Narva Castle

Eight centuries on the border of civilisations

Explore the history

From the 13th century to the present

Castle History

The history of Narva Castle is usually traced from the second half of the 13th century, when, under Danish rule in northern Estonia, a frontier outpost arose on the western bank of the Narova, facing the domains of the Novgorod Republic. At the beginning of the 14th century, on the site of the first timber-and-earth fortifications, the Danes erected a stone castle of the castellum type — a compact, nearly square stronghold with a tower.

A new stage began after 1346, when Denmark sold northern Estonia to the Teutonic Order and Narva soon passed to its Livonian branch. Throughout the 14th to 16th centuries the fortress was repeatedly rebuilt and gradually acquired the form of an Order conventual house — a castle building with an inner courtyard, characteristic of Livonian Order architecture; Long Hermann Tower became the defining vertical of the complex.

By the mid-16th century the main castle complex had taken shape: the principal building, the Northern Courtyard and the Great Western Courtyard. In different eras the castle was held by Denmark, the Livonian Order, Sweden and Russia, and its fortifications changed in accordance with the military engineering requirements of each age.

Its position on the Narova, on the trade routes linking the Baltic region with Novgorod and Pskov, made Narva an important centre of trade and defence: economic interests, political rivalry and the cultural contacts of the borderland intersected here. In its centuries-long confrontation with Ivangorod Fortress on the opposite bank, Narva Castle became one of the key strongholds of north-eastern Livonia.

1171–1241
First Mentions
The earliest written references to a settlement on the Narova River appear in Russian chronicles under the years 1171–1172. However, scholars consider the first reliable mention of Narva to be the 1241 entry in the register of possessions of the Danish king Valdemar II — the Liber Census Daniae — where Narva (Narvia) is recorded as a settlement.
1270
Foundation of the Castle
The castle was a timber-and-earthwork fortification that acquired the status of an important strategic point, situated on the trade route linking the Hanseatic cities with Novgorod and controlling the crossing of the Narova river. The castle was under the authority of the Danish governor Eilard von Oberg, referred to in written sources as "captain of Estonia, Reval (Revel, i.e. Tallinn) and Narva".
1294
The Narva Frontier
In the second half of the 13th century Narva stood in a zone of intense border conflict — on the frontier between Danish northern Estonia and Novgorodian domains. Its position on the Narva River, along the trade route from Lake Peipus to the Gulf of Finland, gave it significance as a trading hub and military outpost. In 1294 the Novgorodians ravaged and burned the Narva settlements on the right bank; after this, the centre of the settlement shifted to the left, western bank, under the protection of the Danish castle. Later, already in the 14th century, the Western Courtyard took shape beside the castle — a place where townspeople could shelter within the fortress walls.
Early 14th c.
The Stone Castle
At the beginning of the 14th century the Danes erected a stone castle of the castellum type on the site of the earlier fortifications — a compact, nearly square stronghold with sides of about 40 metres and a tower. The stone fortress became a bastion of Danish power on the eastern frontier of its Estonian possessions and the core around which the entire castle complex later developed.
1341–1345
Lübeck Law
By the charter of 1345 Valdemar IV confirmed Narva's civic rights, granting the town self-governance under the norms of Lübeck municipal law. This act secured the legal status of the townspeople, their civic freedoms and the foundations of self-governance, serving as an important guarantee of continuity on the eve of the transfer of power in northern Estonia.
1346–1347
Livonian Order
In 1346 Valdemar IV sold northern Estonia together with Narva and its castle to the Teutonic Order; the city soon passed to its Livonian branch, under which reconstruction of the fortress began to serve as an Order residence, including the construction of the west wing with the knights' refectory.
14th–16th c.
The Conventual House and Hermann Tower
The architectural development of Narva Castle culminated in the formation of an Order conventual house. Its four wings were raised in succession: west, north, east and south. The defining vertical of the fortress became Hermann Tower: its height reached 51 metres — 65 metres with the flagpole — and the wall thickness 4.7 metres.
2nd half of 15th c.
Main Stronghold of the Livonian Order
In the second half of the 15th century the castle served as the Livonian Order's principal defensive stronghold in its confrontation with the Novgorodians, and later with the Muscovite principality. In 1478 Ivan III finally subjugated Novgorod to Moscow. The Livonian Order reinforced the castle's foundations using complex masonry techniques and durable lime mortar, and also strengthened the Northern (Vorburg) and Western courtyards.
1492
Ivangorod Fortress
In the 1490s, following a series of unsuccessful clashes between Russian forces and the Livonian knights, Ivangorod Fortress was built by decree of Ivan III opposite Narva Castle, on the heights of the eastern bank of the Narova. In response, at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries the Livonian Order raised Long Hermann Tower so as to observe from its height what was happening in the Russian fortress. From that time, the two fortresses on opposite banks of the Narova became an architectural embodiment of the frontier between different political and cultural traditions.
1558–1581
Narva in the Livonian War
In 1558, at the outset of the Livonian War, the forces of Ivan IV took Narva. The city passed out of Livonian Order rule and became the principal Baltic port of the Muscovite state, through which a significant share of its foreign trade with Western Europe was conducted. English, Dutch, French and other Western European merchants arrived in Narva, drawn by the prospect of direct trade with the Muscovite state and reduced dependence on Livonian–Hanseatic intermediaries. Control over this route intensified the rivalry between the Muscovite state and Sweden.
1581
The Swedish Period
In September 1581 a Swedish force under the command of Pontus de la Gardie besieged Narva and, after two weeks of fighting, established control over the city. This victory became one of the decisive events of the final phase of the Livonian War, which ended with the peace agreements of 1582–1583. From this point Narva came under Swedish rule and played a particular role as a military stronghold on the eastern frontier of Swedish possessions. Modernisation of the defences began: the medieval walls were reinforced with earthen embankments and artillery positions, and the former Order castle was gradually transformed into one of the most important military strongholds of the eastern Baltic.
1590–1595
The Siege of 1590
During the Russo-Swedish War of 1590–1595, Russian forces besieged Narva and Ivangorod in February 1590: an artillery bombardment was followed by an assault, which the Swedish garrison repelled. Under the Treaty of Teusina of 1595 Ivangorod was returned to the Russian state, and the two fortresses on the Narova once again found themselves on opposite sides of the border.
1617
Bastion Construction
The Treaty of Stolbovo cut Russia off from the Baltic Sea for a long period and confirmed Narva as one of the most important eastern strongholds of the Swedish kingdom. The city's new role demanded a reconstruction of the defensive system: bastion fortifications designed for artillery warfare began to be built around the castle and city. This complex later became known as the Star Fort.
1659
The Great Fire
The great fire of 1659 destroyed almost all of Narva's buildings. After the catastrophe only stone construction was permitted in the city centre: over the following decades a baroque old town took shape, built by masters from Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, which earned Narva the reputation of one of the most beautiful cities of the Baltic.
17th c.
Narva within the Swedish Empire
Narva remained the leading trading city on the Baltic. The Swedes strengthened the castle: under designs by engineer Erik Dahlberg, 8 powerful bastions were erected ("Victoria", "Triumph", "Gloria/Glory", "Honor/Honour", "Fortuna/Fortune", "Spes/Hope", "Fama/Fame", "Pax/Peace" ("Wrangel")). By the end of the century Narva had become one of the most powerful fortresses in Europe.
1700
Battle of Narva
At the outset of the Great Northern War, Charles XII's army crushed the numerically superior forces of Peter I before the walls of Narva. The Russian troops retreated, abandoning nearly all their artillery — about 145 guns. This defeat showed Peter I the necessity of reforms in the army, artillery and system of military administration.
1704–1721
The Great Northern War
In 1704 the Russian army of Peter I took Narva and Ivangorod by siege and storm. This event turned the tide of the war after the defeat of 1700 and secured the control of the Russian state over the important fortress complex on the Narova. In 1708, at the height of the war, almost all the inhabitants of Narva were deported to the interior of Russia; they were able to return only several years later. After the capture of the city, Narva Castle was incorporated into the Russian fortification system and retained its military significance until the end of the Great Northern War.
1721
Treaty of Nystad
The Great Northern War ended with the conclusion of the Treaty of Nystad. Sweden formally ceded Estonia, Livonia and other Baltic territories to Russia. Narva and the castle were formally confirmed as part of the Russian Empire by international treaty; Peter I assumed the title "Emperor of All Russia."
18th–19th c.
Narva as a District Town
In the 18th century Narva retained its status as a district town and an important fortress of the Russian Empire. Under Catherine II the city was incorporated into the reformed provincial system, and the castle lost its former independent defensive role: its rooms and courtyards were used for garrison purposes — as an arsenal and a depot.
1845–1847
Nicholas I Decree — First Restoration
In 1845 the Emperor decreed that 5,000 silver roubles be allocated annually for the upkeep and repair of the castle complex, preserving its historic appearance. Engineer Modest Dmitrievich Rezvoy conducted the first comprehensive study of the building history of Narva Castle, carried out measured surveys, and prepared a restoration plan approved by the Tsar in 1847.
1863–1865
Narva Archaeological Society
In 1863 Narva was struck from the register of fortresses of the Russian Empire and its fortifications were handed over to the city — the castle's centuries-long military history came to an end. In the same year members of the Great Guild founded the Narva Archaeological Society and began assembling a collection of historical artefacts. The Society conducted research at the castle — studying the structure of the fortress walls and foundations — laying the groundwork for the restorations of the 20th and 21st centuries. In December 1865 Alexander II transferred the House of Peter I to the Society — a building within the Narva fortifications where the Emperor had stayed during his visits to Narva. On the basis of the collected artefacts and Petrine relics, the first public museum of Narva opened here.
1863–2010
Kreenholm Manufactory
From the mid-19th century Kreenholm Manufactory became the foundation of Narva's industrial development. One of the largest textile complexes in Europe, it retained key economic significance for the city for almost a century and a half — until the enterprise closed in the early 21st century.
1913
Lavretsov City Museum
Merchant and patron Sergei Lavretsov bequeathed to Narva the family collection of works of art, coins and antiquities, together with funds for its upkeep. In 1913 the Lavretsov City Museum, named after the couple, opened in their house on Rüütli Street — one of the most significant provincial museum collections in the Baltic region in the early 20th century. The museum opened a private collection to a wide range of visitors and became an important part of Narva's cultural life.
1917–1919
On the Road to the Estonian Republic
In 1917 Narva and Ivangorod were transferred from Petrograd Governorate to the autonomous Estland Governorate following municipal votes. In 1918 Narva endured a German occupation, and after German forces withdrew the city was seized by the Red Army; on 29 November the Estonian Workers' Commune was proclaimed here. In January 1919 Estonian units, supported by Finnish volunteers and the British fleet, restored control of the city to the Estonian Republic.
1920
Treaty of Tartu
The Estonian War of Independence ended in 1920 with the conclusion of the Treaty of Tartu, which formalised Soviet Russia's recognition of the sovereignty of the Estonian Republic. During the 1920s and 1930s Narva Castle remained at the disposal of the Estonian army: its buildings housed military units and services, and public access to most of the complex was restricted.
1933
Museum Consolidation
In 1933 the Lavretsov spouses' museum was merged with the House-Museum of Peter I. The collections of the two Narva museums were redistributed along thematic lines: the art and ethnographic holdings remained in the Lavretsov house, while historical materials were concentrated in the House of Peter I. Individual halls of Narva Castle gradually opened for organised tours.
1940–1941
First Soviet Occupation
The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and its secret protocol assigned Estonia to the Soviet sphere of influence. In June 1940 Estonia was occupied and annexed by the USSR; in Narva, Sovietisation of civic and cultural institutions began, including the nationalisation of museum collections. On the night of 13–14 June 1941, Soviet security services carried out a mass deportation: more than 10,000 residents of Estonia were taken to the interior regions of the USSR, primarily Siberia and Kazakhstan; men were frequently separated from their families and sent to camps.
1941–1944
German Occupation
In the second half of August 1941 Narva was seized by German forces and incorporated into the occupation administration of Reichskommissariat Ostland. By the end of 1941 virtually the entire Jewish population of Estonia who had not managed to evacuate had been killed by Nazi authorities. By early 1944 the front had reached the Narova, and the city found itself on one of the main sectors of the German defensive line in Estonia. On 6 March 1944 a massive Soviet air raid destroyed most of the baroque old town; fighting and artillery fire in the spring and summer of 1944 completed the destruction of Narva, including Narva Castle. The museum collection was destroyed in an air strike near Rakvere.
1944
Second Soviet Occupation
In July 1944 Soviet forces took control of Narva, beginning Estonia's second period of Soviet occupation (1944–1991). Most of the pre-war population never returned: Soviet authorities resettled the city with workers from other Soviet republics, fundamentally changing its demographic character. This population replacement explains Narva's Russian-speaking majority today.
1950–1986
Post-War Reconstruction
On 22 July 1950 Narva Museum opened its first post-war exhibition in the former garrison bathhouse within the castle grounds. These temporary premises marked a new beginning for the museum after the destruction of the war and the loss of its former buildings. The ruins of the baroque old town, which had partly survived the war, were demolished in the post-war decades; only a few buildings of the old quarter remained, and it was the castle that became the principal monument of old Narva to have its historic appearance restored. From 1968 the restoration of the castle proceeded in stages; in December 1986 Long Hermann Tower and the west and south wings were opened, housing a new permanent exhibition whose subject was the history of Narva.
1991
Restoration of Estonian Independence
With the restoration of independence in 1991 the Narova River once again became an international border. During the 1990s the permanent museum exhibition took its final shape, active cooperation with European foundations and researchers began, and the tradition of holding knightly tournaments and large-scale historical festivals within the castle grounds was established. Narva Castle is one of the most important landmarks in eastern Estonia.
1996
Reconstruction of the North Wing
In 1996 the reconstruction of the north wing of the Narva Castle conventual building was completed. Work begun in the Soviet era continued after 1991 without the former system of state funding, and the museum saw it through to completion with its own resources. The opening of the North Wing in 1996 marked an important stage in the post-war restoration of Narva Castle and the return of its spaces to museum use: it housed a new exhibition dedicated to 19th-century Narva.
2007
The Living History Courtyard
The North Courtyard of Narva Castle opened to visitors as a living history and craft exhibition conveying the spirit of everyday urban life in 17th-century Narva. Workshops, demonstrations, children's programmes and performances by historical re-enactors transformed the courtyard into a "living stage of everyday history".
2020
East Wing Reconstruction
In 2020 the reconstruction of the east wing of the Narva Castle conventual building was completed. The wing, previously closed to visitors, was brought into museum use. In the restored rooms, a permanent exhibition opened on the history of Narva and its castle — from the Danish period to the present day.
2024
Completion of Restoration
In 2024 the renovated Western Courtyard of Narva Castle fully opened to visitors. The reconstruction contributed to creating a space for walks, tours and public events, preserved the outer walls of the courtyard and opened access to Kristervall Bastion with a new exhibition. The Western Courtyard connected the castle to the riverside promenade and the Joaorg recreation area.

Observation platform at 51 metres

Hermann Tower

Hermann Tower and Narva Castle, view from the river

Tower Facts

Height 51 m (65 m with flagpole)
Wall thickness up to 4.7 m at the base
Construction period 14th–16th c., restoration 1950–1986
Tower access included in castle ticket

Hermann Tower (Est. Pikk Hermann — "Tall Hermann") is the principal vertical landmark of Narva Castle and the entire Narva riverbank. Construction began in the 14th century under the Livonian Order: the lower storeys were built first, then the upper sections, and by the early 16th century the tower had reached its present form. It stands 51 metres tall — approximately 65 metres with the flagpole. The wall thickness at the base reaches 4.7 metres, making the tower virtually impervious to medieval artillery. The tower survived the Livonian War, Swedish and Russian rule, the destruction of World War II and the extensive post-war restoration of 1950–1986. From the observation platform you can see two countries simultaneously from a height of 51 metres: Estonian Narva and Russian Ivangorod, separated by a river roughly 130 metres wide. Access to the tower is included in the standard castle ticket.

Fun Fact

Hermann Tower was not named after any particular builder or knight. "Long Hermann" is a traditional name in medieval German culture for the tallest and most prominent fortress towers. "Hermann" derives from the Old Germanic words Heer (army) and Mann (man), emphasising its role as the castle's chief defender.

Bastion fortifications of the 17th–18th centuries

The Star Fort

To the west of the medieval castle spreads a system of bastion fortifications built in the 17th–18th centuries. Its shape resembles a five-pointed star — hence the popular name "Star Fort". It is one of the best-preserved examples of bastion fortification in Northern Europe.

Construction of the fortifications began under the Swedes in the 1640s to the design of military engineers applying the most modern principles of fortification of the time. The new system was designed for the age of cannon: the city was encircled by massive earthen ramparts, projecting bastions and a moat. The bastions allowed flanking fire along the walls and eliminated blind spots, preventing attackers from taking shelter at their base.

After the capture of Narva in 1704, by order of Peter I the fortification plans were revised and construction continued in accordance with new military-engineering requirements. By the mid-18th century the fort had taken its final form. Its earthen ramparts reach 8 metres in height; the moat is up to 25 metres wide. In the age of sailing warships and smoothbore artillery this was a formidable fortification.

Today part of the bastion fortifications is open for walks: visitors can stroll along the old ramparts and see the surviving underground passages. From here there are fine views of Hermann Tower, the Narva River and Ivangorod Fortress.

Бастионы Звёздного форта, Нарва

Fort Facts

Construction period 1640s — mid-18th century
Number of bastions 4 main bastions + curtain walls
Rampart height up to 8 metres
Moat width up to 25 metres

Underground — eight centuries of secrets

Casemates and Underground Tunnels

Beneath Narva Castle and its bastion fortifications lies a branching network of underground structures built over several centuries. The casemates (vaulted chambers inside the castle walls and ramparts) and the tunnels connecting them served many purposes — from storing gunpowder and provisions to sheltering the garrison during bombardments.

The casemates in the castle walls date from the 14th–16th centuries. They are low-vaulted chambers with thick stone walls, designed to withstand the artillery fire of their era. Weapons, ammunition and foodstuffs were stored here. During sieges the casemates housed the wounded and sheltered the town's civilian residents.

The bastion-fort casemates date from the 17th–18th centuries. Brick galleries with semi-circular vaulted ceilings run beneath the earthen ramparts. These spaces were used as flanking gun positions (caponiers and demi-caponiers) and for billeting troops.

The underground tunnels of Narva are a topic that invariably fascinates historians and local history enthusiasts. The existence of several underground passages connecting the castle with the city is documentarily confirmed, allowing troops and supplies to be moved without the enemy's knowledge. Some tunnels were deliberately filled in or bricked up during the 19th–20th centuries for safety reasons. The search for and study of hidden underground structures continues to this day.

Part of the casemates is currently open to visitors — themed tours are conducted here with period reconstructions and period lighting (torches, candles).

Underground Legends

According to local legend one of the underground passages led from Narva Castle directly under the river to Ivangorod. No documentary evidence of its existence has been found, but geophysical surveys carried out in the 2000s revealed soil anomalies near the river bank. The legend lives on.

Inside Victoria Bastion casemates, Narva

Victoria Bastion Casemates

Underground galleries from the late 17th century — the flagship visitor attraction of Narva's fortification system. The tour reveals the bastion's role in the city's defence, historical events, the fortress's treasures and its mysterious inhabitants.

Schedule
Saturday
Russian 11:00
Estonian 14:00
English 16:00
Ticket €10 / person (group of 10+)

Groups of 10+ — at a convenient time by advance booking:

+372 586 69 080 bastion@narva.ee
bastion.visitnarva.ee
Narva Museum Art Gallery, Bastion Gloria

Art Gallery at Bastion Gloria

A 1777 historic provisions and arms warehouse — one of the few buildings of old Narva to survive World War II. The permanent exhibition "Life or Karma? Stories of Narva" presents around 200 works from the Baroque era to the present day.

Opening hours
Wednesday 10:00–19:00
Thu–Sat 10:00–18:00
Sunday 10:00–16:00
Mon–Tue Closed
Address Vestervalli 21, Narva

More information and tickets:

+372 359 1079 info@narvamuuseum.ee
narvamuuseum.ee

Narva Museum in the Castle

The Museum Today

Narva Museum is the main historical museum of eastern Estonia. Permanent and temporary exhibitions tell the story of the castle, the city and the region from the 13th century to the present day.

Permanent Exhibitions

  • The Medieval Castle — architecture and life of the Livonian Order knights
  • Hermann Tower — observation platform at 51 m, panorama of two countries
  • History of Narva — from the Danish conquest to the 21st century
  • Artillery and fortification — historic cannons on the fort grounds
  • Bastion-fort casemates — torch-lit guided tours

Opening Hours

11 May – 30 Aug
Daily 10:00–18:00
Sep – 10 May
Wed–Sat 10:00–18:00
Sunday 10:00–16:00
Mon–Tue Closed

Ticket office closes 1 hour before closing. Closed 1 Jan and 31 Dec.

Ticket Prices

Castle — adult 16 €
Castle — concession 10 €
Children under 8 Free
Castle — family (2+2) 32 €
Castle + Gallery 18 € / 12 € concession

Good to Know

Audio guide Included in castle and gallery ticket
Café «Maitsepaik» Located at the castle
Accessibility 2 lifts in the conventual house
Annual pass €60 / €40 conc. / €120 family
Online shop pood.narvamuuseum.ee

Contact

Peetri plats 7, Narva 20308, Estonia
+372 359 9230
info@narvamuuseum.ee
www.narvamuuseum.ee

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How to Find the Castle?

Narva is just 2.5 hours from Tallinn. A direct Elron train — no transfers needed. One day's journey to one of the most remarkable medieval fortresses on the Baltic Sea.

Plan your trip — tickets take 2 minutes to buy online

Elron Train Tallinn → Narva · from €8 tpilet.ee Buses from any city in Estonia

Castle Address

Peetri plats 7, Narva 20308, Estonia. Hermann Tower rises 51 metres above the city — your best landmark, visible long before you arrive.

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~10 min walk

From the Station

Leave the station and walk towards the river — along the embankment past the blue Transfiguration Church, or along Pushkin Street. Ten easy minutes, and Hermann Tower rises above the rooftops. It calls you in.

border check

Two Fortresses Face to Face

Narva Castle and Ivangorod Fortress face each other across 130 metres of river — one of Europe's most striking border vistas. From the pedestrian bridge you see both castles at once, in two different countries.