Porkuni Castle Tower

Lääne-Virumaa, Estonia

Only foundations and one gate-tower have survived of the so-called fortified Tafelgut that used to belong to the bishop of Tallinn.

The castle was erected on a hill by the Porkuni lake in 1479 by Simon von der Borch. Cannon towers stood in the corners of the camp castle shaped as an irregular rectangle. The circular wall and the towers did not probably reach their height all at the same time, but in the course of a longer period. This claim is backed up by the gate tower - rectangular at the bottom and octagonal at the top. The machicolation frieze adorning the top of the tower dates back to a much later time, as proved by comparing the engravings of Porkuni produced in the 17th and 19th centuries. The castle was severely damaged during the Livonian War. The castle tower currently houses museums.

Address

Tamsalu vald 22, Lääne-Virumaa, Estonia

See all sites in Lääne-Virumaa

Details

Founded: 1479
Category: Castles and fortifications in Estonia
Historical period: Danish and Livonian Order (Estonia)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Joosep Taluväli (3 years ago)
Nice museum

KristjanS (3 years ago)
Really nice views, beautyful manor but needs to be restored. Great lake for swimming.

dimikb “dimikb” (3 years ago)
Nice, spot. But too bad it's in such a dilapidated state.

Urmas Sepp (3 years ago)
History of Estonia

Urmo Ustav (4 years ago)
Not renovated but still awsome.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Mark1792

Historic Site of the week

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Palace was built in the period 1606-34 as Christian IV’s summerhouse just outside the ramparts of Copenhagen. Christian IV was very fond of the palace and often stayed at the castle when he resided in Copenhagen, and it was here that he died in 1648. After his death, the palace passed to his son King Frederik III, who together with his queen, Sophie Amalie, carried out several types of modernisation.

The last king who used the place as a residence was Frederik IV, and around 1720, Rosenborg was abandoned in favor of Frederiksborg Palace.Through the 1700s, considerable art treasures were collected at Rosenborg Castle, among other things items from the estates of deceased royalty and from Christiansborg after the fire there in 1794.

Soon the idea of a museum arose, and that was realised in 1833, which is The Royal Danish Collection’s official year of establishment.