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.

Reference: Aviastar.org

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

www.aviastar.org
www.porkuni.ee

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Väike-Maarja Church (7 km)
Lasila Manor (7,3 km)

Rakvere Castle (20 km)
Rakvere Church of the Holy Trinity (20 km)
Toolse Castle (41,7 km)
Palmse Manor (38,7 km)
Roosna-Alliku Manor (33 km)
Käsmu Sea Museum (49 km)
Sagadi Manor (39,4 km)
Laiuse Castle Ruins (46 km)
Rakvere Manor (20,2 km)

User Reviews

Joosep Taluväli (6 months ago)
Nice museum

KristjanS (6 months ago)
Really nice views, beautyful manor but needs to be restored. Great lake for swimming.

dimikb “dimikb” (8 months ago)
Nice, spot. But too bad it's in such a dilapidated state.

Urmas Sepp (9 months ago)
History of Estonia

Urmo Ustav (2 years ago)
Not renovated but still awsome.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Rhodes, The Island of Knights

Great Spa Towns of Europe

History of Guernsey & Jersey

Photo from Flickr, copyright Andrea Schaffer

Historic Site of the week

Late Baroque Town of Ragusa

The eight towns in south-eastern Sicily, including Ragusa, were all rebuilt after 1693 on or beside towns existing at the time of the earthquake which took place in that year. They represent a considerable collective undertaking, successfully carried out at a high level of architectural and artistic achievement. Keeping within the late Baroque style of the day, they also depict distinctive innovations in town planning and urban building. Together with seven other cities in the Val di Noto, it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In 1693 Ragusa was devastated by a huge earthquake, which killed some 5,000 inhabitants. Following this catastrophe the city was largely rebuilt, and many Baroque buildings from this time remain in the city. Most of the population moved to a new settlement in the former district of Patro, calling this new municipality 'Ragusa Superiore' (Upper Ragusa) and the ancient city 'Ragusa Inferiore' (Lower Ragusa). The two cities remained separated until 1926, when they were fused together to become a provincial capital in 1927.