According to an ancient legend that the locals love to retell to tourists, the gold of the legendary Knights Templar is still stored in one of the Latvian castles. The enormous treasures are guarded by a giant black dog, whose eyes burn with hellfire and whose teeth are sharper than swords. That's all about the most massive and best-preserved medieval Cesis Castle, where, according to another legend, ghosts arrange magnificent balls at night.

No one knows for sure if there are ghosts in the stone castle built by swordsmen back in the 13th century, but a walk through its ruins will undoubtedly appeal to every modern traveler. Although most legends are associated with the Templars, the castle was in its heyday, when the knights of the Livonian Order lived in it. By order of the master of the Livonian Order, it was expanded with high round towers and great outer wards. At that time, the castle even had its own coins.

The Great Cesis Castle was so strong and impregnable that it never surrendered to anyone, even to the army of Tsar Ivan the Terrible that caused it many troubles. Only during the reign of Empress Elizabeth of Russia, the castle was transferred to Bestuzhev and became his family estate. Unfortunately, the Russian chancellor was not destined to enjoy life in the castle for long. The fire engulfed its walls and almost burned it.

At the end of the 18th century, the ruins were acquired by the Danish Baron Sievers. He gave the ancient castle a new life. He built a luxurious palace, restored the round tower, and even erected an Orthodox church. The kitchen, bakery, and brewery occupied the first floor, while the second housed the refectory, master bedrooms, and guest rooms. Outside, the castle was surrounded by a palisade and a moat filled with water. All the visitors entered the castle through the massive wooden doors with a solid iron railing.