Things to do in Harju County, Harju County: The Best Castles

Laitse manor house resembles a knight’s castle which bears elements of almost all the mediaeval architectural tastes. The mansion built by Woldemar von Uexkull in 1892 is one of the best works of local Neo-Gothic style.  During the years of the Republic of Estonia the castle was reconstructed from inside and by today nothing of the initial plan has preserved. Today the castle is in private ownership and you can visit it and refresh yourself in the ground floor pub.Interesting to know: in the Soviet times the house used to be an auxiliary building of Laitse radio station and there were apartments, the “Red Corner”, a canteen and a village sauna in the house.

The original Danish castle, which was built in 1219, was later destroyed and replaced by a new castle in the 14th century that served as the seat of the Knights of the Sword for several centuries.

Sangaste Castle and manor park are one of the most outstanding examples of historicism in the Baltic States. The most remarkable features of the castle are its gothic-style foyer, magnificent party halls and English-style hunting hall. An interesting acoustic effect is achieved with the arched pillars by the entrance: anything whispered in one corner can be clearly heard in the opposite corner. The castle was designed by architect Otto Pius Hippius, who was inspired by the famous Windsor Castle in England. It originally had 99 rooms – because only the tsar could have 100 or more rooms.

The beautiful Neo-Gothic castle that has preserved in full has been built from 1890 to 1893 from local dolomite, the so-called Vasalemma marble. Since 1919 the gorgeous characteristically English manor house with its octahedral ziggurat, truncated gables and high arched windows has housed a basic school. In summer it is possible to visit the manor in the framework of the touring game “Forgotten manors” where the doors of the manor are open to all visitors at certain dates.Interesting to know:-The manor has also been used as an English manor for film shots.