Located in the north-east corner of Estonia, Narva is a riverfront city on the country’s border with Russia. It has been ruled by the Danes, the Swedes and the Russians throughout its tumultuous past, with much of the 20th century spent under Soviet control. In the late 19th century, Narva established itself as an important industrial town as home to one of Europe’s largest cotton mills.
Things to do in Narva
Dominating Narva’s skyline is the 51-metre-tall tower of Hermann Castle, which was originally established in the mid-13th century by the Kingdom of Denmark. It has recently been restored to its former glory and houses a permanent exhibition detailing Narva’s past. Each autumn, the Hermann Castle showcases travelling exhibitions as part of the Estonian Museums Festival.
Narva is home to the only remaining statue of Lenin in Estonia, which stands in the outer courtyard of Hermann Castle. It was created by the renowned Estonian sculptor Olav Männi and originally had pride of place in Narva’s central square. From Hermann Castle, there are impressive views across the river toward Ivangorod Fortress in Russia, with the two countries linked by the 162-metre-long Narva Friendship Bridge.
Don’t miss the monumental Kreenholm Manufacturing Company, an abandoned textile factory on an island in the middle of the Narva River. It was founded by Ludwig Knoop in 1857 and grew to become the world’s largest cotton-spinning mill. Join a guided tour to learn about the factory’s working conditions and hear about the first Estonian labour strike, which took place here in 1872.
Getting around Narva
Narva is around 2.5 hours’ drive from Tallinn and Tallinn Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to the Narva railway station and buses travel throughout the city, connecting most of its attractions.