Narva

Narva is Estonia's easternmost city, with about 70,000 inhabitants.

Due to the heavy damage of the Second World War, Narva had to be almost completely rebuilt. This is why the city is dominated by Soviet architecture today. Narva's "modern" Town Hall, for example, is a prime example of typical Soviet architecture.

Over 90% of the current population are Russian-speakers, mostly either Soviet-era immigrants from parts of the former Soviet Union and their descendants.

There’s plenty to do in Narva, concerts, annual festivals and open-air shows that take place both in the inner yard of the Narva Castle and elsewhere in the town, such as in the newly-built ice skating stadium.

See

• ⊙Narva Museum/Castle, St.-Peterburi mnt. 2,  ☎ +372 359 9230. Mo-Su 10-18, winter: We-Su 10-18. The Castle tower overlooks the Ivangorod castle on the Russian side of the river and offers an eclectic display of Estonian and Narva history. Tickets are €4. 
• Kuremäe Pühtitsa Uspenski convent.  
• Tank T- 34, Jõesuu tn. The monument commemorates battles of World War II and indicates breakthrough of Soviet forces. Narva’s tank is the only such memorial, being exhibited in Estonia from the war until today. 
• Pimeaed (Blind Garden), Pimeaia tn. This is Narva’s oldest part, an example of park architecture from the end of the 19th century. 
• Narva Bastions, Raja tn. A total of seven bastions were built in the 17th century: Honor, Gloria, Victoria, Fama, Triumph, Fortuna, and Spes. Work has been started to dry and light the bastions. 
• ⊙The Lords Resurrection Cathedral, Bastrakovi tn 4. It was built in 1890-1896 for the orthodox workers of Kreenholm Manufactory. Architectural solution comes from Byzantine tradition. You can see three part iconostasis and 17th century’s Christ’s crucifix. The bombing of the city on year 1944 during the second world war, left only the church untouched. 
• ⊙Narva Art Gallery, Vestervalli tn 21. The gallery the art centre of East-Viry County. It is located in 18th century former ammunition warehouse. In addition to the permanent collection, exhibitions of modern Estonian and Western European art are organized and a traditional art party takes place on the last Sunday in May. 
• ⊙Narva Alexander Megachurch, Kiriku tn 9. Built in 1881-84, the Alexander Church was damaged during both world wars. The bell tower was destroyed in 1944 along with the Walcker organ that was located there. Today the church's bell tower has been restored. You can visit the bell tower and the observation platform installed there, as well as a museum where artworks from the 14th to 21st century are displayed. 
• ⊙Kreenholm area and Kreenholm Textile Factory, Joala tn 20. The famous Kreenholm Textile Factory was built on the shore of the waterfall in the 19th century, and was the largest factory in the Russian Empire at that time. In 1913 over ten thousand people worked there! A compact complex of industrial architecture developed around the factory that included the factory, a hospital, workers' barracks, directors' houses, and Kreenholm Park. 
• ⊙Narva Town Hall, Raekoja plats 1. German, Swedish and Italian architectural influences are mixed in the building style of the Town Hall that dates back to the 17th century. The building is currently not open to the public. 

Eat

Budget

• ⊙Cafe Aleksandr, Pushkini tänav 13. Relatively low prices, clean and cosy interior. More than 100 dishes of European and Russian cuisine including salads, soups, pelmeni, fish, chicken and meat courses, pancakes and desserts.

Sleep

Inside the range of 4 km:

• ⊙   Narva Hotell, Narva, PC II
• ⊙   Hostel Lell, Narva

Useful

Inside the range of 4 km:

• ⊙   Tourist-Information Narva, Narva
• ⊙   Border Checkpoint Iwangorod - Narva, Narva
• ⊙   Iwangorod vokzal, Iwangorod/Ивангород