Paide

Paide grew around a castle built by the Livonian Order in the 1260s. Its German name, Weißenstein, means White Stone, after the limestone used in the fortress; the Estonian name likewise refers to limestone. At its centre stood a six-storey keep, strengthened in later centuries with walls, towers and outer bastions as warfare changed. During the Livonian War Russian armies repeatedly besieged the castle, and forces loyal to Ivan IV captured it in 1573. The stronghold changed hands several more times and saw further fighting in the Polish–Swedish wars.