The castle was probably built in the 13th century most likely in place of an
ancient Estonian stronghold. The bailiwick of Karksi was first mentioned in
1248. The stronghold had a chapel dedicated to Apostle Peter. The first reference
was made to a local clergyman in 1298. The present stone church, very
simple in design, was built in the same place between 1773 and 1778. St.
Peter’s Church is in the ruins of Karksi castle. The tower of the church is
leaning, the inclination of the tower’s top is 205 cm at the moment. In 1994
it was decided to save the tower using complicated “construction surgery“
developed while stabilizing structures in the old town of Tartu. Eight 10-
metre-tall bored piles along with concrete beams penetrating foundations
form a new bearing surface for the tower. As a result, the further leaning of
the tower has stopped.On the way which takes you to the stronghold, in the former cemetery of
the Knights of the Order of the Sword, stands a nice Baroque chapel among
trees, built in the early 18th century by Field Marshal George Reinhold
von Lieven, the owner of the Karksi manorial estate. The coats of arms of
the Lievens and the Mannteuffels have been fixed to the chapel doors. The
chapel, similarly, was built with one side on the former foundation and
therefore is somewhat leaning. The buildings of the Karksi manor have
perished.
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