Medieval castle · Järva County · Paide
Paide Weißenstein
In 1265 Master Konrad von Mandern began building a castle of white limestone in Järva, which is why its German name, Weissenstein, means “white stone.” During the 1343 St. George’s Night Uprising, four Estonian kings were treacherously killed here while negotiating. Retreating Soviet troops blew up the keep in 1941, but newly independent Estonia rebuilt it by 1993.
Built / first recorded 1265–1300s
Style Gothic Order castle with an octagonal keep
Condition Rebuilt
German name Weißenstein Today
Castle ruins crown Vallimägi around the rebuilt Vallitorn tower, home to the Wittenstein history center.
Owners Liivi ordu1265–1562 Rootsi kroon1562–1573 Moskva tsaaririik1573–1581 Rootsi kroon1607–1710 Good to know The German name Weissenstein means “white stone.” The keep’s lowest level may have been a dungeon reached only through a hatch. Ivan the Terrible personally led the capture of the castle on January 1, 1573. Photos through time 1898 · The Vallitorn and ruins1901 · Paide’s Vallitorn tower1901 · Paide’s Vallitorn1901 · Paide’s Vallitorn1925 · Paide’s Vallitorn in the 1920s1930 · Paide’s Vallitorn in the early 1900sarchive · Paide’s Vallitorn towerarchive · Paide’s Vallitorn towerarchive · Paide’s Vallitorn towerarchive · The Vallitorn and the castle ruinsarchive · The Vallitorn and the castle ruinsarchive · Paide’s Vallitorn towerNearby
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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