Last year, around the same time, I took a trip to western Estonia since the spring weather was absolutely great. I drove about an hour and a half from the capital region to a place called Lihula. It wasn't my original plan to walk around the place, but I wanted to play disc golf because there is a course in the area.
The disc golf course was actually really bad, haha. Individual baskets were missing and so on😅 but I noticed there is a manor and the old ruins of a stronghold, so that started to interest me more than the disc golf course.
The main building was built in 1850, so it's actually not that old. Supporting buildings are mentioned to have been there since 1650.
Right next to the manor that is standing there today, there is a hill and on this hill used to be a stronghold, but today you can only find the ruins of this once spectacular place.
The memorial stone here reads this...
Here, Western and island people(Estonians) defeated the Swedish military on 8th August 1220.
The first mention of this stronghold is from 1211. In 1238, the stone stronghold was built and over the many years has had many different owners. It's been under the Danes, the Swedes, the Russians, and the Germans.
It was probably destroyed in some war, but for some reason, I don't find the info about it right now. Either way, it's been in ruins for a LONG time.
Excavations that have taken place thus far indicate that it was one of the most remarkable strongholds in the Baltic during its time.
Just a couple of photos taken in front of the manor, overlooking the Lihula town.
I don't think I had ever been there before, so it was for sure an interesting short trip to take for me!
