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in style and characterised by a simplicity of form. The central, so-called convent building, is a square building around a central courtyard. The so-called defence tower, in the northern corner, reaches 37 metres (121 ft). A defence gallery with battlements running along the top of the building
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that are still largely intact. When the
Russian garrison left the fortress in 1711 following the Great Northern War, they deliberately blew up much of the fortifications and the castle, but later restored some of it. In 1861, conversion of the bastions into a park began under the supervision of
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At the end of the 14th and beginning of the 15th century, a wall, 625 metres (2,051 ft) long, was built around the castle. Due to improvements made in firearms, additional defensive elements were added between the 16th and 17th centuries.
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232:, the castle was undoubtedly built as part of a wider effort by the crusaders to gain control over the island. From the outset, it was a stronghold belonging to the
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and gate defences are also reconstructions. Inside, the castle is divided into a cellar which was used for storage and equipped with a sophisticated
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began its construction for the bishops of Ă–sel-Wieck. Some sources claim that the first castle was built of wood. As the inhabitants of
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As the frontiers of the
Russian Empire gradually pushed further west, Kuressaare lost its strategic value. Especially after the
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seized control over
Saaremaa and Kuressaare castle. During this time, the fortifications were modernised. Following the
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is also indicative of its lost strategic importance. In the 19th century, the castle was used as a poorhouse.
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heating system, and the main floor, which housed the most important rooms of the castle. Here, a
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Kuressaare castle is considered one of the best preserved medieval fortifications in
Estonia.
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Tvauri, Andres (Autumn 2009). "Late medieval hypocausts with heat storage in
Estonia".
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surrounds the courtyard and connects all the main rooms. Notable among these are the
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The earliest written record mentioning
Kuressaare castle is from the 1380s, when the
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705:. Saarte Hääl Newspaper (“Voice of the Islands”). 13 September 1988. Archived from
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822:. Institute of History and Archaeology of the University of Tartu: 52.
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It underwent a second restoration in 1968, this time led by architect
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The
Association of Castles and Museums around the Baltic Sea
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DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania
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275:, Saaremaa and Kuressaare castle became a part of the
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305:In 1904–12 the castle was restored by architects
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323:In 1941, the castle was used as a stronghold by
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269:1643-1645 war between Sweden and Denmark-Norway
255:Plan of Kuressaare castle and ramparts in 1710.
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796:Archaeological research in Estonia, 1865-2005
664:Lonely Planet Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania
348:Today the castle houses the Saaremaa Museum.
661:Dragicevich, Peter; Ragozin, Leonid (2016).
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538:. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 207.
331:saw over 300 killed on the castle grounds.
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566:Jarvis, Howard; Ochser, Tim (2 May 2011).
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535:Culture And Customs of the Baltic States
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696:"1941 EXECUTIONS IN KURESSAARE CASTLE"
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511:. Kunst Publishers. pp. 176–178.
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799:. Tartu University Press. p. 185
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616:"History of the castle and fortress"
230:foreign efforts to Christianise them
1037:Tourist attractions in Saare County
734:. The Baltic Initiative And Network
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793:Lang, V.; Laneman, Margot (2006).
756:. Spotting History. Archived from
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780:"Kuressaare Episcopal Castle"
732:"Saaremaa Museum, Kuressaare"
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834:"Kuressaare Castle Park"
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367:The castle is late
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273:Great Northern War
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110:58.25°N 22.48333°E
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935:Kuressaare Castle
712:on 29 August 2020
647:978-1-84162-320-7
579:978-1-4053-6063-0
545:978-0-313-33125-1
182:Schloss Arensburg
174:Kuressaare linnus
166:Kuressaare Castle
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29:Kuressaare linnus
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945:Pärnu Castle
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352:Architecture
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246:Livonian War
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134:Site history
28:
621:26 December
449:Inner court
339: [
336:Kalvi Aluve
310: [
300:Crimean War
284:Finnish War
113: /
89:Coordinates
1022:Kuressaare
1011:Categories
491:References
461:Watchtower
374:portcullis
202:Kuressaare
101:22°29′00″E
98:58°15′00″N
38:Kuressaare
995:Also See:
437:Main gate
386:refectory
378:hypocaust
259:In 1559,
242:Ă–sel-Wiek
479:See also
473:Overview
406:ravelins
402:bastions
382:cloister
286:and the
226:Saaremaa
196:), is a
190:Estonian
184:), also
170:Estonian
764:26 June
738:26 June
716:26 June
680:26 June
638:Estonia
216:History
210:Estonia
144: (
42:Estonia
803:4 June
671:
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585:4 June
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551:4 June
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398:Vauban
369:Gothic
238:German
198:castle
178:German
129:Castle
710:(PDF)
699:(PDF)
343:]
314:]
296:Ă…land
139:Built
805:2012
766:2020
740:2020
718:2020
682:2020
669:ISBN
642:ISBN
623:2012
587:2012
574:ISBN
553:2012
540:ISBN
513:ISBN
411:Riga
404:and
316:and
126:Type
294:on
204:on
200:in
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341:et
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