Latvian castle restored

An hour and a half northwest of Riga, Latvia, is the Cēsis Castle complex, comprising the Medieval Castle (built 1209) and the manor-house-like New Castle (built 1777), which has reopened with its 18th-century appearance restored.

The New Castle holds the Cēsis History & Art Museum (Pils laukums 9, Cēsis, Latvia; phone 64121815), with a collection that includes armor, coins, everyday items and more than 300 watercolors from the 19th and 20th centuries. The museum is open daily except Mon., May 1-Sept. 15, and is open Tues., Wed. & Fri.-Sun., Sept 16-April 30. Entry, 1.20 lats ($2).