Jaunpils was built in 1301 as a fortress of the Livonian Order by order of the master of the order, Gottfried von Rog. In 1576 Jaunpils Castle became property of the last komtur of Dobele: Matthias von der Recke, and for more than 350 years, the von der Recke family ruled the castle. The castle was heavily damaged in war by Swedes in 1625. At the end of the 17th century a third floor was added and the old fortress became a manor with all conveniences. The castle was burned down during the Russian Revolution of 1905. A year later it was rebuilt by architect Wilhelm Bockslaff. During the Soviet occupation of Latvia, the interior of the castle was heavily reconstructed and for many years had typical Soviet interiors from the 1960s. In the 2000s, a team of Latvian designers refitted the interior of the castle. Today it features luxurious medieval style apartments which blend luxuries with glimpses of the castle's history, a tavern and a museum.