Rakvere
Rakvere | |
---|---|
UTC+3 (EEST) | |
Postal code | 44306 |
Area code | (+372) 032 |
ISO 3166 code | EE-663 |
Vehicle registration | R |
Website | www |
Rakvere is a town in northern
History
The earliest signs of human settlement dating back to the 3rd–5th centuries
On 12 June 1302, Rakvere was granted
During the wars of the 16th century, Rakvere was in 1558 captured by Muscovite troops and heavily damaged after the disastrous Siege of Wesenberg (1574) by Sweden.[1] Sweden captured the town in 1581[2] before it passed to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1602; Polish troops destroyed the castle in 1605. After being returned to Swedish control in that year, a mansion was built on the ruins of the monastery. During the Great Northern War, Rakvere was burned down in 1703. With the Capitulation of Estonia and Livonia in 1710 and the subsequent Treaty of Nystad in 1721, Rakvere passed to the Russian Empire, where it remained until Estonia become an independent nation in 1918 following World War I.
During the first period of Estonian independence in 1918-1940, many prominent buildings were built in Rakvere, including the market building, the old bank building (current
Rakvere also has a professional theatre which is one of smaller, if not the smallest, town in Europe with its own professional theatre.[3] Its roots date back to 1882 and it is still active and very popular. The theatre of Rakvere has given Estonia many renowned actors and actresses: Volli Käro, Üllar Saaremäe, Indrek Saar, Ülle Lichtfeldt, Aarne Üksküla, and others. It also holds the biannual event Baltoscandal, which gathers avant-garde plays and groups from all over the world.
On 15 July 2000, a high-end F2/T5 tornado hit the town, killing one person and injuring one other. The tornado damaged 110 homes and destroyed 120 garage buildings. One car was even airborne.[4][5]
Transport
The Rakvere–Pärnu highway starts in Rakvere. To the north of the city is the Tallinn-Narva highway that is part of the European route E20.
The Tallinn-Narva railway passes the city. Long-distance transport connections from Rakvere include bus and train transportation. By bus and train one can travel to several destinations around Estonia. Train transportation is operated by Elron.
Demographics
Ethnicity | 1922[6] | 1934[7] | 1941[8] | 1959[9]
|
1970[10]
|
1979[11]
|
1989[11]
|
2000[12]
|
2011[13] | 2021[14] | ||||||||||
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amount | % | amount | % | amount | % | amount | % | amount | % | amount | % | amount | % | amount | % | amount | % | amount | % | |
Estonians | 6885 | 89.9 | 9108 | 90.8 | 8099 | 95.7 | 11168 | 78.1 | 13292 | 74.3 | 14550 | 76.5 | 14902 | 75.2 | 14496 | 84.8 | 13445 | 88.1 | 13386 | 88.4 |
Russians | 304 | 3.97 | 355 | 3.54 | 163 | 1.93 | - | - | 3441 | 19.2 | 3326 | 17.5 | 3545 | 17.9 | 1845 | 10.8 | 1371 | 8.98 | 1155 | 7.63 |
Ukrainians | - | - | 0 | 0.00 | - | - | - | - | 410 | 2.29 | 355 | 1.87 | 507 | 2.56 | 218 | 1.28 | 150 | 0.98 | 193 | 1.27 |
Belarusians | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 106 | 0.59 | 108 | 0.57 | 171 | 0.86 | 69 | 0.40 | 46 | 0.30 | 36 | 0.24 |
Finns | - | - | 22 | 0.22 | 5 | 0.06 | - | - | 394 | 2.20 | 406 | 2.14 | 396 | 2.00 | 277 | 1.62 | 137 | 0.90 | 121 | 0.80 |
Jews | 101 | 1.32 | 100 | 1.00 | 0 | 0.00 | - | - | 44 | 0.25 | 24 | 0.13 | 23 | 0.12 | 11 | 0.06 | 5 | 0.03 | 0 | 0.00 |
Latvians | - | - | 21 | 0.21 | 8 | 0.09 | - | - | 26 | 0.15 | 26 | 0.14 | 20 | 0.10 | 5 | 0.03 | 6 | 0.04 | 14 | 0.09 |
Germans | 256 | 3.34 | 281 | 2.80 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 60 | 0.32 | 88 | 0.44 | 9 | 0.05 | 9 | 0.06 | 8 | 0.05 |
Tatars | - | - | 9 | 0.09 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 50 | 0.26 | 27 | 0.14 | 21 | 0.12 | 15 | 0.10 | 8 | 0.05 |
Poles | - | - | 13 | 0.13 | 17 | 0.20 | - | - | - | - | 28 | 0.15 | 22 | 0.11 | 15 | 0.09 | 14 | 0.09 | 12 | 0.08 |
Lithuanians | - | - | 2 | 0.02 | 2 | 0.02 | - | - | 19 | 0.11 | 20 | 0.11 | 24 | 0.12 | 9 | 0.05 | 6 | 0.04 | 7 | 0.05 |
unknown | 0 | 0.00 | 42 | 0.42 | 5 | 0.06 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 50 | 0.29 | 5 | 0.03 | 81 | 0.53 |
other | 113 | 1.48 | 74 | 0.74 | 167 | 1.97 | 3128 | 21.9 | 159 | 0.89 | 58 | 0.31 | 97 | 0.49 | 72 | 0.42 | 55 | 0.36 | 119 | 0.79 |
Total | 7659 | 100 | 10027 | 100 | 8466 | 100 | 14296 | 100 | 17891 | 100 | 19011 | 100 | 19822 | 100 | 17097 | 100 | 15264 | 100 | 15141 | 99.9 |
Main landmarks
Rakvere Castle
The oldest known archeological traces of the ancient fortress on Rakvere's Vallimäe hill date from the 5th-6th century. Throughout the ages, Rakvere castle has belonged to Danish kings, knight-monks of the Livonian Order and the Swedish and Polish states. During the Polish-Swedish War of 1600-1629, the castle was partly blown up by the Polish troops in 1605, and later also by the Swedish army. The castle has lain in ruins ever since.[15]
Today there is a theme park in the castle representing the everyday life of the 16th century. [16]
Tarvas statue
Rakvere is also known now for its Tarvas statue of an aurochs, which was made by the Estonian sculptor Tauno Kangro. It is thought to be the largest animal statue in the Baltic region. It is situated on the edge of Vallimägi hill and was erected for the town's 700th birthday. Along with the granite block it sits on, the statue is seven meters long and four meters high and weighs about seven tons. The statue is made out of bronze. The names of the companies and private people who financed it are engraved in the granite block.[17]
Rakvere Central Square
Rakvere central square got a new modern look in 2004. It is a beautiful place to sit down for a moment and observe city life. This is the city's representative square. In the spring-summer period, the central square delights with gorgeous flower arrangements and a cooling fountain. During the winter, the square is decorated with various winter and Christmas installations.[18] There is also the sculpture Young man on bicycle listening to music dedicated to Arvo Pärt, an honorary citizen of Rakvere.[19]
Next to the central square is a historical market building and one of the most representative bank buildings in Estonia designed by Ferdinand Gustav Adoff. The square is surrounded by a shopping center, shops, pharmacies, restaurants, cafes, banks, and the Tourist Information Center.[18]
Rakvere Trinity church
The
Pikk street
This is oldest street in Rakvere. In the 19th and first half of the 20th century, Pikk Street was the main shopping street in Rakvere, where the bank, shops, restaurants, and guesthouses were located. In 2020, Pikk Street was reconstructed to the extent of approximately 700 meters, as a result, the street became a modern pedestrian-friendly promenade and at the same time again a representative street of the city. Walking along the historic Pikk Street, you can get an overview of the diverse architecture of the city, where creative activities and several handicraft shops are concentrated, where you can find genuine Estonian handicrafts, souvenirs, folk costumes, and consumer goods. Here is also one of the strangest stairs in Estonia - the so-called Carrot Staircase, which leads to the Vallimägi viewing platform. The viewing platform offers a view in two directions - the city and the castle.[21]
Twin towns - sister cities
Rakvere is twinned with:[22]
- Cēsis, Latvia
- Lappeenranta, Finland
- Lapua, Finland
- Lütjenburg, Germany
- Sigtuna, Sweden
- Panevėžys, Lithuania
- Senaki, Georgia
- Szolnok, Hungary
- Vyshhorod, Ukraine
Sports
Sports clubs
- Basketball
- Paf Estonian Latvian basketball league. This is the best basketball league in Estonia. The home ground is Kastani Arena.
- Volleyball
- Rakvere VK – a men's volleyball team, multiple Estonian Champion and Cup winner. Now the club takes part in Esiliiga. This is second best volleyball league in Estonia.
- Football
- Rakvere linnastaadion.
Sports events
- Amateur Sumo World Championships 2008
- U19 EURO2012
Gallery
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Rakvere town centre
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Rakvere theatre
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Rakvere Trinity Church
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Rakvere Baptist Church
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Hotel Wesenberg
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Rakvere manor park
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Rakvere main square
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Buildings on Pikk Street
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Estonian Police Museum
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Street in Rakvere
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Rakvere main manor and theatre
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Rakvere courthouse
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Rakvere Sports Hall
References
- ISBN 978-0-7864-2873-1.
- ISBN 0-521-47033-1.
- ^ Taul, Gregor. "Turism ja linnamaastikud Pihkvas". Sirp. 22 December 2011. Accessed 4 April 2012. (in Estonian)
- ^ "European Severe Weather Database".
- ^ "Tornaado läks läbi Rakvere".
- hdl:10062/4451.
- ^ Rahvastiku koostis ja korteriolud. 1.III 1934 rahvaloenduse andmed. Vihk II (in Estonian). Tallinn: Riigi Statistika Keskbüroo. 1935. pp. 47–53.
- ^ Eesti Statistika : kuukiri 1942-03/04 (in German and Estonian). Tallinn: Riigi Statistika Keskbüroo. 1942. pp. 66–67.
- ISBN 9985-820-21-5.
- ^ Население районов, городов и поселков городского типа Эстонской ССР : по данным Всесоюзной переписи населения на 15 января 1970 года (in Russian). Tallinn: Eesti NSV Statistika Keskvalitsus. 1972. p. 78.
- ^ ISBN 978-9949-71-932-7.
- ^ "RL222: RAHVASTIK ELUKOHA JA RAHVUSE JÄRGI". Estonian Statistical Database (in Estonian).
- ^ "RL0429: RAHVASTIK RAHVUSE, SOO, VANUSERÜHMA JA ELUKOHA JÄRGI, 31. DETSEMBER 2011". Estonian Statistical Database (in Estonian).
- ^ "RL21429: RAHVASTIK RAHVUSE, SOO, VANUSERÜHMA JA ELUKOHA (HALDUSÜKSUS) JÄRGI, 31. DETSEMBER 2021". Estonian Statistical Database (in Estonian).
- ^ "RAKVERE CASTLE'S HISTORY".
- ^ "Rakvere Castle".
- ^ "Tarvas sculpture".
- ^ a b "Rakvere Central Square".
- ^ "Rakvere Central Square".
- ISBN 9949-407-18-4.
- ^ "Historic Pikk street".
- ^ "Sõpruslinnad". rakvere.kovtp.ee (in Estonian). Rakvere linn. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
External links
- Official website
- Things to see in Rakvere
- Photos of Rakvere in the night by Kaiko Lipsmäe Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- Population of Rakvere by mother tongue in 1897
- Rakvere stronghold picture gallery at Remains.se