Narva

Narva is the easternmost city in Estonia, located in Ida-Viru County on the Narva River, which forms the border with Russia. It lies opposite Ivangorod, Russia, and is connected by a bridge that links the two cities. The Narva region has long served as a cross-border gateway between Estonia and Russia and remains a key point of entry to eastern Estonia.

The city developed around Hermann Castle, a 13th-century fortress perched on a basalt bluff overlooking the river. Over the centuries Narva changed hands between Swedish and Russian rule and played a notable role in the Great Northern War. The town suffered extensive damage during World War II and was rebuilt in the Soviet era. Estonia regained independence in 1991, after which Narva transitioned toward a more diversified economy and a border-reliant urban profile.

As of the early 2020s, Narva had around 50,000 to 60,000 residents, with a majority of residents speaking Russian. The economy has been historically industrial, anchored by energy production at the Narva power complex and by manufacturing activity that includes the historic Kreenholm textile site on the river. The city also relies on cross-border trade with Russia, aided by its river port facilities and road connections that link Estonia with the neighboring country.

Notable landmarks in Narva include Narva Castle (Hermann Castle) atop the riverbank, the Ivangorod Fortress across the Narva River, and the former Kreenholm Manufacturing site. The city hosts museums and cultural institutions that reflect its multicultural history and strategic role as an eastern Estonian border town.