Purtse Castle, Fortified manor castle in Lüganuse Rural Municipality, Estonia
Purtse is a three-story stone castle combining Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles, located in rural eastern Estonia. Its thick walls and unusual ladder entrance to the second floor reflect the practical defensive design of the period.
The castle was built in the mid-16th century by Johann von Taube as a fortified residence for a noble family. It later changed hands among various aristocratic owners while maintaining its defensive role throughout the centuries.
The castle contains one of Estonia's preserved medieval heating systems, demonstrating the advanced engineering capabilities of historical builders in the region.
You can walk through all three levels of the structure, starting from the storage areas on the ground floor up to the roof level. Wear sturdy shoes as the floors are uneven and some passages may be slippery or narrow.
An underground heating network of channels and stone passages runs beneath the main hall to warm the interior. This ancient system, called a hypocaust, reveals sophisticated engineering knowledge from the builders of that era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
