Fortress, Kuressaare, Estonia
In Kuressaare, on the island of Saaremaa, Estonia's largest island in the Baltic Sea, an Episcopal Castle was built in the thirteenth century, one of the best preserved military fortifications in the country. The castle was built to protect the Bishop of Saare Lääne.
In 1559, the castle was captured by the Danes, who
modernized the fortifications. In 1665 the castle was taken over by the Swedes, who continued the modernizations. As
the result of the Great Northern War (1700-1721), the castle of Kuressaare and Saaremaa island passed into the ownership of the Russian Empire. The castle was restored in 1902-1914, in 1968, and in 1980; today, it houses the Museum of Saaremaa Island.
The Castle's plan is rectangular, built in late Gothic style. The central part, the so-called monastery, is a square building with an inner courtyard. The defense tower at the corner of the enclosure has a height of 37 m. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Swedish architect Erik Dahlberg built outer fortifications, in the style of Vauban, with bastions and moats, most of which we can still see today.
Fortress, Kuressaare, Estonia
In Kuressaare, on the island of Saaremaa, Estonia's largest island in the Baltic Sea, an Episcopal Castle was built in the thirteenth century, one of the best preserved military fortifications in the country. The castle was built to protect the Bishop of Saare Lääne.
In 1559, the castle was captured by the Danes, who
modernized the fortifications. In 1665 the castle was taken over by the Swedes, who continued the modernizations. As
the result of the Great Northern War (1700-1721), the castle of Kuressaare and Saaremaa island passed into the ownership of the Russian Empire. The castle was restored in 1902-1914, in 1968, and in 1980; today, it houses the Museum of Saaremaa Island.
The Castle's plan is rectangular, built in late Gothic style. The central part, the so-called monastery, is a square building with an inner courtyard. The defense tower at the corner of the enclosure has a height of 37 m. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Swedish architect Erik Dahlberg built outer fortifications, in the style of Vauban, with bastions and moats, most of which we can still see today.