Varbola Stronghold

#132 among destinations in Estonia

Forts and castles

Gallery (1)

Map

Facts and practical information

The Varbola Stronghold was the largest circular rampart fortress and trading centre built in Estonia, in Harju County in the 10th – 12th centuries. Parts of the ruins of the 580-metre long and 8-to-10-metre high limestone wall of the fortress stand to this day. The long gateways with multiple gates were built to defend the entrances. In these sections higher defensive towers were erected. There was a 13-metre deep well in the middle of the fortress and the territory held about 90 structures with furnaces for accommodation built with limestone floors and foundations. ()

Local name: Varbola Jaanilinn Coordinates: 59°2'43"N, 24°27'8"E

Location

RaplaEstonia

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Day trips

Varbola Stronghold – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Alema Nature Reserve, Linnuraba Nature Reserve, Vardi Nature Reserve.

4.9 miNW
Nature, Natural attraction, Protected area
Alema Nature Reserve
126 min walk • Alema Nature Reserve is a nature reserve situated in northern Estonia, in Harju County. The nature reserve has been established to protect the 18 species of orchid identified as existing within the area. There is no other nature reserve in Estonia dedicated only to the protection of orchids.
5.3 miE
Nature, Natural attraction, Protected area
Linnuraba Nature Reserve
135 min walk • Linnuraba Nature Reserve is a nature reserve situated in Estonia, in Rapla County. It is a representative example in Estonia of floodplain grasslands.
2.6 miS
Nature, Natural attraction, Protected area
Vardi Nature Reserve
67 min walk • Vardi Nature Reserve is a nature reserve in Rapla County in central Estonia. Vardi nature reserve encompasses one of the few remaining alvar forests in Estonia, an unusual landscape type today as cut-down forests normally never recover.