Sights of Narva - the eastern corner of Estonia. Castle and Long German. Shopping and stores

Narva is a city on the border with Russian Federation. It is important for the development of economic and political Russian-Estonian relations, and in addition, it is a historical fusion of the cultures of the two peoples. Located to the north - popular resort on the Baltic Sea.

Population of Narva

Narva is the third most populated city in Estonia. The population of Narva, as of January 1, 2016, is 60,400 people, 80% of them are Russians.

At the beginning of the XX century. Estonians made up the overwhelming majority of the population of Narva. The situation changed dramatically as a result of the tragic events of World War II, when a significant part of the Narovites were evacuated by the German troops, retreating under the onslaught of the Soviet army, or killed. After the end of the war, settlers from Russia began to massively populate Narva.

History of Narva

River Narva (Narova), as part of trade route"from the Varangians to the Greeks", has been known since the time of the Vikings. The city was founded in 1223. Narva was first mentioned in historical sources of the 13th-14th centuries, including the Novgorod Chronicle. There, a fortified settlement on the site of modern Narva is called Rugodiv.

Throughout its history, Narva has been a place of constant military clashes, passing from one state to another. Until 1346, Narva was owned by Denmark, and then it went to the Livonian Order.

Russian troops retook Narva on May 11, 1558 during the Livonian War. Ivan the Terrible built big plans to Narva, intending to turn it into an important military port on the Baltic Sea. However, in 1581 the Swedes captured the city.

Narva returned to Russia in 1704 during Northern war. As a result of the war, all of Estonia went to Russia.

During World War II, Narva was under German occupation. During the Narva offensive operation on July 26, 1944, the city was liberated, but it suffered greatly from the actions of both German and Soviet troops. Unfortunately, later only part of the buildings of the Old City was restored.

Weather in Narva

The weather in Narva, as in all of Estonia, is dictated by proximity to the sea. The climate here is temperate: cool summers, mild winters, due to the fact that the city is surrounded by water - humid air. The average July temperature is +17°C. February is the most cold month, average temperature air -6°C.

Sights of Narva

The sights of Narva keep its long and eventful history. Narva has something to see for both lovers of antiquity and fans of modern art and architecture.

. The castle was built in Narva by the Danes. At first they were wooden fortifications, later, in the 14th century, they turned into a stone fortress. During the Second World War, the castle was severely damaged, it is still being restored. Today there is a museum that tells about the history of the city, and the city library.

Narva bastions. A complex of defensive structures built in the 17th century. The complex is well preserved, from the outside you can see as many as 7 bastions: Triumph, Fortune, Spes (Hope), Pax (Peace), Victoria, Honor (Honor) and Gloria; in addition, the casemates of Victoria can be explored from the inside. Victoria even has its own "locals" - a colony of bats! The Pax Bastion, on which the fountain is installed, can be used as an observation deck.

. Pedestrian zone equipped along the river under the walls of the castle. The walk will not be boring, because along the way you will meet sundial, sculptural composition in the form of a pride, binoculars, exercise equipment and chessboards. The length of the promenade is about a kilometer, it starts at the Victoria Bastion and reaches the castle.

. The three-storey building, where the city council used to meet, housed the court, the chancellery and the chamber of commerce. An elegant wooden staircase leads to the second floor, where a model of a pre-war city is installed. The town hall is crowned with a tower with a weather vane, which depicts a crane standing on an apple.

. The building is next to the City Hall. Unusual architecture College immediately attracts the eye. Its façade is a cast of the façade of the neighboring stock exchange building, hence the concave rather than convex columns and overhanging roof. The interior of the building is no less original. Exhibitions are often held in the basement of the college, admission is free.

"Swedish Lion". Monument in memory of the battle of 1700 near Narva between Russian and Swedish troops, which ended in a heavy defeat for the Russian troops. From here you can see the river, Herman's castle and the Ivangorod fortress.

. Monument to the Estonian grandmaster. born in Narva, stands on Petrovsky Square. The sculpture depicts a chess player thinking about a move.

. The bust of the great poet is installed in the park on the street. Alexander Pushkin.

. The laying of the temple was dedicated to the meeting of the Russian Emperor Alexander III and the German Emperor Wilhelm II. Cathedral keeps unique ancient icons, among which there is an icon with traces of bullets. Of the shrines of the temple, the most revered - the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, icon Mother of God and the Narva crucifix.

. The largest Lutheran church in Estonia. Built in 1881–1884. designed by the St. Petersburg academician Otto von Gippius and dedicated to the memory of Alexander II. The church tower, which can be seen from anywhere in the city, is one of the symbols of Narva.

. The island on the river Narva is the most East End city and all of Estonia. here in the middle of the 19th century. Krenholm Manufactory was founded - later, in Soviet times, one of the largest textile enterprises. At the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. a number of buildings were built next to the manufactory: a hospital, a bakery, houses for production managers. At the beginning of the XX century. 10 thousand workers worked here. Now the factory is in disrepair and is interesting only as a monument of industrial architecture.

Where to go with children in Narva?

Holidays in Narva with children can always be turned into an adventure. How?

Visit the "Northern Yard" of the Narva Castle - the street of craftsmen of the 17th century. Here you can watch the work of the masters and look into the medieval shops.
To take part in the programs of the Narva Museum - to become a resident of the 17th century. and find the real treasure.
Climb the mysterious passages of the Victoria Bastion.
Go to the Joaorg recreation area, rent a sun lounger and sports equipment there and go to rest on the well-equipped city beach of Narva.
Stop by the Astri shopping and entertainment complex, where a state-of-the-art cinema and a planetarium are open.

What to bring from Narva?

Visitors always wonder what to buy in Narva that is not sold outside. You should seriously think about shopping also because Russian citizens, leaving the country, can receive a VAT refund in the amount of 20% of the purchase price.

From Narva they usually bring:

clothing and textiles;
liqueurs and balms;
sweets, especially marzipan and Kalev sweets;
crockery and antiques.

Gift Studio (Kerese st., 20), Alexander (Pushkin st., 13), Kokos (Pushkin st., 5), Unistus (Kalev sweets shop, 27 Tallinn Highway) are open in the city. Kreenholm textiles can be bought at the Tempo shopping center.

Hotels in Narva

For tourists looking for a place to stay, it offers options for different price categories:

Restaurants and cafes in Narva

In Narva, tourists are greeted by restaurants of national and international cuisine:

Sushi King – Japanese food(Tallinskoe highway, not far from Fama mall);
China House– Chinese and Asian cuisine (Tallinn Highway);
Old Trafford– European and Russian cuisine (Petrovskaya Square);
Rondeel – National cuisine(located in Hermann's castle);
Parl- dishes on a live fire and a large selection of beer (next to the Fama shopping center).
Kohvik- "cafe" in Estonian, so if, while walking on an empty stomach, you suddenly see a sign "Kohvik" - you are here. In Narva, Kohvik Muna, a cafe at the Narva College of the University of Tartu, is especially popular. Not only students go here - locals and experienced tourists They know that you can always have a delicious and budget-friendly meal here.

How to get there?

The easiest way to get to Narva is from Ivangorod: just walk border control and cross the bridge from one city to another.

There is no airport in Narva, but there is railroad station and bus station. Trains to Narva go from (Elron trains), St. Petersburg, Moscow. Buses come from St. Petersburg (LuxExpress and Ecolines), Pskov, and Vilnius.

Useful information for tourists

Informational tourist centre Narva is located on Petrovsky Square, not far from Herman's castle. Here you can get maps and guides, and learn from the workers what you can see in Narva. The center has an interactive room for children.

Narva (Estonia) - the most detailed information about the city with a photo. The main attractions of Narva with descriptions, guides and maps.

City of Narva (Estonia)

Narva is a city in the east of Estonia with a "Russian soul". Located on the border of Estonia and Russia, cultures of East and West. Interestingly, due to its favorable location, Narva has always been an important trading center. For possession over it there was a constant struggle among the mighty powers of the past. All this has left us unique historical heritage in the form of two fortresses (a Russian fortress of the 15th century and a castle of German knights of the 14th century), which, located on both sides of the river, as witnesses of the past struggle for more than five centuries, "look" at each other. In the recent past, Narva had a beautiful old look, wonderful Baroque buildings. Unfortunately, World War II almost destroyed historical Center. The new building and layout of the city was made in a typical Soviet style, in which there are practically no old buildings left.

Geography and climate

Narva is the most eastern city Estonia. The city is located on the left bank of the river of the same name, 150 km from St. Petersburg and 210 km from the capital - Tallinn. The climate is temperate with warm summers and fairly cold winters. During the year, 650 mm of precipitation falls.

Best time to visit

Best time visiting Narva - May-September.

Practical Information

The population of the city is about 60,000 inhabitants. Narva is the third largest city in Estonia.
More than 80% of the population are Russians. All residents mostly speak Russian.
To visit Narva you need a Schengen visa.
Official currency- Euro.

Story

The foundation of Narva dates back to 1223. Already at the time Ancient Rus' the path "From the Varangians to the Greeks" passed here. In the 13th century, the Danes captured Narva. In the first half of the 14th century, it received city rights.

From the middle of the 14th century until 1558, Narva belonged to the Livonian Order. In the 14th century, German knights began to build a powerful castle. In the 15th century, Grand Duke Ivan III began the construction of a Russian fortress.

During the Livonian War, Narva was captured by Russian troops. Tsar Ivan the Terrible planned to make a city major port and shopping center. In 1581, the Swedes, after several sieges, took Narva, while destroying almost all Russian population. After several skirmishes near the city, in 1595 Russia and Sweden made peace, according to which Russia abandoned its claims to Narva and Revel, but received land to the east.

Narva was recaptured from the Swedes as a result of the Northern War by Peter the Great. At the beginning of the 18th century, the city became part of the Russian Empire. After the construction of the Petersburg fortresses strategic importance Narva fell. In the 19th century, the city turned into a major industrial center.

In 1920 Narva became part of independent Estonia. The city became part of the USSR in 1940. In 1941, German troops entered Narva. The city was liberated in 1944. As a result of the battles for Narva Old city was almost completely destroyed by the bombing and explosions of the German sapper brigades. After the war, the historical center was not restored.

How to get there

The nearest airports are located in Tallinn and St. Petersburg. Buses and trains run to Narva from Tallinn, Tartu, St. Petersburg, Moscow.

Shopping and shopping

Shopping centers and many shops can be found on the Tallinn Highway.

Attractions

Despite the fact that during the Second World War the old town of Narva was almost completely destroyed, the city has retained several interesting sights.

The main attraction of Narva is the medieval Livonian castle built in the 14th century. In the past, the fortress was called Herman Castle. Now the city museum is located here. On Russian coast River Narva stands Ivangorod fortress of the 15th century.

Of particular interest are the Swedish bastions - fortifications 17-18 centuries.

A popular place is the embankment of Narva - one of the favorite places for walks of residents and guests of the city.

From historical buildings the city hall, built in the 17th century, has been preserved.

Of the sacred architecture, it is worth seeing the Lutheran church of the 19th century, named after Emperor Alexander II, and the Resurrection Cathedral - an Orthodox church of the late 19th century.

Narva is the easternmost city of Estonia and the entire European Union, separated from Russia by a small river of the same name. On the opposite bank is the Russian Ivangorod, connected to Narva by the Friendship Bridge. The stern-looking city has preserved in its appearance the memory of its important military-strategic significance; of the numerous battles taking place under its walls. Now a little over 60 thousand people live in the city, of which 90% are Russians.

History of Narva

The official date of foundation of the city is 1223. In even more early times the famous route from the Varangians to the Greeks passed through these places, and from the 13th to the middle of the 14th century, the fortress founded here belonged to Denmark. Then for a whole century, until 1558, the powerful Livonian Order was the owner of the land.

Attracted Narva and Russian princes. Back in 1492, to fight against Livonia, the great Moscow prince Ivan III erected the Ivangorod fortress, named after him, opposite Narva. In 1558, the grandson of Ivan III, the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible, took possession of Narva. However, in 1581, the Swedes captured both cities, which both Boris Godunov and Peter I later tried to recapture. The first siege of Narva in 1700 by Peter the Great ended in a crushing defeat. Only in 1704 did it become Russian.

After the construction of Kronstadt, Narva lost its strategic importance and became a peaceful industrial city. In the middle of the 19th century, a huge Krenholm weaving factory was opened here. Now the complex of manufactory buildings is one of the sights of the city.

At the end of 1917, Narva was transferred from the St. Petersburg province to the Estland province, and in February 1918 it was included in the self-proclaimed Republic of Estonia. However, in March 1918, Narva was occupied by German troops, but at the end of November of the same year it was captured by the Red Army. The following milestones in the history of the city:

since January 1919 - as part of the Republic of Estonia;
since July 1940 - as part of the Estonian SSR, which became part of the USSR in August of the same year;
in August 1941 - occupation by German troops;
July 26, 1944 - liberation by the Red Army;
from 1944 to 1991 - as part of the USSR;
since 1991 and to this day - as part of the Republic of Estonia.

Sights of Narva

Centuries and wars did not spare the city, but despite this, there are many interesting places worth looking at. Narva is popular tourist town Estonia, especially among Russians.

City fortifications

Narva arose and existed for a long time as a major strategic point, therefore, among its surviving architectural monuments many fortifications.

The main attraction of the city is the medieval citadel of the fortress, nicknamed the "Castle of Herman" and built in the XIII - XV centuries. It rises on the banks of the river Narva, famous for its temper, which, perhaps, explains its name. During the Second World War, the castle and the fortress were badly damaged, but in the 1950s, their restoration began, which continues to this day.

The ancient fortress was stone structure with a tower and walls 40 meters high. After that, the courtyard was completed, in which the townspeople hid during the days of hostilities. The city castle and other fortifications were constantly strengthened and rebuilt. Thanks to the efforts of first the Swedes and then the Russians, in the 18th century Narva became the city with the most powerful defensive system in Eastern Europe.

Now in oldest wing The castle houses the Narva City Museum, where visitors can not only see the most interesting exposition, but also make souvenirs with their own hands using the tools and technologies of the 17th century.

Of the 9 bastions of the city to date, in varying degrees Preservation reached almost all. Narva defensive structures have powerful outer walls three meters thick, high front walls with tunnels and casemates.

The most fortified bastion of Victoria is listed world heritage UNESCO. Now the largest colony of bats in the city lives in it, and on the territory of the bastion, near the river, a park was built in the 19th century, nicknamed the Dark Garden because of its proximity to the Dark Gate. This oldest park Narva and one of the favorite vacation spots of the townspeople. The Dark Garden has trees that are over 100 years old. On the territory of the park and next to it there are several interesting monuments:

"Swedish lion" - a sculptural image of a lion, installed in memory of the battle of the Swedish and Russian troops near Narva in 1700. This monument is an exact copy of a lion guarding Royal Palace in Stockholm;
a cast-iron cross on a stone pedestal - a monument in honor of the dead Russian soldiers during the storming of Narva in 1704;
tomb of fallen soldiers during liberation war 1918.

In the building of the powder pit of the Gloria bastion is Art Gallery. The gallery contains paintings from the collection of Russian art of the merchant Lavretsov, a collection of porcelain, works of art cult purpose, Wooden Medieval Sculpture. The gallery funds are constantly replenished with works by contemporary Estonian artists.

The most significant city events take place in the inner courtyard of Narva Castle: international music Festival named after Mravinsky, city day, historical festival, concerts under open sky and so on.

Temples of Narva

All Christian denominations are represented in the city: Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Protestantism. Narva was famous for its temples, but, however, many of them were destroyed. Today in the city you can look at the following places of worship:

Alexander Lutheran Church, which was built in the 1880s in honor of the Russian Emperor Alexander II. The temple was erected for the Lutheran workers who worked at the Krenholm manufactory, and before the war it was the largest in Estonia;
Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral - built at the end of the 19th century for the Orthodox workers of the manufactory. Made in neo-Byzantine style. Is valid Orthodox church. Among the shrines of the cathedral is the miraculous icon of the Kazan Mother of God;
The Church of the Holy Trinity is the tomb of the Stieglitz family and the Polovtsov family. It was built in the 1870s in the style of Russian historicism, dating back to the traditions of Russian architecture of the 17th century.

Before the Second World War, Narva was called "the pearl of the Baroque Baltic Sea". Alas, during the hostilities, the city was badly destroyed, and only 16 historical monuments. However, those that remain are quite enough for interesting walk around town.

The second symbol of the city after Hermann's castle is the Narva City Hall. It was built on the initiative of the Swedish king in 1668 in the style of Dutch classicism and is a strict, majestic building with an openwork tower with a spire and a weather vane in the form of a crane. There is a large clock on the pediment of the façade.

For many years, the fame of Narva was the famous Krenholm weaving factory. In 1900, the products of this manufactory were awarded the Grand Prix at the World Exhibition in Paris. The complex of buildings of the manufactory, erected in the 19th century, is a monument of architecture and history of the city and consists of residential, administrative and industrial buildings.

At one time, the whole town-planning ensemble of the manufactory was conceived as industrial city of the future, and the latest technologies were used in its construction.

To create this complex, an original architectural style associated with the traditions of Narva architecture was developed.

There are waterfalls on the territory of the manufactory. Before the advent of production, these were natural, very full-flowing cascades, but now they are formed due to the discharge of the local hydroelectric reservoir.

Other interesting sights of the city include:

the building of the gymnasium, or the house of Baron von Velio. Built at the beginning of the 19th century in the style of classicism;
Friendship Bridge is a car-pedestrian bridge connecting Narva and Ivangorod, Estonia and Russia. Erected in 1960. Thousands of vehicles and 10,000 people cross this bridge every day;
the embankment of the city with an amazing view of Ivangorod, the Dark Garden and the Gan stairs - one of the best viewing platforms in Narva.

The uniqueness of Narva lies in its borderline position. It is, in fact, a place of meeting and interpenetration of two cultural worlds: Europe and Russia, West and East.

There is not a single war in the history of Estonia that was not connected with Narva. But now the quiet and calm city of Narva and the sights that miraculously survived the battles are worth it for tourists to spend one or several days here.

Narva is the third largest city in Estonia. Most of the inhabitants of Narva are Russians. And this is not surprising, because the city is located on the border with Russia.

Narva was the second city I visited while traveling in Estonia.

The most memorable, most important and beautiful symbol of the city is the Narva Castle, near which you can always meet many admiring tourists.

Narva Castle, founded by the Danes at the end of the 13th century as the residence of the King of Denmark, served as a defensive complex in the Middle Ages. The castle went through many reconstructions, and acquired its current appearance at the beginning of the 15th century. Now in the fortress you can visit the Narva Museum, which tells about the history of the city and the fortress itself. Exhibition halls located in the tower Long German.

And in the northern courtyard of the castle, anyone can try their hand at a craft workshop.

Narva Town Hall, built in the Baroque style, is an equally outstanding landmark of the city. Only the town hall has survived to this day. And residential buildings, a pharmacy, an exchange building were destroyed during the Second World War. The town hall is closed to tourists.

IN former building The armory houses the Art Gallery, founded in 1991. At the permanent exhibition you can get acquainted with the works of the merchant Lavretsov. In addition, temporary exhibitions of artists are organized here. On the last Sunday of May, the gallery hosts a traditional art festival.

The museum is open from Monday to Wednesday from 10:00 to 18:00.

House of Baron von Velio - a majestic building built in the early 18th century in the classical style, is an architectural monument.
There used to be a boys' school here. And now - Vanalinna Public School.

The famous Krenholm Manufactory was founded in the 18th century, the largest in Russian Empire. Since it is located in the area of the Narva waterfalls, water energy was used for the manufacture of products. Visiting the manufactory is possible only by prior arrangement.

The Resurrection Cathedral was built in the 1890s for the Orthodox workers of the Krenholm manufactory. The main value in the cathedral is a gilded three-tiered iconostasis and a wooden crucifixion of Christ of the 17th century. An interesting fact is that during the Second World War, when almost the entire city was destroyed, the Resurrection Cathedral remained untouched.

According to the project of the St. Petersburg architect Otto Pius von Gippius, the Alexander Church was erected in 1884 for the Lutheran workers of the Krenholm Manufactory. The church was badly damaged during the First and Second World Wars, the bell tower with the organ was destroyed. It was restored not too long ago.

In the church you can visit the bell tower with observation deck, and a museum.

An unusual architectural monument is the City Hospital, which is part of the Krenholm ensemble.

The oldest park in Narva, the Dark Garden, is located on the Victoria Bastion.
One of the favorite places for both tourists and local residents. In the garden you can find trees over 100 years old. There are two monuments on the territory. The cast-iron cross is dedicated to Russian soldiers who died during the Great Northern War.

The second monument is a symbol of the tomb of those who died during the 1918 War of Independence.

You should definitely look at the Swedish Lion. This monument was unveiled in 2000 to commemorate the Battle of Narva in 1700.

In addition to all of the above, I strongly advise you to visit the Memento Mori Monument, built in memory of the victims of political repression. And if you're lucky, you can get to festivals, performances, open-air concerts that take place in the courtyard of the castle. The most popular: in May - the International Music Festival. Mravinsky, in July - the Days of the City of Narva, and in August - the Historical Festival.

Leisure and recreation in Narva is usually associated with sightseeing of historical sights. City guests visiting old castle Herman and visit the Narva Museum located in it, after which they go for a walk along the river promenade. However, the city also has developed night life, clubs and other places of leisure and recreation. Where to go in Narva while staying in the city?

Clubs and cinemas

Fans of nightclubs and live music can visit the most famous of them - Geneva and Ro-Ro Art Club. In the first you will find an extensive entertainment with dancing, in the second - acquaintance with the local underground. Both have their own charm, their own charm.

List of clubs in Narva

Cinema in Narva

Cinema lovers can look into the modern cinema Forum Cinemas Astri, where the latest world film distribution is shown daily. It is important to note that the films are shown here with dubbing into Russian. This distinguishes the Narva cinema from other similar centers operating in Tallinn, Pärnu or Tartu.

Where to go in Narva with children?

Those who come to Narva with children can be recommended to visit one of the two planetariums operating in the republic. The interactive program of the center is designed in such a way that guests get an idea of latest discoveries in the world of science. If you plan to go shopping, then the descendants can be left in the children's rooms, where they will be looked after by professional nannies.

In addition, it will be interesting for those who come to Narva with children to visit the ancient castle of Herman. Here you will not only get acquainted with the history of the city and its environs, but you will also be able to look at the Northern Courtyard, where artisan workshops still operate to this day. In addition, ancient attractions are installed in the courtyard, exactly replicating those with which children had fun in the Middle Ages.