NARVA CASTLE

Estonia's oldest and most imposing castle. Built around 1370 by the Danes, then masters of the northeast Estonian territory, its construction continued over the following centuries, with the remarkable feature of having preserved the ancient structure and added ^17th-century fortification elements. It takes around 2 hours to walk around the ramparts and explore the museum. A series of staircases takes you to the top of the castle, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city, as well as the Russian castle of Ivangorod on the other side of the river. Narva Castle is home to the town's museum, where a collection of objects and photos depict the history of the site and the town since the ^13th century. On display are ancient suits of armor, cannonballs and remnants of the town center, which was completely destroyed during the war. Most of today's brick walls date back to the ^14th century, but the 50-metre Herman Tower was only erected in the ^16th century. It was inspired by the expansion work undertaken at the same time on the Ivangorod fortress on the opposite bank. A series of nine bastions dating from the Swedish occupation can also be found in the castle grounds. Don't hesitate to climb to the top of the tower for a breathtaking view... of the Ivangorod fortress! Watch the ballet of pedestrians and vehicles on both sides of the border crossing the Narva River.