Approximately halfway from Narva to Tallinn, there is a charming Estonian town named Rakvere. The geographic position of this settlement makes Rakvere even more attractive for tourists. This town is a typical Estonian countryside with an old castle, historic quarters, and old buildings made of stone and wood. Rakvere manages to remain attractive all year round, but winter makes this town truly spectacular. A soft snow cover decorates all buildings and streets in Rakvere, and numerous trees covered with sparkly snowflakes form a picturesque tunnel. During a walk in this corridor, it feels like you are in some kind of a fairytale.
The first mentions of the modern Rakvere region date back to the 13th century. The settlement appeared not far from an old feudal castle. Starting from the period before our age and until the early Middle Ages, the indigenous people of Estonia – the Aesti – called this region Tarvanpea. On February 18, 1268, a major battle took place near the town. In this battle, there were not two but three participants, namely, the Danish and German knights and the Russian army. The event is known as the Battle of Wesenberg. For more than two centuries, starting from 1347, the Livonian Order was controlling Rakvere.
Do you like exploring ancient castles? In Rakvere, tourists can visit a castle that shares its name with the town. Rakvere Castle is also known as Wesenberg Castle. The gorgeous fortification was built by the Dutch architects in the 13th century. The castle stands exactly on the site where the Aesti people had their settlement during the prehistoric times. During the reign of the Livonian Order, a town started slowly appearing around the castle. Over the centuries, the castle was restored and rebuilt several times. The stronghold suffered much damage at the beginning of the 17th century. A stone quarry was first established here, but then it was transformed into a Swedish estate. The old castle was restored only in the 20th century.
Major restorative works started only in 1988. The ancient building got a new look. The restoration hasn’t ended to this day, but visitors can already explore the magnificent Wesenberg Castle, go to the top of its towers, walk in the spacious halls, and see how the gates looked like centuries ago. The wine cellar is, perhaps, the most popular part of the castle. The cellar still has old wine barrels. If you want to see something thrilling, proceed to the torture chamber. This part of the castle still has a gloomy and depressive atmosphere. It even feels like you can hear moaning and cries of martyrs any second.
In Rakvere, tourists are welcome to visit the Church of the Trinity. This is a medieval church that was restored and rebuilt in the 17th century. An ancient altar is one of the most famous attractions of the shrine. The altar has an unusual design that makes it unique. It is made of wood. Not far from the altar, visitors will see a tombstone of Arnold Annebat’s grave. This bishop was once famous in Estonia. The church is easy to notice because its tall tower is visible from many parts of Rakvere. The inner décor of the shrine has many beautifully carved Baroque elements created by famous Estonian masters.
The Tarvas or Bull statue has quickly become a calling card of this Estonian town. The statue is new – it was installed in 2002. The opening of the statue took place during the 700th-anniversary celebration. Starting from that time, the statue has been the symbol and a major tourist sight in Rakvere. The statue features a big bronze bull, the height of which is roughly four meters, and the length of the statue is seven meters. The base of the statue is a solid granite piece that was brought to Rakvere specifically for the statue. This granite is durable enough to keep the seven-ton bull and to remain solid in various natural conditions.
Tourists from East Europe may find it suitable to travel to Rakvere from Saint Petersburg, Russia. There is a daily bus to the Estonian city. The journey time is roughly six and a half hours. All other routes have Narva as a transfer point. For the majority of tourists, it may be the most comfortable to arrive in Tallinn first. After that, get on a bus or train to Rakvere. The journey time is only one hour and fifteen minutes.
Sightseeing in Estonia: things to see
Tallinn is a beautiful old city with numerous places of interest. The historic centre of Tallinn is called the Toompea Castle. This is a large architectural complex with several dozen buildings. Construction works started in the 13th century and lasted nearly 400 years. The most famous buildings are Dome Church, Toomkirik, Pikk Hermann Tower, castle walls and massive towers. As these buildings were constructed in different years, they feature different architectural styles – gothic, baroque and classicism. One more place of interest is located on Raekoja Square. This is the old city hall building that was constructed in the beginning of the 15th century. The building is decorated with a wind vane that depicts the symbol of Tallinn – Old Thomas.
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