Rakvere, Estonia

Rakvere Castle
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rakvere_linnuse_varemed_vallikraaviga.jpg
Ren12


Rakvere (German: Wesenberg) is a town and county seat of Lääne-Viru County in northern Estonia. It covers 10.64 sq km (4.1 sq mi) and has a population of 17,000 people (2011 estimate).

Human settlement around Rakvere can be traced to the 3rd-5th centuries, though the town itself has its origin in the 13th century, when the settlers began building stone structures in the area. The town was originally called Tarvanpea, as documented in 1226. It appeared in Middle Low German as Wesenbergh in 1252.

In the 14th century, a castle was built in Rakvere while in 1508, a Franciscan monastery was established. Rakvere was destroyed in the Great Northern War in 1703, and in 1721, it was surrended to the Russian Empire, to which it remained until Estonia gained its independence in 1918.

Vallimäe windmill in Rakvere, Estonia, which was built in 1798
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vallim%C3%A4e_tuuleveski.jpg
Ivar Leidus


Today Rakvere holds the distinction of being the smallest town in Europe to have its own professional theater which has turned out a number of famous European actors and actresses.

Visiting Rakvere

You can reach Rakvere by taking a bus from Tallinn, Tartu, Narva and other major towns of Estonia.

Places of Interest in Rakvere

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