Set with a magnificent castle - and very large bull sculpture - Rakvere is a small city, the tiny centre of which contains pleasant streets, nicely manicured parks and a lively, youthful population. In addition to the castle there are a few museums and historic churches, but the real charm of this town lies in simply strolling the streets.Rakvere's star attraction, Rakvere Castle was built by the Danish in the 14th century, though the hillside has served many masters over its 700 years: Danes, Russians, Swedes and Poles. The fortress was badly damaged in the battles of the 16th and 17th centuries and later turned into an elaborate manor in the late 1600s. Extensive reconstruction was completed in 2004, and today the castle contains exhibits related to its medieval history with medieval-style amusement that's aimed mostly towards small children (make a candle, make a nail at the blacksmiths, pony rides), though the adults can try their hand at archery. Don't miss the medieval torture chamber. Concerts and plays are held at the castle in summer; ask at the tourist information office to see what's on. In front of the castle is Rakvere's other icon - a massive seven-ton bull statue, which was completed by local artist Tauno Kangro to commemorate the city's 700th-year anniversary. In town, the Rakvere Museum, housed in a late-18th-century building, contains modest expositions related to the town's history. A few blocks south, on one of Rakvere's most historical streets, is the interesting Citizen's House Museum. Displays here show what an early-20th-century apartment looked like; several workshops tap into Rakvere's rich artisan tradition.
"Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania" by Lonely Planet, 2006 |
