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

Address

Linnamäe tee, Otepää, Estonia

See all sites in Otepää

Details

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

More Information

www.turismiweb.ee
www.visitestonia.com

Rating

4.4/5 (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

Trick Y (2 years ago)
Great welcome and valuable advice!

Rolands Zaremba (3 years ago)
Cool

Anu (3 years ago)
Entrance on the side of the town hall building. Information, souvenirs, an interactive exhibition about the history of the Estonian flag in a separate room.

Sergei (4 years ago)
Visitor center with a good souvenir shop. There is a room dedicated to the Estonian flag. The exposition introduces his history.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright w_lemay

Historic Site of the week

Temple of Edfu

The Temple of Edfu is one of the best preserved ancient shrines in Egypt. It was built in the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 237 and 57 BC.

Edfu was one of several temples built during the Ptolemaic Kingdom, including the Dendera Temple complex, Esna, the Temple of Kom Ombo, and Philae. Its size reflects the relative prosperity of the time. The present temple initially consisted of a pillared hall, two transverse halls, and a barque sanctuary surrounded by chapels. The building was started during the reign of Ptolemy III Euergetes and completed in 57 BC under Ptolemy XII Auletes. It was built on the site of an earlier, smaller temple also dedicated to Horus, although the previous structure was oriented east–west rather than north–south as in the present site.