I was born in Narva, but I left Estonia when I was around 18 years old. So, it's been around 12 years since I saw Hermann (=Narva) Castle (the white tower)! It is the most beautiful place in Narva in my opinion. It stands on Narva River which divides Estonia and Russia. When I was a child, I remember that the Castle had extensive collection of artefacts and items from various periods of time to showcase the history of Narva and the castle itself. I also remember that it was quite hard to climb upstairs for me! However, when I visited castle now, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they got elevator! The exhibitions are now skillfully curated to show different moments of Narva's history. It was great to see physical objects, 3D animations of the life in the medieval Hermann castle, 2D story of how life has changed over many centuries, and old movies of Narva. I loved the views from the top of the Castle! Apart from that, you can explore the yard of the Narva Castle, see various crafts displayed (you can buy them also), and gift shop. There are usually various craftspeople from Estonia and around the world in the summer time, but I missed them because there was preparation for a concert in the yard. I grabbed some traditional drink, kali (or kvass), which was poured in lovely mug. I had to drink it fast because I noticed swallows flying around, and I managed to photograph their chicks on the Castle's wall! The area around the castle is lovely for a walk. You can pass it and see "clock" scupture, for example. There's lots of swallows and seagulls flying around. If you fancy to explore seaside city called Narva-Joesuu, you can go to the port near the Castle and catch Caroline. Overall, if you have just a day in Narva, you definitely should visit this place. The history of Narva is...
Read moreCool castle, great views, and effort has clearly gone into the visitor experience, but seems misguided. They haven't got the basics right: poor navigation (you really have no idea where you are at any point in time), don't understand what all the projectors and projected images are about, and the audio guide I didn't switch on once because I couldn't see the symbol anywhere that you are supposed to put it next to to activate. It's also a bit light on actual "things" inside the rooms. Whoever curated this has clearly never properly tried to understand what visitors are doing/thinking/saying about the experience. So: get the basics right and then start thinking a bout...
Read moreNarva Castle is a beautiful and well preserved historical site that offers a great experience for visitors. The castle itself is impressive, with rich history and stunning architecture. One of the highlights is the Silver Café, which adds a modern and cozy touch to the medieval atmosphere perfect for a relaxing break.
The surrounding area is also lovely for a walk, with scenic views of the Narva River and the Russian border just across. It’s easy to get there by car, and parking is conveniently located nearby, making the visit smooth and stress free.
Overall, it’s a great place to explore, unwind, and soak in some history. Highly...
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