Drive through the Lääne-Viru county towards **Käsmu** to see the Captains' Village where white houses face the sea and giant rocks sit in the water like sleeping whales. The forest trails lead to the Viru bog where the water is so still it looks like black glass. You can climb the wooden tower in the middle of the bog for a view of the labyrinthine pools stretching to the horizon. The manor houses of **Palmse** and **Sagadi** are grand estates with perfectly kept gardens and red roofed stables. You can walk through the forest museum or see the vintage carriage collections in the stone barns. The **Toolse** castle ruins sit right on the beach where the waves wash over the old stone walls of a pirate fortress. It is one of the few places where you can touch medieval history while your feet are in the sea sand. **Rakvere** provides a more rugged experience with its massive stone castle where you can try medieval crafts or see the torture chambers. The giant **Tarvas** bull statue stands on the hill overlooking the modern town below. It is a county of grand history and wild northern nature. The driving routes here take you through dense forests where it is common to see deer or even a moose crossing the road in the evening.

Lääne-Viru (county) highlights

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The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Lääne-Viru (county)

The Lääne-Viru county is famous for its grand Manor Land history, where the wealthiest families built massive stone estates starting in the late 1200s. Places like **Palmse** and Sagadi were not just homes but entire small villages with their own gardens, factories and forests. These manors reached their peak of luxury in the 1700s and 1800s. Creating a landscape of elegant palaces that still look perfectly preserved among the old oak trees today. The coastline is home to the Captain's Village of **Käsmu**, which has a maritime history dating back centuries. In the 1800s, the village was so wealthy from sea trade that it was said every house had its own ship captain. These sailors traveled the world and brought back exotic goods and stories, making the small harbor a very sophisticated place. You can still see the giant boulders on the beach that these captains used as natural signposts to navigate their way home. In 1971, the region became home to the very first national park in the entire Soviet Union, known as **Lahemaa**. This was a huge moment in history because it protected the unique mix of coastal nature and historical buildings for the first time. Driving through the park today, you can see how the medieval castle ruins at **Toolse** and the old fishing huts at Altja have been saved from the passage of time, keeping the spirit of the north alive.

Lääne-Viru (county)