User:Otoomet/Vastseliina Castle

Vastseliina Castle was a castle of Bishopric of Dorpat, located near the border of Pskov Republic at an ancient Tartu-Pskov road.

The construction of the castle started no later than 1342. The castle has later been ruled by Russians, Polish, and Swedes. It was finally destroyed in the Great Northern War. The scenic well-preserved ruins are located in what is currently South-East Estonia.

Vastseliina Castle. A view from South-East

History

The first written documents about Vastseliina Castle originate from 1342, although it is possible that instead of constructing a new fortress, major reconstruction of an existing castle were performed. The name (vastse liina means "new fortress" in Võro language) is probably arisen in comparison to Kirumpää Castle, an older fortress about 30km away.

Decorated North-East tower of the castle

The castle was not involved in any major military conflict until the Livonian War, when it surrenders to the Russians after 3 weeks siege in 1558. Given to the Polish Kingdom according to the Treaty of Jam Zapolski, it came under Swedish control in 1625 and