Manors

The current buildings of Porkuni manor, which was originally constructed on the site of a fortress, date from the 19th century. The last lord of the manor, Rennenkampff, had a much grander building constructed on the estate between 1870 and 1874, which the locals came to call ‘Porkuni castle’. One corner of the building retains the helmeted hexagonal gate tower of the former fortress, which today houses the Porkuni slate museum. Structures made of slate in the manor complex include the main building, the carriage house, the stables, the granary, the vodka factory and a significant part of the garden wall. The manor today operates as a school and can only be viewed from the outside.

In Kuusalu, just by Peterburi Road, lies a huge stone – St. Lawrence’s Stone, or the Path Stone. It is an ancient cult stone but most likely also marked the border between Kuusalu Church and Kolga Monastery during the middle ages. On the church side of the stone, you can now see the image of the burning grate or the fire tongs and a cross cut into the stone as a symbol of St. Lawrence – according to the legend, the martyr was tortured to death on a burning grate. On the Kolga side of the stone, you can see the emblem of the monastery (two crossed abbot’s crosiers) cut into the stone.

The girth of the stone is 10.2 m.

St. Lawrence used to be one of the most popular patron saints of the people.

The village of Käsmu is home to a wooden chapel, erected using money donated by the villagers in 1863. The surrounding cemetery is the final resting place of more than 30 sea captains who brought prominence to the village. The cemetery has one of Estonia’s most beautiful monuments, erected by a Captain Tiedemann in memory of his most beloved daughter Signe, who died at a young age. Made in Finland from cast metal, the monument was completed in 1937.

The lime tree on Ilumägi hill is one of the few remaining trees in Lahemaa National Park that was considered sacred to ancient Estonians. According to the recollections of locals, tributes were still being brought to the tree as recently as the early years of the 20th century. People believed that if you offered something nice to the tree, something good would also happen to you. A spring once emerged from beneath the tree whose waters were used to treat eye problems, but it has since dried up.

St. Mauritius church in Haljala was a very powerful place in a military sense. Its defensive purpose was served by its two-storey Western tower, which had its own fireplace and openings to fire from. The first stage of construction, between 1430 and 1440, produced the choir and vestry; a few decades later the vaulted, triple-naved lengthwise structure was in place; and by the end of the 15th century the Western tower had risen to a height of 34 metres. The eaves of the pulpit are adorned with the coats of arms of the church’s benefactor, overlooked by the archangel Michael blowing a bugle.

Palmse Manor is one of the grandest baroque mansions in Estonia. The mansion and open-air museum made up the first fully restored manor complex in the country. They are surrounded by the beautiful natural environment of Lahemaa National Park and provide an overview of Estonian manor life and architecture throughout the ages. The open-air museum boasts parks, gardens, and historical buildings. It also features exhibitions, workshops, a training centre, a wine cellar, a romantic café, and a tavern serving national dishes.

Did you know...?
- You can take part in different events at the manor that are designed for children, history enthusiasts, adventurers, and romantics
- The manor is a popular venue for exhibitions, plays, and concerts and the perfect location for training events, conferences, weddings, and receptions

Ilumägi chapel was built by Palmse’s Baron Carl Magnus von der Pahlen between 1814 and 1843 on the site of a former wooden chapel. Its windows are adorned with stained glass produced by the Pahlens and wealthier farmers and officials from Palmse manor. In the cemetery you will see the handiwork of local smiths and stone hewers in its crosses. The fenced-off section of the cemetery holds the remains of the Pahlen family.

A modern neo- historical church. Altar painting “Come to me”.

Kolga Manor is one of the largest and most historically important manor complexes in Estonia. It is located in the western part of Lahemaa National Park.

The main building exudes a sense of history. According to the first reports, the 13th-century Kolga Manor belonged to the Cistercian order. The manor's main building acquired its current appearance at the beginning of the 19th century, when the previous building was rebuilt into a classicist palace. Although some buildings have not yet been renovated, the manor complex still leaves a grand impression.

The manor is privately owned. You can visit the main building by appointment, during events, and on guided tours. Next to the manor house, you will find Kolga Museum.

Kuusalu Church, dedicated to protodeacon martyr St. Lawrence, is considered to be one of the oldest stone churches in Northern Estonia. It was most likely the Gotlandish Cistercian monks who started building a house of God on the boundary of their property next to the holy springs in Kuusalu at the end of the 13th century. By following their own traditions, of course.

In addition to the pulpit, altar, and clock tower, the older art heritage in St. Lawrence Church in Kuusalu also includes chandeliers, Eucharistic vessels made of tin, candle holders, and an embossed brass bracket from the 17th century. Other rarities include the portraits of Luther and Melanchthon as glass paintings.

Toolse Order Castle is one of the more recent medieval castles on the northern coast of Estonia. It is also a castle located closest to the sea. The initial fortified manor house was probably erected by the order in the 14th century with the purpose of protecting the port, trade location and routes. During the Livonian War, the castle passed on through many hands and finally ended up in the possession of the Swedish troops. It was entirely destroyed in the Great Northern War at the beginning of the 18th century.

Today inside the ruins: · Excursions are offered to provide insight into history · An exciting adventure path was created · A pirate ship · Treasure quests and games of skill are organised on advance notice

For years, the heart of the village of Jäneda has been the manor. The current manor building was built by Johan von Benckendorf in 1913-1915. The history books remember this manor as being connected with Maria Zakrevskaya Benckendorf thanks to her life full of adventure: her ties to the attempted assassination of Lenin, her life with world-renowned writers Maxim Gorky and H. G. Wells. Good to know: the manor can be viewed from the outside every day; groups can book ahead to visit the interior and museum, with tours available in Estonian, Russian, Finnish, German and English.

Vainupea Chapel was consecrated in the summer of 1893. However, the first written mention of the wooden beach chapel dates back to 1741. The construction of the present chapel was organised by Eduard von Dellingshausen, who was the squire of Aaspere and Sauste manors. The chapel was empty for years after the Second World War until Lääne-Viru Road Administration and Valentin Transtok launched restoration works in 1988. The restored chapel was re-consecrated in 1989. Today, the chapel is a popular venue for concerts and weddings.
Did you know that: - Estonian painter Richard Sagrits, who was born in Karepa near Vainupea, is buried in the nearby cemetery.

Esku chapel, nestled in the middle of the forest in Lahemaa National Park, was built in 1845 by the von Fock family of Sagadi Manor. It was designed for their use as well as a place of burial for the local farming families. Its garden was redesigned as a cemetery at the behest of Baron Paul Eduard von Fock and is unlike any other you will find in Estonia. What makes it unique are the wooden crosses and small stone name plates you will find here.