Medieval castle · Ida-Viru County · Narva
Narva Hermannsfeste
The Danes founded a border stronghold on the Narva River in the mid-1200s, and in 1346 it was sold with northern Estonia to the Teutonic Order. The Livonian Order reshaped it into a square convent castle and raised the 51-meter Tall Hermann tower, especially after Muscovy built Ivangorod on the opposite bank in 1492. Bombing in 1944 left it in ruins, and it was carefully rebuilt only in the late 20th century.
Built / first recorded 1300s–1400s
Style Gothic convent castle
Condition Rebuilt
German name Hermannsfeste Today
The restored castle houses the Narva Museum, facing Ivangorod fortress across the river.
Owners Taani kroon1256–1346 Liivi ordu1346–1558 Moskva tsaaririik1558–1581 Rootsi kroon1581–1704 Good to know Narva and Ivangorod face each other across a narrow river. A mid-1800s restoration was the first restoration of a medieval castle in Estonia. Tall Hermann’s lower walls are up to 4 m thick. Photos through time archive · Narva’s Hermann Castlearchive · The south side of Hermann Castle, with the Narva River beyond1970 · Hermann Castle from the east1970 · Narva’s Hermann Castle1970 · Narva’s Hermann Castle1970 · Narva’s Hermann Castle1970 · Narva’s Hermann Castle1970 · Narva’s Hermann Castle1970 · Narva’s Hermann Castle1970 · Narva’s Hermann Castle1970 · Narva’s Hermann Castle2010 · Hermann Castle, 2010Nearby
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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