Lääne-Viru maakond, Tapa vald, Porkuni küla

Be a part of a history.

For sale: A unique and historic Porkuni Manor with a spacious park, picturesque forested landscape, and its own private lake. This historic complex, with roots dating back to the 15th century, presents an exceptional opportunity to restore and adapt this distinguished estate according to the vision of its new owner.

Three plots are included in the sale, with a total area of 32 hectares:

Paepaljandi plot (117,721 m²)

Metsalaiu plot (145,203 m²)

Lossi tn 1/Järvekalda tn 3 plot (57,108 m²)

The estate includes five buildings with a total net enclosed area of 5,203.4 m². The manor-school building has three above-ground floors and a basement (1,665.8 m²). Additionally, the property features an internate building (2,478.7 m²), a workshop (288.6 m²), a cattle kitchen-barn (519.7 m²), and a garage-storage facility (250.6 m²). The buildings require renovation but offer limitless possibilities for use as a private residence, a prestigious commercial property, a rural tourism destination, or a cultural heritage project.

The property is equipped with electricity, water, sewage, internet, and telephone connection options, as well as central heating and a stove heating system. Security is further enhanced by an alarm system and a garage.

Porkuni Manor’s atmosphere is steeped in history and is also linked to the legendary noblewoman Barbara von Tiesenhausen, whose tragic love story has inspired numerous Estonian writers. Today, the manor’s gate tower houses the Porkuni Limestone Museum, offering visitors a fascinating insight into the history of limestone.

History
Porkuni Manor (German: Borkholm) is located on an island in Lake Porkuni, in Tapa Parish, Lääne-Viru County. The manor’s history dates back to the 15th century when, in 1479, Tallinn Bishop Simon von der Borch commissioned the construction of a bishop’s castle on the island. The castle was destroyed during the Livonian War (1558–1583) and was never rebuilt. The only remaining element of the bishop’s castle is the limestone tower, which now serves as a limestone museum.

Following the castle’s destruction, Porkuni developed into a knight’s manor, which belonged to various noble families, including the Tiesenhausens, Ungern-Sternbergs, Baumgartens, and Essens. From 1869 to 1919, the manor was owned by the Rennenkampff family.

The manor’s current main building was constructed between 1870 and 1874. It is a grand and impressive structure built in a historicist style, incorporating elements of Tudor and Neo-Renaissance architecture. The main building is predominantly single-story, with two-story sections in the center and left wing, and an octagonal tower on the right.

Since the 1920s, the manor has housed a school for the hearing impaired. On May 15, 1924, the estate was handed over to the school for the deaf, which relocated from Vändra. The school was allocated the buildings on the island, along with the park, lakes, pastureland, and 41 hectares of fields—amounting to approximately 200 hectares of land.

Many auxiliary buildings of the manor complex have been preserved, some of which are located outside the island. In 2016, the manor’s main building was sold at auction along with some outbuildings and 76 hectares of land.

Today, the former manor gate tower houses the Porkuni Limestone Museum, which showcases the formation, fossils, distribution, and use of limestone in Estonia. The museum offers a rich collection of limestone samples from across Estonia and provides visitors with a chance to explore Lake Porkuni, the manor complex, and the surrounding landscape.

If you are looking for a unique investment opportunity that combines historical value with a scenic natural setting, Porkuni Manor is the perfect choice. For inquiries and to arrange a viewing, please get in touch to explore this extraordinary property further.