Limbazi Municipality
Second only to Riga in medieval Livonia, then burned four times in 50 years (1558-1602). Three houses survived. The "Herring Capital" rebuilt quietly.
Limbaži was once second only to Riga among Livonia's fortified towns. By the end of the Livonian War, only three houses remained.
The Livonians called this place Lemisele—"wide isle in a forest swamp"—and it was part of Metsepole territory. When Bishop Albert conquered the region in the early 13th century, he built a castle that became the Archbishop of Riga's summer residence. The town joined the Hanseatic League and earned the nickname "Herring Capital" for its fish trade with the Gulf of Riga.
Then came destruction. Ivan the Terrible's forces burned Limbaži in 1558. The Swedes burned it in 1567. The Russians returned in 1575. Swedes and Poles fought for the ruins in 1602, demolishing what fortifications remained. When peace finally came, the city that had rivaled Riga was reduced to three houses and a handful of survivors.
The town rebuilt under Swedish rule, acquiring its modern name sometime in the 17th century. Today Limbaži (population ~6,900) sits 90 km from Riga, administering a municipality that stretches to the Gulf of Riga coast. By 2026, the question is whether medieval heritage can attract tourists or whether Limbaži remains a quiet provincial town—which may be blessing as much as curse.