Vao Castle, Medieval castle in Väike-Maarja, Estonia
Vao Castle is a medieval limestone fortress with four stories, thick defensive walls, and internal passages that date from the second half of the 14th century. Each level served a different purpose, from storage and administration to living quarters and defense.
This fortress was built in the second half of the 14th century as a response to regional unrest, serving as a control point for local roads and waterways. Its construction marked an effort to stabilize the area after periods of upheaval.
Paintings by E. Veermäe hang on the third floor, showing medieval figures that help visitors imagine life during that era. The artwork connects the castle's past to how people understood and remembered this period.
An interior staircase connects all four levels, allowing visitors to move through the castle from bottom to top. Wear comfortable shoes since the medieval stairs and stone surfaces are uneven underfoot.
The castle preserves an original medieval latrine system called a dansker, which extends from the second floor through the outer wall. This intact system reveals how medieval builders incorporated practical sanitation into fortress design.
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