The first mention of Rauna Castle dates back to 1381, although historians agree that it may have been built here even earlier.

[1] Eighteenth-century sources mention the castle as being erected in 1262, following a proposal of Albert Suerbeer, Archbishop of Riga.

One of the new towers built was named Garais Kaspars (Tall Jasper), after the archbishop, and a small settlement developed around the castle, which later became the village of Rauna.

The worst damage to the castle occurred from 1657 to 1658, during the Second Northern War between the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Swedish Empire.

In 1683, the king of Sweden ordered the destruction of anything that resembled a fortress around the castle, so all towers were demolished.