Medieval castle · Viljandi County · Mulgi
Karksi Karkus
Karksi rose on the site of an Estonian hillfort high above the Halliste River and was, after Viljandi, one of the mightiest Order castles in Livonia. Lithuanian raiders destroyed it in 1297, 1329 and 1366, and each time it was rebuilt stronger. After a siege in 1601 the main castle was never repaired, and it was finally destroyed in the Great Northern War in 1708.
Built / first recorded 1300s
Style Gothic Order castle
Condition Lost 1708
German name Karkus Today
Wall fragments and the corner tower called “Catherine’s Pillar” survive high above the Halliste River.
Owners Liivi ordu1224–1560 Rootsi1601–1708 Good to know In 1248 the Karksi bailiwick covered the parishes of Karksi, Halliste, Paistu, Saarde and Ruhja. From 1470 the castle was the residence of a Komtur. The main castle’s corner tower is known as Catherine’s Pillar. Photos through time 1827 · The Karksi ruins1842 · The castle ruins and church1908 · The castle ruins and church1908 · The Karksi castle ruins1931 · The Karksi ruinsarchive · The Karksi castle ruinsarchive · The Karksi castle ruinsarchive · St. Peter’s church amid the castle ruinsarchive · The view from the castle yard toward the church hillarchive · The ruins from the northeastarchive · The ruins from the northeastarchive · The ruins from the foot of KuningamägiNearby
The buildings are stylized impressions, not surveyed models. Facts: mois.ee, Museum of Estonian Architecture, ERR, Wikipedia. Photos: MuIS and Wikimedia Commons, credited with each photo.
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