Narva and Ida-Viru County
Narva's location at the crossroads where East meets West makes it a fascinating destination for history lovers. Adventure awaits in Ida-Viru County!
Narva has always occupied an important place on the map of Europe.
Thanks to its convenient location at the crossroads of several trade routes, Narva has always been at the center of international trade, regardless of regional war games.
During the Viking Age, a trade route known as "from the Varangians to the Greeks" passed by here, and later, the trade road from Tallinn to Novgorod and St. Petersburg passed through Narva. The first mention of Narva in the Danish land register occurred in 1240; in 1345, the settlement was given city status.
Source: Priidu Saart
Narva's early history
Up until the fourteenth century, the city belonged to Denmark and then passed to the Livonian Order.
Hermann Castle (also known as Narva Castle) was built during this period, and today it is still the city's main attraction as it houses Narva Museum. To defend against Livonian and Swedish troops, Ivan III ordered the construction of a fortress on the other side of the river in Ivangorod.
Narva's Russian period began with the siege of the city's fortress during the Northern War in the early 1700s. At first, Swedish troops defeated the Russian army, but four years later, Tsar Peter the Great won the war. Narva was united with Ivangorod and became part of the St. Petersburg province.
Narva in the twentieth century
Before World War I, over 21,000 people lived in Narva. After World War I, the city's residents voted to join the newly independent Estonian nation. The city saw fighting during the Estonian War of Independence, but great destruction wasn't done to the city until World War II.
Heavy shelling by the Soviets during the Battle of Narva in February 1944 destroyed much of the city.
The bombing of Narva by Soviet aircraft on March 6, 1944, razed the historic old town to the ground. The Kreenholm Textile Factory area remained more or less untouched. In 1944, only 550 people remained in Narva.
Today, more than 53,000 people live in Narva, and it is the third-largest city in Estonia.
Where to learn about Narva's history
See past and present side-by-side
Immerse yourself in the atmosphere Narva's different historical eras: walk through the places harkening back to the time of Tsar Peter the Great, look at examples of Soviet architecture, or just relax on the banks of the Narva River.
A walk along Narva's romantic promenade is a great place to start your city tour. There are summertime kiosks, a fountain, a sundial, and many sculptures along the way. The main attraction is the view of the two fortresses, known as the "Five Krooni View" since the same image can be found on the back of the old Estonian five krooni bill. The observation deck of the same name is the best place to take in the sight of Narva Castle, the Narva River, and Russia's Ivangorod Fortress on the other side.
Source: Peeter Järvelaid
Narva's Old Town was once as grand as Tallinn's.
The tourist information center is located in the newly-renovated Town Hall, where you can also take a VR tour that shows you what the city was like before the 1944 bombing. Then visit the Dark Garden, the oldest park in the city, located on top of Victoria Bastion. If you're feeling brave, explore the underground passages where you may come face-to-face with their inhabitants — bats!
Follow the signs for Hermanni Linnus (Hermann Castle), another name for Narva Castle. Built by the Danes in the latter half of the eighth century, it is the best-preserved defensive structure in Estonia. Narva Castle was named a finalist in the British Guild of Traveler Writers award for Best Europe Tourism Project.
Source: Angelina Ivanova, Visit Narva
The Kreenholm Textile Factory
When it was built in the 19th century, Kreenholm was the largest textile factory in Europe and the Russian Empire. In 1913, over ten thousand people worked there, and the area had everything the workers needed: shops, hospital, school, churches, and more. The company declared bankruptcy in 2010.
Nowadays, the factory hosts various cultural events (including Station Narva, Narva Opera Days, and the Narva Art Residency). Guided tours run on Sundays, or you can take a free self-guided audio tour around the grounds, available in multiple languages.
The evening is definitely worth spending at the famous Ro-Ro Art Club, which is located in Narva Harbor's former cotton warehouses. A hundred years ago, cargo ships from various countries arrived in Narva with cotton for the Kreenholm Factory; today musicians come to perform from all over Estonia, Europe, and overseas.
Source: Kairi Tähe
Top events in Narva and Narva-Jõesuu
- Stebby Night Run: Early in December, runners can choose the 5k or 10k route and race through Narva's festive Christmas lights.
- Christmas Village: Set up in the North Yard of Narva Castle, the Christmas Village is the highlight of Narva's holiday season.
- International Freedom Theater Festival: This festival invites small theater companies from countries with limited freedom of speech, and artists have been exposed to censorship that restricts creative activity.
- Narva Opera Days: Held in the Kreenholm area and nearby manor homes, Narva Opera Days features contemporary classical music and well-known pieces performed by young artists and experienced professionals.
- Station Narva: Station Narva includes performances by international artists, well-known Estonian artists and musicians from Ida-Viru County, free daytime concerts, public discussions, an entrepreneurship day, art exhibitions, excursions, community gatherings, and a traditional Narva breakfast.
- Night Bazaar and Lamprey Festival: During the traditional Lamprey Festival, a fish market is open for fishermen as well as those who simply love fish.
Source: Anna Markova, Tallinn Music Week
Relax along the "Riviera of the North"
About 13 kilometers north of Narva is the seaside resort of Narva-Jõesuu. The first spa facility opened here in 1876, quickly earning the area the nickname "Riviera of the North" among the Russian nobility in Saint Petersburg who came to visit in the early 20th century.
It's easy to reach the town by bus, but the most picturesque way to travel is by boat. During the summer months, the Caroline ferry departs from the pier near the Ro-Ro Club in Narva. Travel on the line dividing Estonia and Russia while enjoying postcard views of the riverside and eating delicious snacks from the ship's buffet.
After Pärnu, Narva-Jõesuu is considered the second most popular resort town in Estonia.
There are three excellent spa hotels here: Meresuu Spa & Hotel, Noorus Spa Hotel, and the Narva-Jõesuu Medical Spa. Rather relax on the beach? Narva-Jõesuu will not disappoint; the beach has nearly eight kilometers of beautiful fine sand!
Source: Marvin Kuhr
More spas in Ida-Viru County
A little further west along the coast is the Toila SPA Hotel. This city was also a popular summer resort at the end of the 19th century. A secluded location, sauna center, and a wide range of services allow you to sit back and relax. If you find yourself in Toila, then take a look at Oru Park where you can admire the sea view and sunset from the gazebo or take a VR tour to see what the park looked like back in 1938 when the presidential palace was located there.
If you desire even more privacy and seclusion, then you continue west along the coast to Saka Manor. There you will find luxurious hotel rooms, a cellar restaurant, and a cozy spa. The manor park is excellent for walks and picnics. While you're in the area, stop at Valaste Waterfall, the highest waterfall in Estonia.
Source: Kertin Vasser, Saka Manor Spa
Spas in and around Narva
What's there to see in Ida-Viru County?
Take a look!
The post-industrial landscape in Ida-Vira County is the perfect setting for adventure.
As you travel between Tallinn and Narva, there are several places worth visiting along the way. Or use Narva as your base to explore the greater Ida-Viru County — you'll find plenty of adventures to keep you busy for days!
Explore Ida-Viru County
Discover the natural beauty of Alutaguse National Park
Forests, slag heaps, canals with blue-green water — you will not find another landscape like it anywhere else in Estonia. The northeast is a place of shale mining and processing, so industrial relics sit side-by-side with untouched nature.
Alutaguse National Park, created in 2018 to honor Estonia's centennial, encompasses bogs, forest habitats for bear, lynx, and flying squirrels, lakes, and the north shore of Lake Peipsi. Here are two popular hiking trails to for exploring the park:
- The Kurtna lake system is the largest in Estonia, with 42 lakes covering an area of 30 km2.The Kurtna hiking trail starts at the Alutaguse Recreation and Sports Center and has several camp sites with campfire spots.
- The Poruni hiking trail passes through the virgin forest along the banks of the Poruni River, a tributary of the Narva River. The entire trail, out and back, is 10 kilometers, but there is also a three-kilometer track.
Source: Sven Zacek, Visit Narva
Climb the 28-meter-high Iisaku lookout tower. From there, you'll get a beautiful view of the Alutaguse forests, and in clear weather you can even see the domes of Kuremäe Convent and Lake Peipsi.
The convent was founded in 1891 and is Estonia's only active Orthodox nunnery. In ancient times, this was a sacred place for Estonians as there was a sacrificial spring was at the foot of the hill. Now the spring is known for its "holy waters" with healing powers. Nearby, you can visit the ruins of the 15th-century stronghold that once stood at Vasknarva. From there head to the beautiful beaches of Lake Peipsi.
Lake Peipsi is Europe's fourth largest lake in terms of size, and the Narva river flows from Lake Peipsi out into Narva Bay in the Gulf of Finland. The area along the west coast of Lake Peipsi is known for the communities of Old Believers who have made their homes there since the 17th century when they fled religious persecution in Russia.
Source: Sven Zacek, Visit Narva
A sustainable way to see Narva
Take the train!
Narva is approximately two hours and 20 minutes by train from Tallinn. Go for a day trip (takes even less time than the ferry to Helsinki) or take the train and then use Narva as a base to explore the rest of Ida-Viru County. Sillamäe, Narva-Jõesuu, the Estonian Mining Museum, and Oru Park can all be done as day trips using the bus from Narva.
Every season has something special — and an extra season gives you extra time to see it all.
Expert tip: Exploring off-season will help off-load the pressure.
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Last updated
04.12.2024