Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Estonia Alatskivi Castle
AO Edited

Alatskivi Castle

A wealthy aristocratic family built this Disney-worthy, fairy-tale castle.

Alatskivi, Estonia

Added By
subha basu ray
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Alatskivi Castle   Rauno Kalda / CC BY-SA 3.0
Castle - Front View   subha basu ray / Atlas Obscura User
Castle - Side View   subha basu ray / Atlas Obscura User
Baroness Josephine’s Boudoir   subha basu ray / Atlas Obscura User
Rose Garden   subha basu ray / Atlas Obscura User
Wax Works - Laundress   subha basu ray / Atlas Obscura User
A Reception Room   subha basu ray / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Some 24 miles (40 km) north of the university town of Tartu is one of the hundreds of historic manor houses that dot the Estonian landscape. Built by Baltic German aristocrats until WWI in a variety of architectural styles, these stately homes stood on large estates and served as the country seat of ruling elites. What sets Alatskivi Castle apart is its unique architecture. The castle drew inspiration from a British royal residence in the Scottish Highlands.

Set in a vast, wooded parkland, Alatskivi comes into view as one enters through a red brick arched gate. Facing a circular gravel driveway wide enough for carriages, the pristine white, fairy tale castle features several turrets, a slate roof, and an octahedral tower on the southeastern corner of the building.

There is mention of a manor house in Alatskivi as early as 1601 when the Swedish king gifted it to a trusted retainer. In the centuries that followed, the property changed ownership repeatedly, before coming into the possession of the noble von Nolckens family. From 1885 to 1888, Baron Arved von Nolcken reconstructed the old manor house in a Scottish baronial style, bearing a close resemblance to Balmoral Castle, which he had visited in course of his travels. Upon completion, Alatskivi Castle became the home of the baron and his family for the next 20 years. The von Nolckens left for Germany in 1905 with the outbreak of the Peasant Revolution. They took with them all their valuables and even stripped the walls of their silk wallpaper.

After it ceased to be a family home, Alatskivi was repurposed to serve as a school, barracks, and a collective farm. The house eventually became neglected falling into disrepair before being meticulously restored. Today, it is a museum, hotel, and restaurant. 

The castle has an interesting asymmetrical plan, with single and double-storied wings. A massive, stone fireplace dominates the formal dining room, which features a carved timber ceiling. It is now a restaurant. The Baron’s study and reception rooms have ornate fireplaces, period furniture, rich carpets and draperies, and family portraits hung on the walls. In contrast to the dark and somewhat brooding elements of these interiors is the light and airy Lady’s Boudoir with elegant furniture, charming blue and white wallpaper, and matching upholstery. Today, the reception rooms host seminars, musical soirees, and more.

The bedrooms of the von Nolcken family were situated to the right of an impressive, double-height entrance hall, which has a minstrel’s gallery above the main door. Above what used to be the nursery for the von Nolcken children is a low-ceilinged room designated for the nanny. The bedroom was situated so that the nanny could easily be alerted if her charges needed her care during the night. A set of steep and narrow stairs lead to the nanny's bedroom.

The rooms on the second level of the west wing currently serve as the guestrooms of the castle's hotel. The rooms to the east are devoted to a museum, honoring the acclaimed Estonian conductor Eduard Tubin, who grew up in a village not far from the manor house. The rooms display music scores, manuscripts, books, records, films and photos, sketches of theatrical costumes, and musical instruments. The terrace in the east wing overlooks a rose garden. The grounds behind the castle open to a lawn and afford a stunning view of Lake Alatskivi, glistening at the bottom of a steep, grassy bank.

The basement held the kitchens and living quarters of the servants. A manor house was home not only to the Baron and his family but also to the large retinue of servants required for running a grand mansion and estate. There is a wax museum in the basement of the castle with wax figures of family servants: a butler, a lady’s maid, a baker, a cook, a laundry maid, stable hands, and a groom, among others, are on display.

Alatskivi Castle sits on 740 acres of woodlands, the largest in Tartu County. Trails running through the property are popular with hikers. There is also a cluster of ancillary buildings on the estate including coach houses, barns, a mill, a church, and a cemetery.

Related Tags

Museums Hotels Homes History & Culture Estates Houses Architecture Castles

Know Before You Go

English-language guided tours can be arranged ahead of time by getting in touch with the administrative office at the castle.

Community Contributors

Added By

subha basu ray

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

March 23, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://books.google.ca/books?id=CotpAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y
  • https://books.google.ca/books?id=Pr06AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA178&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202850/http://www.devepark.utu.fi/Alatskivi_2.pdf
  • https://books.google.ca/books?id=SPIgAQAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y
Alatskivi Castle
Lossi 6
Alatskivi, 60201
Estonia
58.604009, 27.128991
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Chicory Museum

Kolkja, Estonia

miles away

Kolkja Kala-ja Sibularestora (Kolkja Old Believers Restaurant)

Kolkja, Estonia

miles away

Old Believers Museum

Kolkja, Estonia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Estonia

Estonia

Europe

Places 92
Stories 7

Nearby Places

Chicory Museum

Kolkja, Estonia

miles away

Kolkja Kala-ja Sibularestora (Kolkja Old Believers Restaurant)

Kolkja, Estonia

miles away

Old Believers Museum

Kolkja, Estonia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Estonia

Estonia

Europe

Places 92
Stories 7

Related Places

  • A courtyard in the museum.

    Carthage, Tunisia

    Dar El Annabi

    This museum in the famously blue neighborhood of Sidi Bou Saïd showcases a traditional Tunisian lifestyle.

  • Castillo Mundo King.

    Sosúa, Dominican Republic

    Castillo Mundo King

    An eccentric German artist built this weird and wondrous castle packed with shocking sculptures and alien art.

  • The villa.

    Geneva, Illinois

    Fabyan Villa Museum

    This house renovated by Frank Lloyd Wright was the centerpiece of a lavish 20th-century estate.

  • Tyringham Gingerbread House.

    Lee, Massachusetts

    Santarella

    Stay at this storybook estate, featuring Sir Henry Hudson Kitson's masterpiece "Gingerbread House."

  • Sethi House Complex

    Peshawar, Pakistan

    Sethi House

    A rare instance of a historical Peshawari mansion restored and opened to the public.

  • This house was transported piece-by-piece from the Huizhou region of China.

    Salem, Massachusetts

    Yin Yu Tang: A Chinese Home

    A rare 16-bedroom Qing Dynasty house re-erected on the campus of the Peabody Essex Museum. 

  • Hallwylska Museet (Hallwyl Museum)

    Stockholm, Sweden

    Hallwylska Museet (Hallwyl Museum)

    The 19th-century home of Count and Countess von Hallwyl is now a museum.

  • Stone Mansion

    Alexandria, Virginia

    Stone Mansion

    Originally dubbed "Retirement" by the Navy Commodore who built it in 1780, this beautiful mansion is now the centerpiece of a suburban community park.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.