Viljandi Castle

All European castles can be divided into two categories. The first one – the famous buildings with thousands of tourists visiting it. The second one – the ruins having a long history. The latter is presented by Viljandi Castle.

The only possible way to reach the fortress is to go through a red-white suspension bridge. In the 19th century, these constructions were rare and unique. For example, this 50-meters bridge was built in Riga, and in 1931 offered to Viljandi. It even has a border and carved metallic gates. 

The ancient fortress was conquered by crusaders in the first quarter of the 13th century. The castle was strengthening for 200 years and in the 16th century became the most solid defense building of Livonian Estonia. The size of it was on the 2nd place among all the castles of modern Estonia and Latvia. But in 1560 it was damaged by Ivan the Terrible, and at the beginning of the 17th century, it was destroyed during the Polish-Swedish wars. After that, it lost its defending function. Now you can see the only wall among the ruins, it helps imagine how huge the castle was. Today this place functions as a stage and the wall as a decoration, where concerts and plays take place.