Medieval castle · Viljandi County · Viljandi
Viljandi Castle Fellin
In 1223 the Sword Brethren stormed the Estonian stronghold of Viliende above Lake Viljandi, and the next year they began laying stone walls on the hill. Over the following century one of the mightiest castles in Livonia rose here: a convent house nearly 55 meters on each side, ringed by three baileys and deep moats. The wars of the early 1600s shattered it, and townspeople hauled off its stones to build their houses.
Built / first recorded mid-1300s
Style Gothic convent castle
Condition Lost 1611
German name Fellin Today
Wall fragments, moats and baileys form the Castle Hills park, where concerts and festivals are held.
Owners Mõõgavendade ordu1224–1237 Liivi ordu1237–1560 Moskva tsaaririik1560–1582 Rootsi17. saj–1721 Good to know Each side of the convent house was about 55 m, one of the largest in Livonia. In 1560 former Order Master Wilhelm von Fürstenberg was captured here. In January 1223 the Estonians retook the fort and held it until August. Photos through time 1575 · Viljandi castle in Johann Renner’s chronicle1912 · Kaevumägi and the lake1932 · The “Sphinx” wall and the lake1933 · The Castle Hills, Kaevumägi1933 · Kaevumägi: well, gate and St. John’s tower1933 · The Monk’s Wall, the northern outer wall1933 · The Great Wall on the Castle Hills1933 · The gate and the Great Wall1934 · Kaevumägi and the lake1935 · The Viljandi Castle Hillsarchive · The Viljandi castle ruinsarchive · The Viljandi castle ruinsNearby
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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