Narva (Estonia): history, sights, interesting facts

Narva (Estonia) is a tiny town by the world standards, but large enough on the scale of its country. It is located in the extreme east of the state, on the bank of a border river with the same name. In this article we will talk about the history and sights of the Estonian city.

Estonia and its largest cities

Estonia is a small Baltic state located in Northern Europe. It is home to only 1.3 million people. Therefore, the city of Estonia is very difficult to compare (in size and area) with Russian, Ukrainian, etc.

To date, 47 settlements in this country are considered to be cities. Almost one third of Estonia's population lives in the largest of them - Tallinn. Only in fifteen cities of the country the population exceeds 10 000 people, and in some of them it does not reach thousands of inhabitants!

The largest cities in Estonia are Tallinn, Tartu, Narva, Pärnu and Kohtla-Järve. Next we will talk about Narva.

Narva on the map of Estonia: features of geographical location

The city, due to its geographical location, always had an important geopolitical significance. Today, its role is above all in the development of constructive Russian-Estonian interstate relations.

Narva (Estonia) is located in the extreme east of the country, on the left bank of the Narva River. On the opposite shore is already the Russian Ivangorod. Two states connect here the so-called Bridge of Friendship. And from the opposite banks of the river look at each other two medieval fortresses.

In modern Narva, about 60 thousand people live. In the vicinity of the city, a complex of power plants operating on slate was built, which are the main industrial enterprises of Narva.

History of the border city

In what year was Narva founded? Estonia, as a state with such a name, arose much later. But the history of Narva began in the distant 1223, the day of its foundation on the bank of the river of the fortress. At first the city belonged to Denmark, and then to Livonia. At the end of the fourteenth century, the Russian prince Ivan III erected a powerful Ivangorod fortress opposite Narva . And in May 1558 Moscow troops captured the city.

However, the Russians did not like the Baltic Sea, which already in 1581 seized Narva. A new attempt to win back the city was made only by Peter the First, starting in 1700 the Northern War. After 4 years, the Russian troops again occupied the city on Narva.

Over time, Narva loses its once important strategic importance. In the middle of the XIX century, the Krenholm factory appeared there, which transformed the city into a major textile center of the Russian Empire. During the revolutionary events of 1917 the inhabitants of Narva achieved the accession of their city to the Estland province. After the end of the First World War, the settlement was already part of Estonia.

During the Second World War, the city suffered greatly from the bombing of Soviet aviation. In July 1944 Narva was occupied by the troops of the Red Army. After the collapse of the USSR, it again found itself in the independent Estonia, although in the region there were initiatives to create here the so-called Narva Autonomous Republic.

Narva (Estonia): the main attractions of the city

Several small historical and architectural monuments were preserved in the small Narva. Among them the most interesting and significant are:

• Narva Castle and city fortifications (bastions).
• City Hall.
• The Alexander Church.
• Resurrection Cathedral.
• Complex of buildings of the Krengolmskaya Manufactory.
• Residential houses of the XVII century on Koidula street.
• Krenholm Hospital in the Neo-Gothic style.
• Monument "Swedish Lion" and others.

What else is interesting in the city of Narva? The most valuable sight is the medieval castle of Herman, founded in the XIII century. It is located on the bank of the river, proudly towering over the ancient city. Today, the castle has been thoroughly restored, and it houses a historical museum. Up to our days and the city's defensive structures of Narva - preserved eight stone bastions.

The second most popular monument is the Town Hall, built in 1669. The building in the style of Dutch classicism with a graceful turret in the center looks very colorful in the Estonian town.

In Narva you can also see two ancient religious buildings. This Lutheran church, built in 1884 in memory of the Emperor Alexander II, as well as the Orthodox Resurrection Cathedral. The decoration of the latter is a huge carved gilded iconostasis, which perfectly harmonizes with the interior interiors of the church.

Life on the brink of the EU: interesting facts about Narva

A few interesting facts about the bordering Estonian city:

• 80% of the urban population is Russian;
• Only 4-5% of the population speak Narva in Estonian;
• The distance from Narva to St. Petersburg is less than from Narva to Tallinn;
• Soviet troops in 1944 met only two indigenous residents of Narva;
• In the national history of Estonia there is not a single battle or war that would not be connected with this city;
• About 9% of Narva residents are carriers of the HIV virus;
• The island of Krenholm, which is located in the channel of the Narva River, is the easternmost point of Estonia.

Finally...

The third city in the country in its country is Narva. Estonia is one of the most sparsely populated states in Europe, so this fact is not surprising. It is located in its extreme east, on the left bank of the river of the same name. The city has a rich and eventful history, as well as a number of interesting architectural sights.