Description of the attraction
Rakvere Castle is located in the town of the same name in northern Estonia. The German name of the castle is Vesenberg, found in Russian chronicles as Rakovor. It was first mentioned in history in the 13th century. The ruins of the castle stand on the Vallimägi hill, which is 25 m high.
From 1347 to 1558 the city of Rakvere was owned by the Livonian Order. Over the years, the fortress has been rebuilt several times by various rulers. The castle suffered the most during the Polish-Swedish war (1602-1605), while losing its defensive significance. Thus, the castle was struck off the list of defensive structures, since its restoration and restoration could not be quick.
In the 17-18 centuries. the ruins of the Rakvere castle were used as a quarry, which supplied the surrounding lands with building materials. In the 19th century. With the advent of fashion for ruins, the Rakvere hill with ruins has acquired a special value. The castle has become a picturesque place for walks and picnics. The first work on the restoration of the castle and putting it in order began in 1901-1902.
In 1975, large-scale work on the restoration of the castle began, which was completed by 1988.
Today you can walk around this fortress, both independently and with a guide. In the castle, we managed to very successfully recreate the atmosphere of the Middle Ages: at the entrance you will be greeted by controllers dressed in medieval outfits, all kinds of workshops are located along the perimeter of the castle, where you can touch and touch everything, and even try your hand at some crafts.
Inside the castle, you can go down into the dungeon and look into the fear room. It is divided into 3 parts. In the torture room, all kinds of instruments for cauterizing, stretching, breaking and crushing human flesh are presented. The next room is a crypt, in which the "rotting" dead are everywhere. In the last room - hell, here it constantly walks with a half-shake, howls and other frightening sounds are heard. All these rooms are decorated with appropriate lighting to help create an overall atmosphere.
If you get hungry, you can grab a bite to eat in the tavern, which is decorated in the same medieval style. There are massive wooden tables and chairs. The menu includes both traditional medieval Estonian dishes and modern ones.
The castle has a small museum exposition, which mainly describes the medieval history of the fortress. On the second floor there is a hall, which displays swords from different eras. Moreover, you can not only look at them or photograph them, but also hold them in your hands, presenting yourself as a real knight.
This interesting place will be interesting for both adults and children. Notable is the possibility of almost free movement around the Rakvere castle. You can touch a lot of what is presented here, touch your hands, take pictures in costumes in different parts of the fortress.
