• History & Culture
  • Architecture and history
  • Pet friendly
  • Family friendly
  • Lookout towers
  • Guided tours
  • Workshops
  • Castles
  • Churches
  • Ruins

Põltsamaa Castle

Lossi tn 1, Põltsamaa vald, Jõgeva maakond, 48103

Põltsamaa Castle has been an important site throughout the centuries and carries a distinguished history – founded in 1272 on the riverbank, it was the residence of Magnus, the King of Livonia, and later evolved into a magnificent Rococo palace. Wars and fires left the castle in ruins, but now it has come back to life and is waiting for you to visit!
Today, the castle offers visitors plenty of excitement. First and foremost, it is worth climbing to the viewing platform of the seven-story castle tower, where a captivating view of the city unfolds in every season. The tower is crowned by a restored historical dome, which is unique in all of Estonia. The church, located within the complex, is built directly into the castle’s fortification walls and tower, and is open daily during the summer.
The convent and gatehouse feature a modern exhibition that tells the colorful story of the castle and the town of Põltsamaa. In the castle courtyard, craft workshops await, where you can watch the work of masters or purchase something interesting yourself. Culinary experiences are offered by the restaurant Oberpahlen, where history and excellent food come together.
Discover Põltsamaa Castle – a place where history comes to life!

Mugavused

  • Information boards
  • WiFi
  • Free parking
  • Seminar room
  • Recreation area/picnic ground
  • Souvenirs

Vaata lisaks

  • Churches

Võnnu St Jacob’s Church of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church

Come and see one of the biggest and oldest country churches in Estonia – Võnnu St Jacob’s Church. Church was built 1232-1236. The altar of the church is adorned by the painting ‘Christ on the Cross' (Otto von Moeller, 1873). Several buildings of the rectory (19th century) are architectural monuments. The church is surrounded by a 2 ha park established in the beginning of the 19th century.Interesting facts: - the organ of Võnnu Church (1895) is considered one of the clearest sounding instruments in Estonia; - the classicist tomb monument to R von Nolcken, who fell in the Battle of Borodino, can be seen in the church (sculptor Paolo Triscorni).

  • Guided tours
  • Kayaking

Kayaking on Lake Pühajärv

During the kayaking trip we will be introducing to you Lake Pühajärv and its islands, enjoy the beautiful lake views and Estonian summer.The picnic place will be RMK Kooliranna campfire site.For the kayaking trips, we use stable, comfortable, safe and easily steered two-person kayaks. The price of the trip includes a place in the kayak with equipment, guiding service, substantial trip peal (soup, pastry, tea or juice, sweet pastry or fruit) and bottled water to quench your thirst.Come and enjoy the nature with your friends or colleagues!

  • Guided tours
  • Boat trips

Guided tour by Mesi Tare «Discovering the Onion Route by boat from Lake Peipsi»

If you want to relax on the Onion Route by Lake Peipsi, then Mesi Tare is the right place! We offer a special Instagrammable boat tour starting from Mesi Tare in Varnja, where we divide the group into small boats. The guide is the owner of Mesi Tare, who will captain one of the boats himself. In other boats, you can be the boat captain! We will explore Old Believer villages, sail along the shore, and moor in various small canals to visit places on the shore, including Voronja Gallery, Lendav Laev home restaurant, the Samovar House, Peipsimaa Heritage Center, and other places. Come and discover the Onion Route and Lake Peipsi by water!

  • Churches

Nõo Holy Trinity Church of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church

There is a remarkable historicist Orthodox church with quarrystone and brick walls and five onion-cupolas in Nõo small borough.The Nõo Congregation was founded in 1852 for Estonian Orthodox Christians who previously belonged to the Tartu Georgi congregation. The architecturally remarkable church is made of quarrystone and red bricks and has a bell-tower in the western side. It was completed in 1873. The interior architecture of the church is simple and the iconostasis dates back to the late 19th century.Services are held in the Holy Trinity Church in Nõo on the second Saturday of each month.

  • Churches

Kasepää Old Believers’ Prayer House of the Estonian Association of Old Believers Congregations

When in Kasepää Village near Lake Peipus, go and visit the prayer house of Russian Old Believers, which has been operating without interruption since the 18th century.The current prayer house was built at the beginning of the 20th century. It was designed by the governorate architect Wilhelm Schilling in 1902. The Florov school masters renewed the icons of the iconostasis in the prayer house before the Second World War. Some of the icons in the chapel date back as far as to the 17th century.Prayers are held in the chapel in Russian on Sundays at 10 a.m.

  • Workshops

Notebook workshop in TYPA

In this workshop, you will make a simple notebook with recycled cardboard covers, printed and bound by yourself. We will provide you with all the materials you need to make the notebook. During the workshop, you will get a brief insight into the world of letterpress printing and bookbinding. You can print a picture of your choice on the front cover with linocut or metal blocks using a nearly 170-year-old printing press. We will hand-stitch the blank pages between the printed covers. You will end up with a simple but useful notebook that you can take home with you!