Top 10 Museums in Ida-Viru County, Ida-Viru County

Our VR attractions connect people with history. The mild summer breeze gently moves the petals of the flowers blooming in the rosary. The smell of flowering roses enchants walkers in the garden, and there, on the edge of the bank overlooking the sea, stands a magnificent pink-white building. No one yet asks, "But where was it?" An exciting virtual tour of July 1938 in the Toila-Oru Park!

The Narva Castle is one of the main attractions of the city. In the seventh decade of the 13th century, the Danes established a castle as a residence for the Danish King’s vice-Regent. The Narva Castle is one of the most diverse and best preserved defense structure in Estonia. The area of the castle is 3.2 hectares, and the highest point is the Tall Hermann Tower (51 meters), which offers views over Narva, the Kreenholm factory and Ivangorod Fortress across the river in Russia. Today you can visit the museum in the castle, were the displays explain the history of Narva and the castle.

The gallery is located in 18th century former ammunition warehouse. The gallery, which was founded in the 1990s, is the art centre of East-Viru County. The collection of Russian art given to the Narva City Museum by Mr. and Mrs. Lavretsov, and which is considred to be the best provincial museum collection in the Baltic countries at the beginning of the 20th century, is stored here. In addition to the permanent collection, exhibitions of modern Estonian and West-European art are organized and a traditional art party takes place on the last Sunday in May

An underground museum has been opened in the former Kohtla mines. Join an excursion with a guide to see how oil shale is mined and the machinery and technology that is used to do so. Take a ride on an underground train and try your hand at drilling, using a real drill! The above-ground exhibits and underground visit take around one hour and a half to see and complete. The museum provides every visitor with a special jacket, helmet and miner’s lamp.Starting from 20 October 2011 until spring 2012 the underground exhibition at the mine is being completely redesigned. The other parts of the museum remain open for visits, and we still offer miners' lunches when booked in advance.

Founded in 1975, the museum is located in a former ministry school building. Its permanent displays are arranged thematically in separate rooms, where you will obtain an excellent overview of life in the country, farms in the olden days, the work of master craftsmen and the history of the local fire fighting service. Separate exhibitions focus on the unique natural environment and diversity of the area, the history of the Iisaku school and the writer of the well-known Estonian song ‘Ema suda’ /A Mother’s Heart/. The teacher’s apartment on the second floor presents a picture of life in the early 20th century, and there is a special exhibit looking at the Iisaku region’s population of half-Estonian/half-Russians. If you wish, you can also watch locally shot films.

This gallery is located within the Johvi Concert Hall building, on the second floor of the Johvi Cultural Centre. It has an exhibition hall measuring 84.5 m2, with ceiling heights of 2.8 m and 3.45 m, with the latest lighting.The gallery has been open to the public since 25 January 2006. It aims to reflect the trends in contemporary art, and organises at least one exhibition of international art each year.

This museum in Narva-Joesuu has picture archives illustrating the history and culture of the resort town. You will find out about the famous people who have lived there, and those who have spent their summers on the ‘Estonian riviera’.Did you know…?*The museum is located in a building which was once home to one of Estonia’s most famous authors, A. H. Tammsaare.