- Address: Raekoja 1, 20307 Narva, Estonia;
- Website: narvamuuseum.ee;
- Phone: +372 359 9230.
In the Estonian city of Narva is one of the main historical sights - the city hall. It is located in the neighborhood of the modern building of the Narva College of the University of Tartu . The Narva River flows only a few hundred meters from the building.
History of creation, external and internal decoration
The Narva Town Hall was built by the order of the Swedish royal court. The project was developed by G. Teifel, and supervised the construction work, which began in 1668, Zacharias Hoffman, Jr. and Jurgen Bischoff. At first the town hall was conceived in the Baroque style, but after the changes were made, the style was chosen - Dutch classicism.
If the walls and ceilings were erected by 1671, the interior finish was completed only four years later. After the construction of the roof and the tower, a weathercock was placed on the spire in the form of a crane, which was supported by an apple made by Master Grubben. German, Italian and Danish cultures blended in the Narva Town Hall.
Inside the Town Hall on the first floor was a spacious hall, on the side of which there were rooms. On the second floor there was a staircase at the end of the hall. Here was located a large hall of magistrates, and later the Duma and the court room of the highest court, office, waiting. The southern wing was placed under the court of the lowest category and the Chamber of Commerce.
During the fighting during the Second World War, the building was seriously damaged in 1944. All other facilities, which formed a single architectural complex, were completely destroyed. So, the pharmacy, the stock exchange office and the houses of wealthy citizens disappeared, as the authorities refused to restore them.
But the restoration work on the town hall began in the 60's. During this time the masters restored the facades and portal, the staircase and the painted ceiling in the lobby, as well as the staircase and the baroque helmet of the tower.
Narva Town Hall today
Before tourists, the restored building appears as a three-story structure with a cap, a tower, which is still crowned by a crane - a symbol of vigilance. The town hall differs from other buildings by the arrangement of windows - on the same plane as the outer wall.
In the Narva Town Hall was the Palace of Pioneers. Victor Kingisepp. But recently it is empty, there are intentions to turn it into a city council building. To visit Narva City Hall, alas, closed, because the building needs a long restoration work. Everything that can be seen is outside, but the authorities promise to start restoration as early as possible and even call the year of the beginning of restoration works - 2018.
How to get there?
Narva Town Hall is located at: Raekoja plats 1, Narva. Another notable benchmark is the building of the Narva College of the University of Tartu . The town hall is easily accessible by any of the types of public transport.