The castle, built between 1878 and 1881 in the neo-Gothic style, served as the residence of Prince D. N. Kropotkin. It was erected on the site of an older building that belonged to the Counts Borham. Architect Janis Mengelis used materials from previous structures for the construction.

In 1917, the castle was destroyed during World War I. As a result of the Land Reform of 1920, it was confiscated from its previous owners and transferred to the Latvian Professional Union of Writers and Journalists, after which it became known as the Writers' Castle (Latvian: Rakstnieku pils). The building was restored and used as a creative house. In 1934, the castle was transferred to the ownership of the Latvian Press Society, which commissioned architect Alfreds Birkhans to carry out a major reconstruction between 1936 and 1937. Renowned artists, including Karlis Sunins, participated in the design of the new interiors. In 1938, a monument to Atis Kronvalds, created by sculptor Theodors Zalkalns, was installed in front of the castle.