Otepää Castle Ruins

Otepää, Estonia

Otepää castle hill is the site of an ancient stronghold. It is speculated that a fortified settlement may have existed there even before Christ. The first major extension works were initiated in the 11th and 12th century when the castle was at the crossroads of important trading routes. Herman I, the bishop of Tartu, established there the first stronghold of its diocese. A settlement, which was mainly populated by craftsmen and merchants, appeared around the bishop’s castle in the 13th century. The castle was the first known brick building in Estonia.

References: VisitEstonia, turismiweb.ee

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Address

Linnamäe tee, Otepää, Estonia
See all sites in Otepää

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Ruins in Estonia
Historical period: Danish and Livonian Order (Estonia)

More Information

www.turismiweb.ee
www.visitestonia.com

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Otepää Church (0,3 km)


Town Hall Square (38,1 km)
Barclay Plats (37,9 km)
Tartu University (38,1 km)
Toome Hill (37,9 km)
Uspensky Orthodox Church (38,3 km)
Tartu Cathedral (37,9 km)
St John's Church (38,3 km)
Püssirohukelder (37,9 km)
Angel's Bridge (37,9 km)

User Reviews

Ain Aart (5 months ago)
Mõnus asutus saab osta pileteid kuktuuri üritustele turismiinfot jne.
George On tour (9 months ago)
Otepaa Tourist Information Centre gives tourists free information about tourist sights, accommodation and catering, possibilites for active vacations, cultural events, guide services and transportation in Otepaa tourism region, Valgamaa and all over Estonia. Otepaa Tourist Information Centre also provides paid services: booking accommodation, ordering taxis, photocopying, scanning, using the computer. Otepaa Tourist Information Centre sells souvenirs and stamps.There's free WiFi at the Otepaa Tourist Information Centre. The rating goes for closing earlier, in any case you could have some leaflets outside the office for the tourists.
Merili Aasma (14 months ago)
Best place to start your journey for discovering Otepää & area.
Kristi Laur (15 months ago)
Väga sisukat infot sain kohalike vaatamisväärsuste ja külastamist väärivate kohtade osas!
Janno Kuuƨ (2 years ago)
Jagatakse teadlikku infot sõbralikud töötajad, aitäh.
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The Moszna Castle is one of the best known monuments in the western part of Upper Silesia. The history of this building begins in the 17th century, although much older cellars were found in the gardens during excavations carried out at the beginning of the 20th century. Some of the investigators, including H. Barthel, claimed that those cellars could have been remnants of a presumed Templar castle, but their theory has never been proved. After World War II, further excavations discovered a medieval palisade.

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After World War II the castle did not have a permanent owner and was the home of various institutions until 1972 when it became a convalescent home. Later it became a Public Health Care Centre for Therapies of Neuroses. Nowadays it can be visited by tourists since the health institution has moved to another building in the neighbourhood. The castle also has a chapel which is used as a concert hall. Since 1998 the castle housed a gallery in which works of various artists are presented at regular exhibitions.

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