Jurgensburg

The name “Jurgensburg” comes from the historic name of Jirgenburg castle, that formed around the 13th century.

Jirgenburg Castle was one of the fortification zones built for the protection of the Gauja corridor against the invasions of Lithuanian troops, formed by the Order Castles of Ropaži – Mālpils – Nītaure – Zaube (Jaunpils) – Skujene. The castle was directly subordinated to the land marshals of the Livonian Order, who resided in Sigulda Castle.

Barons Clodt von Jurgensburg

Jurgensburg castle was a home for the artistic family of barons Clodt von Jürgensburg, a German-Russian family. Many of its members were prominent artists. Among the notable members of the family were:

Peter Jakob Freiherr Clodt von Jürgensburg, (1805 – 1867), was a favourite sculptor of Nicholas I of Russia.

Klodt’s most famous group of equestrian statues, the Horse Tamers, was installed at the “Anichkov Bridge” (1851)

Mikhail Clodt von Jürgensburg (1832–1902; Saint Petersburg), was the nephew of Peter Jakob Freiherr and the son of the first Wood engraver in Russia Konstantin Klodt. Mikhail Clodt was a notable realistic painter.

“Forest View in Midday” (1878)

Also very notable Russian painter was Mikhail Petrovich Clodt (1835–1914)

“The Joker” (1897)

Apart from the Clodt family, other Word famous painters can call Jurgensburg their Origin.

Vilhelms Purvītis  (1872-1945; Zaube)

Was a Latvian landscape painter and educator who founded the Latvian Academy of Art and was its rector from 1919 to 1934. Constantly experimenting and becoming a master of snow scenes, Purvītis began as a Realist painter, turned to Impressionism, and was later influenced by Cézanne and Munch. His painting Winter (1910) also suggests the influence of Art Nouveau. He is considered one of a greatest Latvian painters during first half of 20th century. His landscapes are full of local motives and Latvian nature is portrayed in the neo-romantic atmosphere. During his lifetime he produced more than thousand paintings and drawings and many of them were never exhibited because he preferred to collect them in his apartment (which was destroyed during the battle of Jelgava).

“Winter” (1910)

Nowadays

The residential area of nowaday Zaube has developed around the centre of the former Yirgenburg  (Jürgenburg, Jürgensburg) manor. In 1926, the parish and the residential area was renamed Zaube after the nearby Zauba River.