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Founded: 1860'sCategory: Palaces, manors and town halls in Estonia
Historical period: Part of the Russian Empire (Estonia)
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The estate belonged to Pirita (St. Brigitta) Nunnery in medieval times. It was elaborated in the 1860s while in possession of Carl Timoleon von Neff. The two-storey Neo-Renaissance castle was projected by von Neff himself - an artist of the Russian Czarist court and also a portrait painter known all over the world. The inner marble staircase is a present from Emperor Alexander II of Russia. The building now houses a school.
References:Duino Castle was built by the Wallsee family in 1389 on the cliffs overlooking the Gulf of Trieste. It replaced an older castle from the 11th century. Over time, the Wallsee family disappeared and the castle, after having been used as a prison, became the residence of the Luogar and Hofer.
At the end of the 19th century it became the property of Prince Alexander von Thurn und Taxis from the Czech branch of the House of Thurn and Taxis. It remains with the family to this day with his great-grandson Prince Carlo Alessandro della Torre e Tasso, Duke of Castel Duino the current owner. The castle has been opened to the public as a museum and park.