/img-s3.ilcdn.fi/98d1b93e43ff5eaaa46f0f4e687744374d1965696461ff17e71590c0a000b74d.jpg "A wonderful castle takes your mind to Scotland – But you can also find it next door")
Balmoral Castle charmed the baron so much that he built a replica of it for himself.
There are even numerous castles or mansions in Estonia that have served as homes of powerful families in the past. Today, many of them have been beautifully restored, and invite tourists to visit them as a museum, restaurant or hotel.
Alatskivi Castle is a travel destination in Estonia worth visiting. Toomas Tuul
You can spend several trips touring the manor sites. If you only have time for one castle, there is a good alternative near Tartu. Namely, Alatskivi castle.
By the way, its appearance may make the visitor rub his eyes: so closely does it resemble images of the Scottish Balmoral Castle, beloved by British royalty.
The castle’s restaurant prefers ingredients that are available nearby: local grain, vegetables, fish and meat. Toomas Tuul
Model from the visit
Consistency is no accident. A Baltic German baron who built Alatskivi Castle Arved von Nolcken purposely took a model from the summer residence of the British royals, which he had been able to visit.
A piece of Scotland was therefore deliberately copied into the Baltics. The castle was completed in 1885.
The baron himself decided what he wanted his castle to look like. Toomas Tuul
Alatskivi experienced the same fate as many other Baltic German residences: after Estonia became independent, the baronial family left the castle. As the years went by, the building served, among other things, as a school and office, and eventually fell into a bad state of disrepair.
In 2011, however, it was opened to the public, beautifully restored. For the restoration, a model was taken from the drawings and photographs preserved in the possession of the former owner’s family. Thanks to this, the look was quite authentic.
Various events are organized in the castle premises. Toomas Tuul
Hotel and restaurant
Alatskivi castle is a place to visit for more than just the handsome main building. The castle is surrounded by a large park, and the complex includes several other buildings. They serve, for example, as exhibition spaces, shops and workshops.
There is a high-class restaurant in the main building and it is also possible to stay overnight there. You can explore the castle premises on your own for an entrance fee, and guided tours are also organized there.
There are four hotel rooms, and they are all decorated differently. Toomas Tuul
The visit offers an opportunity to peek into the life of 19th-century nobles and the everyday life of the servants who worked for them.
In the exhibitions, you can also get to know what kind of work it was to restore the dilapidated manor to its current form.
The interior was renovated based on the preserved original drawings and photographs. Toomas Tuul
By the way, that Scottish connection is still valued today. For example, the castle hosts a Burns party, named after Scotland’s national poet Robert Burnsin by.
Their program includes both drinking whiskey and playing the bagpipes, and many of the guests get dressed up in accordance with the theme.
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Great options
– At the beginning of the 20th century, there were even more than 1200 castles or manors in Estonia. Only some of them have survived to this day.
– Even among the remaining ones, there are quite different options. For example, Keila-Joa castle and Padinen manor, which are located near Tallinn, are now charming boutique hotels.
– Many manor hotels also have a spa. Spa experiences can be enjoyed, for example, at Keila manor, Pädasten manor hotel on Muhu island and Vihula manor located in Lahemaa National Park.
– Manor properties are also suitable for a romantic vacation. If you want something like that, you should try Hotel Wagenküll, for example, where you can stay in an Art Nouveau castle, a funk-style garden hut or a historic ruler’s house.
– Those who are excited about the history of the Middle Ages and knightly atmosphere should head to Rakvere, where history is brought to life in many ways during the summer in the castle. Guests can get to know medieval everyday life, feasts and warfare, guided by performers dressed according to the period.
– The medieval atmosphere is also offered by Narva and Kuressaari castles, for example.
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