Maasilinna Castle: A Medieval Fortress in Estonia
Visitor Information
Google Rating: 4.5
Popularity: Very Low
Country: Estonia
Civilization: Crusader, Early Modern
Site type: Military
Remains: Castle
History
Maasilinna Castle is located in the municipality of Maasi, Estonia. It was originally built by the Livonian Order, a medieval military order active in the Baltic region.
The construction of Maasilinna Castle began in 1345 following a significant uprising on the island of Saaremaa. Local rebels had destroyed the nearby Pöide Castle during the 1343 Saaremaa revolt, prompting the Livonian Order’s master, Burchard von Dreileben, to establish a new stronghold. Initially, the fortress was built partly from wood, likely due to the extensive regional damage and the need for swift construction. Over the course of the 14th and 15th centuries, under the leadership of Goswin von Herike, the castle was reconstructed in stone and expanded, resulting in a more durable and imposing structure.
Throughout the medieval period, Maasilinna served as the administrative center and residence of the Livonian Order’s vogt, or bailiff. The castle managed a wide territory encompassing numerous manors and farms, acting as both a military fortress and an economic hub on Saaremaa. Its role lasted for over two hundred years, reflecting the Order’s authority in the region.
In 1562, the castle’s ownership changed when it was sold to Denmark during ongoing conflicts in the Baltic, particularly the Northern Seven Years’ War. Positioned along the border between Danish and Swedish lands, Maasilinna became a contested military site. The Danes destroyed the fortress in 1566 to prevent its capture by Swedish forces, though it was subsequently repaired and shifted hands between the two powers several times. In 1576, Danish King Frederick II ordered its final demolition to ensure it could no longer serve strategic functions.
Following this destruction, Maasilinna Castle ceased to be used as a military or administrative post. Despite the later transfer of Saaremaa to Swedish control in the 1645 Treaty of Brömsebro, the castle remained in ruins and was never rebuilt. Archaeological excavations began in the early 20th century in 1904. More recently, from 2001 onwards, local authorities undertook efforts to uncover and stabilize the remains, revealing important details about the castle’s historical development and structure.
Remains
Maasilinna Castle was originally designed with a layout combining defensive and residential elements, reflecting both a fortress and monastic influences common to the period. Its core featured two long parallel wings arranged to enclose a courtyard, giving it a castellum-type form. The main building stretched approximately 47 meters in length and 12 meters in width, aligned along an east-west axis. This structure developed in two distinct construction phases: an earlier smaller residential tower known as the kemenaat, measuring roughly 12 by 21 meters, featuring hypocaust heating—a Roman-style underfloor heating system—and a large chimney on the southern wall; and a later addition, a two-room wing extending 26 meters to the east, completing the main living quarters.
The walls of the castle were notably robust, ranging between 2 and 3 meters thick. The older tower likely rose three stories, with vaulted halls occupying the ground floor and upper floors accessed via external staircases. Vaulted ceilings, typical of medieval stone construction, helped support the heavy stone walls and reinforced the building’s stability.
Enclosing the main complex was an irregularly shaped curtain wall roughly 53 by 41 meters in size. The original gate was probably located on the western side, providing access to the courtyard. In the early 16th century, a new outer defensive line was constructed with a circular wall including bastions and towers designed for artillery defense, reflecting the evolution of military technology at that time. Among these are two partially surviving artillery towers dating from the mid-1500s—a cylindrical tower and a pentagonal one. Both were equipped for firearms and feature Renaissance-style carved stone decorations, illustrating the adoption of both new military methods and artistic trends.
Surrounding the castle was a moat connected to three large fishponds to the south, integrating water defenses and fish farming into the site’s economy. Nearby, a small settlement with a harbor developed, supporting the castle’s defensive and administrative functions.
Despite being partially destroyed by an explosion in 1576, many of Maasilinna’s stone elements remain remarkably well preserved today. Ground floor vaulted halls, sections of the thick curtain walls, and fragments of first-floor interiors survive in situ. One bastion and the northeastern artillery tower escaped significant damage and were used as navigation landmarks at sea until the 19th century. Over time, however, extensive removal of stone material during the late 1800s for local building projects contributed to the ruinous state of the walls and towers.
Modern conservation efforts have included roofing the exposed main building ruins, clearing cellar spaces, and stabilizing structural parts such as walls and vaults. Some features such as arches and staircases, while uncovered, remain fragile and require further reinforcement to prevent collapse. These preservation activities help maintain the visible traces of Maasilinna Castle while shedding light on its historical construction and usage.
