LAIUSE ORDER CASTLE,
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05.11.2007

The oldest part of the castle was a fortified manor house, probably built in the early 14th century, which later formed part of the circular wall's south-west corner. Fairly soon a ringwall castle was added to the manor house. At that time the entrance to the castle was located in the south-eastern section of the wall.

In the early 15th century the Laiuse castle was rebuilt. The new gate was cut into the western wall, a gatehouse and a outer ward were erected. In the middle of the century the north-western, north-eastern and south-eastern corners acquired round towers. The elevation and thickening of the walls continued for a long time.

In the early days of the Livonian War in 1558, Laiuse castle fell into the hands of the Russians who destroyed it in 1559. The castle nevertheless later functioned as centre of a Polish principality and since 1622 of the Swedish feud. In 1700/ 1701 Swedish king Carl XII and his troops spent the winter here.

In the course of subsequent battles of the Northern War the castle was destroyed for good, and has stood in ruins ever since. Various events are organised today around the ruins.

The ruins of the castle can be found in the village of Laiusevälja, a few dozen kilometres north-east of Jõgeva, right from Jõgeva-Mustvee road.

Linnuse vanimaks osaks on hiljem ringmüüri edelanurka jäänud, arvatavalt 14. saj. algul ehitatud majalinnus. Viimasele ongi õige pea lisandunud ringmüürkastell. Sel ajal paiknes sissepääs linnusesse müüri kagupoolses lõigus.

15. saj. algul ehitati linnus ümber. Uus värav murti müüri lääneseina, rajati väravahoone ja eeslinnus. Sama sajandi keskpaiku varustati linnuse loode-, kirde ja kagunurk kolme ümartorniga. Müüride kõrgendamise ja paksendamisega tegeldi veel edaspidigi.

Liivi sõja algul 1558. a. langes Laiuse Vene vägede kätte, kes selle 1559. a. purustasid. Linnus oli hiljem siiski veel kasutusel nii Poola staarostkonna kui ka 1622. aastast alates Rootsi linnuselääni keskusena. Talvel 1700/1701 talvitus Laiusel Karl XII oma väega.

Põhjasõja hilisemate võitluste käigus purustati linnus lõplikult ja on sestpeale varemetes. Tänapäeval korraldatakse linnuse juures temaatilisi üritusi.

Laiuse linnuse varemed asuvad Jõgevalt kümmekond km kirdes Jõgeva-Mustvee maanteest paremat kätt jäävas Laiusevälja külas.