The small city of Narva is an interesting stopover 120 mi/195 km east of Tallinn for travelers on their way to St. Petersburg. It has some historical sites along the Narva River, which forms the Russian-Estonian border.
The most notable attraction is Hermann's Fortress (a 14th-century castle built by the Danes and later remodeled by Teutonic Knights and Swedish troops) that faces the Russian-built fortress Ivangorod on the other side of the river. In 1704, Peter the Great managed to conquer what was then considered one of the most impregnable fortresses of northern Europe.
Also of interest are the baroque-style town hall (from 1670) and the remains of 17th-century fortifications. The city's residents are predominantly ethnic Russians. The town also hosts a Russian consulate, but individual travelers from the U.S., Canada and European Union countries cannot get Russian visas there. Application must be made at the Russian embassy in your home country.
More information about Narva is available at http://www.narva.ee.
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