Põltsamaa Castle

Põltsamaa, Estonia

The construction of Põltsamaa Castle was started in 1272. Between 1570 and 1578 it was the residence of Livonia's King Magnus. Repeatedly pillages, the castle was rebuilt by Woldemar Johann von Lauw in 1770 as a grand rococo-style palace. The castle, and the church built into its cannon tower, burnt down in 1941.

Põltsamaa St. Nicholas' Church was built from 1632 to 1633 on the site of earlier buildings. The nave was built on the 13th century gate buildings and the sanctuary on the 15th century cannon tower. The church was restored by 1952, and the castle ruins came under preservation during the 1970s.

Today the round courtyard holds a tourist information point and several museums including Põltsamaa Museum and a wine cellar with a food museum. There are also an art gallery, restaurant, handicraft and other workshops.

References: VisitEstonia, Aviastar.org

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Details

Founded: 1272
Category: Castles and fortifications in Estonia
Historical period: Danish and Livonian Order (Estonia)

More Information

www.visitestonia.com

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Olev Maimets (6 months ago)
Fascinating historical castle. It’s being renovated but already taking shape. The Oberpahlen restaurant serves a tasty mushroom soup and capuchino among other dishes.
Margus Maasik (8 months ago)
Interesting place to visit in the region. I would also recommend to visit the restaurant.
Marco Roth (8 months ago)
An adequate castle and museum, notably revamped in recent years. The multilayered exhibition within the castle's tower was commendable, providing an insightful journey through various historical strata. The evident pride in local craftsmanship displayed in the meticulous restoration efforts was indeed appreciated. Regrettably, the Rococo hall, which we particularly wished to explore, was not accessible during our visit. The establishment could benefit from an infusion of interactive features to further captivate the visitors. In essence, the museum still exudes a sense of being in the midst of completion - a work in progress, so to speak.
Raul Muser (9 months ago)
Cool castle, friendly and helpful staff. Were bit of hurry and didn't get to see everything, but enjoyed the walk and sights
Kadi Tombak (9 months ago)
Opened a month ago, newly renovated castle. Climb the tower to see the views.
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