Vasknarva
Encyclopedia
Vasknarva is a village in Alajõe Parish
, Ida-Viru County
in northeastern Estonia
. It's located on the northern shore of Lake Peipus
, in the headwaters of Narva River
. Vasknarva has a population of 59 (as of 2000), most of them are Old Believers
.
The village sprung up in 14th century just next to Vasknarva order castle (Neuschloss) on the northeastern border of Old Livonia
. The first castle was founded in 1349. 1427–1442 a new castle (Vastne-Narva) was built, which became the centre of the vogtei
of the Livonian Order
. The castle was wracked in the Livonian War
. Until the Great Northern War
it was a fort of great importance, commanding the mouth of the Narva River
. It has been known in Russian chronicles either as Syrensk or Syrenets. Local lore has it that St. Olga of Pskov narrowly escaped drowning when crossing the Narva rapids at Syrenets. Nowadays only parts of 3 meters thin walls have survived, mainly on the northern side.
The name translates from Estonian
as "Copper
Narva
". According to etymology it derived from the copper roof of the castle.
Nowadays there is a small boat harbour, border guard cordon, nunnery and St. Elijah Orthodox church. By its architecture Vasknarva is a common Peipsi Russian street village where 1-storey wooden buildings are situated side by side just beside the street.
On the other bank of Narva River there is Russian Skamya village.
American literary scientist Temira Pachmuss was born in Vasknarva.
Alajõe Parish
Alajõe Parish is a rural municipality ofIda-Viru County in northern Estonia. It has a population of 1024 and an area of .-Villages:Alajõe - Karjamaa - Katase - Remniku - Smolnitsa - Uusküla - Vasknarva...
, Ida-Viru County
Ida-Viru County
Ida-Viru County , or Ida-Virumaa, is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is the most north-eastern part of the country. The county contains large deposits of oil shale - the main mineral mined in Estonia. As oil shale is used in thermal power plants, the earth in Ida-Viru literally holds the largest...
in northeastern Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. It's located on the northern shore of Lake Peipus
Lake Peipus
Lake Peipus, ) is the biggest transboundary lake in Europe on the border between Estonia and Russia.The lake is the fifth largest in Europe after Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega in Russia north of St...
, in the headwaters of Narva River
Narva River
The Narva is a river flowing into the Baltic Sea, the largest river in Estonia. Draining Lake Peipsi, the river forms the border of Estonia and Russia and flows through the towns of Narva/Ivangorod and Narva-Jõesuu into Narva Bay. Though the river is only 77 km long, in terms of volume...
. Vasknarva has a population of 59 (as of 2000), most of them are Old Believers
Old Believers
In the context of Russian Orthodox church history, the Old Believers separated after 1666 from the official Russian Orthodox Church as a protest against church reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon between 1652–66...
.
The village sprung up in 14th century just next to Vasknarva order castle (Neuschloss) on the northeastern border of Old Livonia
Livonian Confederation
Terra Mariana was the official name for Medieval Livonia or Old Livonia which was formed in the aftermath of the Livonian Crusade in the territories comprising present day Estonia and Latvia...
. The first castle was founded in 1349. 1427–1442 a new castle (Vastne-Narva) was built, which became the centre of the vogtei
Vogtei
Vogtei could be:* The residenz or domain of a Vogt* Vogtei , a municipal association in the Unstrut-Hainich district of Thuringia, Germany....
of the Livonian Order
Livonian Order
The Livonian Order was an autonomous Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order and a member of the Livonian Confederation from 1435–1561. After being defeated by Samogitians in the 1236 Battle of Schaulen , the remnants of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword were incorporated into the Teutonic Knights...
. The castle was wracked in the Livonian War
Livonian War
The Livonian War was fought for control of Old Livonia in the territory of present-day Estonia and Latvia when the Tsardom of Russia faced a varying coalition of Denmark–Norway, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Union of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland.During the period 1558–1578,...
. Until the Great Northern War
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
it was a fort of great importance, commanding the mouth of the Narva River
Narva River
The Narva is a river flowing into the Baltic Sea, the largest river in Estonia. Draining Lake Peipsi, the river forms the border of Estonia and Russia and flows through the towns of Narva/Ivangorod and Narva-Jõesuu into Narva Bay. Though the river is only 77 km long, in terms of volume...
. It has been known in Russian chronicles either as Syrensk or Syrenets. Local lore has it that St. Olga of Pskov narrowly escaped drowning when crossing the Narva rapids at Syrenets. Nowadays only parts of 3 meters thin walls have survived, mainly on the northern side.
The name translates from Estonian
Estonian language
Estonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...
as "Copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
Narva
Narva
Narva is the third largest city in Estonia. It is located at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, by the Russian border, on the Narva River which drains Lake Peipus.-Early history:...
". According to etymology it derived from the copper roof of the castle.
Nowadays there is a small boat harbour, border guard cordon, nunnery and St. Elijah Orthodox church. By its architecture Vasknarva is a common Peipsi Russian street village where 1-storey wooden buildings are situated side by side just beside the street.
On the other bank of Narva River there is Russian Skamya village.
American literary scientist Temira Pachmuss was born in Vasknarva.
External links
- Vasknarva Castle at Estonian Manors Portal