at the Freedom Monument.
During the Soviet times Rauna Freedom Monument was preserved, only the inscription “God Bless Latvia!”, which had been present on the monument, was destroyed. During this time, no events were organised at the monument, the vicinity of the monument got covered with shrubs. Despite the fact that no events were organised at the monument, the monument can be seen in multiple photographs taken during the Soviet times. It can be explained by the fact that the stairs in the area of the monument square were frequently used for taking group photos.
Thanks to the activists of Rauna Group of the Popular Front of Latvia and the funds donated by residents, the monument was cleaned in spring 1989, the stairs in the vicinity of the monument were repaired and the historical inscription “God Bless Latvia!” was restored.
Mill has been in operation in Rauna since the 16th century and is seen on the maps of Rauna of that time. From mid-19th century to early 20th century, the mill was the property of Rauna Castle Manor owners, the family of von Wulf. Initially, the mill dam was made of wood, but, at the end of the 19th century a river dam with three lips was built. To honour this event, a plaque was made, which can today be found at the side of Rauna Mill dam. Names of the owner of Rauna Manor Estate, The tenant of Rauna Manor Estate and the flour miller, as well as the date of construction of the three-level dam can be read on the plaque: “Emil Wulf/G.Loewen/J.Seewald/1887”.
Up to early 20th century, the mill was powered by at least two water wheels, which were later replaced by a steam-operated mechanism. At this time, there were two flour mill workshops, wool carding and spinning equipment, it was possible to perform fabric painting, felting and cutting as well. A small sawmill was also equipped at the mill. During the World War I and until 1921, the mill was rented by a private entrepreneur Konrads, during his tenancy the economic activities at the mill deteriorated and the mill ceased to operate.
As a result of agrarian reform, Rauna Agricultural Society obtained Rauna Mill in their property in November 1921. The society started to reconstruct the mill and become one of the largest industrial companies of the parish. In the 20s – 30s of the 20th century two fine flour milling, one pearl-barley production and one sifting workshop, as well as wool carding and spinning machines were in operation.
In 1941 – 1942, a wood gas engine was installed at the mill and the old steam engines were replaced. During the Soviet times, the mill was operated by the collective farm “Sarkanais Oktobris” (Red October). At this time, electric engine powered only one flour milling workshop, pearl-barley production equipment and grain grinder for the production of fodder, as well as the capacities to press apple juice were available. In 1968, the floodgates of the mill were repaired, which later, in spring 1984) sustained severe damage during floods. The area of the mill pond was improved and became a popular recreation place for the residents of Rauna, as well as guests.
Today, the mill is an architectural monument of national significance called “Rauna Water Mill”, which belongs to a private entrepreneur.
Strads Pub derived its name from the name of the former inn-keeper – Pēteris Strads. Pēteris Strads had ill fame as an inn-keeper among the locals, because he used to cheat his customers in different ways, furthermore, he lent money to peasants at high interest. Rauna has been having a pub since the 17th century, since it is seen on the maps of Swedish times, however, the precise date of the construction of the building is unknown.
The building of Strads Pub is also associated with the history of Rauna Dairy. In 1910, a dairy farmers’ society was established in Rauna with the purpose of milk processing and production of butter, however, during the World War I, the operation of the dairy ceased completely. After the war, the operation of the dairy plant was renewed by letting the premises to joint dairy processing plant of J. Rihters, which was done due to the shortage of funds. J. Rihters set low and constant purchase prices for the milk and the dairy farmers were not satisfied with that. To change this situation, in 1924, local dairy farmers united and founded another society called Rauna-Baižkalns Dairy Farmers’ Society, which opened its own steam-powered dairy plant at the premises of the former Strads Pub in the centre of Rauna and installed high quality butter processing equipment. One year after being opened, the new dairy plant became economically most successful dairy plant in the entire Cēsis District, outperforming 45 other dairy plants in terms of accepted milk, as well as volume of produced butter.
On 10 June 1938, a devastating fire damaged several buildings in the centre of Rauna, including Rauna Dairy situated in the former Strads Pub. Despite the losses, Rauna-Baižkalns Dairy Farmers’ Society reached an agreement with Rauna Consumer Society on the construction of a new, larger building, and covered LVL 25,000 of the construction costs from the funds of the dairy farmers’ society. The new building was opened in September 1939 with a large scale festive event, while in January 1940, the dairy farmers’ society opened a shop of dairy products in the premises of the building.
Plūme House, also known as the Bookshop, was built in the second half of the second decade of the 20th century. Most of the surrounding buildings were also built approximately at the same time. Prior to the World War I, there were only few residential houses, a pub, a municipal government building, an Agricultural Society Building, a mill and a church in Rauna. Shortly before the war, the congregation of Rauna let the land belonging to the church in the centre of Rauna by dividing it into 15 land plots and issuing into lifelong rent to artisans and businesses. Intensive construction in the centre of Rauna started as well.
In the 20s – 30s of the 20th century, Plūme House belonged to entrepreneur Jānis Plūme, who dealt in trading of different manufactured goods, for instance, belts, bags, clothing, threads, etc. Furthermore, other merchants, who rented premises in the building, operated here as well – a hairdresser, a baker, a butcher, as well as a shop of vodka, wine and other alcoholic beverages.
During the Soviet times, several shops, as well as a bookshop, were situated in the building. In 1947, a branch of Cēsis Bookshop was opened at Plūme House, and operated here until 1 July 2001, which gave the new name – “Bookshop” to Plūme house. From 1992 until 2011, Rauna Bookshop operated as Rauna municipal company Rauna Bookshop.
The building in Rīgas iela 2, together with other buildings in the centre of Rauna can also be seen in the famous film of Riga Film Studio “Dāvana vientuļai sievietei” (A Gift to a Lonely Woman), which was shot in 1973. The exterior of the building with an inscription Restaurant, where Nora Bumbiere and Viktors Lapčenoks performed the famous song “Rudacīte” (Brown-eyed girl), is seen in the film. In the 2000s, the owners of the building changed several times until, in 2011, it became the property of Rauna Municipality and the reconstruction works of the building started in 2014.
The building in Vidzemes iela 2 was built as the Parish House of Rauna Castle and consecrated on 11 October 1875. It was built in accordance with the proposal and thanks to active involvement of Rauna Parish elder Jānis Blūme. At the moment of construction, this building was the first building of this type in Vidzeme and one of the first buildings in Latvia that was built as a Parish House. The building was built for the needs of Rauna parish management and contained premises that were suitable for different functions, as well as a large assembly or meeting hall with a stage. Rauna Parish administration, Parish court, premises and apartments for scriveners, couriers, etc. were situated in the building.
From the moment of the opening of the building to date, the building has been serving and still serves the needs of municipal administration. In the 20s – 30s of the 20th century, Rauna Parish Administration, Parish Court and Prison were situated at Rauna Parish House, during the Soviet period – Executive Council of Rauna Village, Rauna Library, Dormitories of Rauna eight-year boarding school and pre-school classes.
In around 2008, the reconstruction works of the facade of Rauna Parish Administration building were performed, which provided the building with its current appearance. From 2009 till 2021, the building housed Rauna Municipal Council and, since 2021 – Rauna Parish Administration of Smiltene Municipality.
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