Krimulda Historical Centre

Not far from the manor house, there stand the ruins of the 13th century Krimulda Castle which belonged to the Riga Dome Charter until the year 1566. In later centuries the castle owners were both Poles and Swedes who destroyed the castle in 1601, to prevent the Poles from settling down there.
Krimulda remained in Swedish ownership until in 1817 Count von Lieven bought the manor from the then owner Captain Helmersen for 60 875 rubles in silver. The Lievens lived in the manor until 1921. In 1853, Paul Lieven was the first from among the nobility  of "the Vidzeme Switzerland" to lay out a park on the right bank of the Gauja; the park featured several promenades and two wooden staircases – one with 380 steps from Vilkmeste ravine, and the other one, with 325 steps led from the park to the ferry across the Gauja.
Tsar Alexander II, having heard about von Lieven's beautiful park, visited Krimulda with his spouse during his visit to Vidzeme in 1962.