Livonijas ordeņa pilsdrupas Dobelē
No 1335. līdz 1359. gadam Livonijas ordenis zemgaļu pils vietā uzcēla savu mūra pili. Tā vairākkārt ir paplašināta, labiekārtota un bijusi apdzīvota līdz 1736. gadam. Kurzemes hercogu Ketleru dzimtas valdīšanas laikā Dobele bija svarīgs militāra atbalsta punkts un nozīmīgs administratīvais centrs.
Zviedru kara laikā pilī uzturējies Zviedrijas karalis Kārlis XII, bet 1915. gadā pils pakājē karaspēka parādi pieņēma Vācijas ķeizars Vilhelms II. Taču ekskursantus visvairāk pārsteidz stāsts par pils pārvaldnieku – kapteini Kristofu Georgu fon Offenbergu, kurš 18. gadsimta sākumā mēra laikā no nāvējošās slimības paglābies, kopā ar ģimeni ieslēdzoties pilī. Un šajā ģimenē ir bijis viens dēls un 22 (!)meitas. Biežākais ekskursantu jautājums pēc īsa klusuma brīža – un cik tad sievu kapteinim bija?
Līdz mūsdienām vēl saglabājies no laukakmeņiem celtais pils aizsargmūris, kas vairs nav savā sākotnējā augstumā, arī priekšpils siena divu stāvu augstumā ar logu un durvju ailām. Tā kā pilsdrupas ir ļoti populārs tūrisma objekts, 2002. gadā tika uzsākta Dobeles pilsdrupu konservācija. Pamazām tiek nostiprināti pils mūri, un no atjaunotā torņa skatu platformas paveras tāls skats uz Dobeli.
Par pils kādreizējo varenību vēsta kāds nostāsts. Pils tikusi nobeigta ar vara jumtu, kas saulainā dienā spoži laistījies un bijis tālu saredzams. Pat tik tālu, ka kuģinieki to redzējuši no vismaz 100 km attālās jūras. Viņi šo jumtu noturējuši par bāku un uzskrējuši uz klintīm. Kuģis aizgājis bojā. Tad nu jūrnieki Dobeles pils vara jumtu nolādējuši. Sacēlies viesulis un aiznesis jumtu jūrā.
Cits nostāsts vēstī, ka zem Dobeles ordeņa pils esot apakšzemes ejas. Daži uzņēmīgi racēji esot mēģinājuši tās atrast, bet nekā – bezcerīgi.
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Duke Jacob of Courland was a ruler of the Duchy of Courland and Zemgale for 40 years (1642-1682). There were great changes during his rule, with the ship building industry developing rapidly, the first factories appearing, and agricultural output improving. The duke had a large fleet that brought grain, meat, butter, wool, timber and all that was manufactured at baronial estates in Zemgale and Courland to Western Europe. The fleet was so big and strong that its ships sailed not just to Europe, but also all the way to Tobago and Gambia, where colonies were established to bring sugar, coffee and spices to Europe. The duchy built ships, manufactured paper and saltpetre and wove textiles, brocade and tapestries. Iron manufacturing was highly developed, and ore was imported from Sweden. This made it possible to forge nails, anchors, bells, cannons and other firearms. The duchy produced vodka, vinegar and gunpowder for which there was great demand in Europe, because there were attacks and defences that required it. As much as 25 tonnes of gunpowder were produced each year. One of the gunpowder towers is still in Kandava, though it has been rebuilt many times. The duchy manufactured sails and ropes, as well as hemp ropes. It was said that the fleet of the Queen of England would not have existed without those ropes. The duke also thought about selection of grain, bred livestock, improved land with land reclamation and tried to expand output from his fields. Jacob did not manage to do everything that he wanted to do. A canal to avoid the Venta rapids was not finished, and plans such as the colonisation of Australia were not finished. Yet the era of Duke Jacob was a period of great change in the territory of Latvia, and it has not gone unnoticed that the great achievements of the duke occurred on a small plot of European land. That proves that wise management can ensure lots of progress. |
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On the right bank of the Bērze River and in the western part of Dobele, the castle hill and its fortified forecastle were occupied between the 10th and 13th centuries, with an ancient town at its foot (currently the square between Tērvetes Street and the Liepāja highway). As was common, the Livonian Order used this ancient Semigallian castle hill to build a brick castle between 1335 and 1347. The castle was sacked during the 18th century, and its fairly impressive and beautiful ruins have been conserved. A viewing platform is part of the charm. |
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