The Tragic Love Story Behind Ungru Castle
Imagine embarking on the travel adventure of a lifetime, a European tour that most would only dream of.
As you’re touring through Germany, the most amazing thing happens: you meet the love of your life.
The feelings are mutual, so you make plans to get married. But you can’t stay in Germany, and ask your love to return to your home country with you.
Your love, however, insists on staying in the house they grew up in — not because they want to stay in Germany or even be with family and friends. It’s literally about the building…they are so fond of it, they can’t imagine ever living anywhere else!
How could a piece of real estate stand in the way of true love?
What would you do about it?
You could have an exact replica of your love’s home built for in your home country, just for them!
Sound crazy? Well, it actually happened…sort of. This is the story behind Estonia’s Ungru Manor. In the 1890s, the son of the owner of Ungru’s mansion visited Merseburg Castle in Germany and fell in love with the owner’s daughter.
The princess said she adored the castle so much that she would stay there forever.
The smitten son returned to Estonia with a new plan: he would recreate the German castle for her. He started construction, but before the interior could be finished, word came that his princess had died.
The son died not long after, and the house was never completed.
But there’s even more to this sad love story. The half-built house started falling apart in the 1940s and in 1968, when Estonia was still under Soviet rule, a chief of a military airport nearby ordered the remains of the castle to be used as building material for a new runway.
Luckily, they were unable to demolish the entire building, so some was left standing. What remains is a stunning neo-baroque building known through the region for its unique details, ornaments and gables.
What was once the finest neo-baroque mansion in all of Estonia is now a ghost house, which is why filmmakers around the world should take note. It’s an unusual and unique piece of architecture that would make the perfect set for a love story, a ghost story, or anything in between!
If you’re looking for a unique and affordable place to film your next suspense movie, Estonia has plenty of spooky, atmospheric locales that will take your breath away.
What’s more, filming in Estonia could save you up to 30% of eligible production costs. The incentive supports filmmakers in a range of genres, including feature films, documentaries, TV-dramas and even animation.
Photos: Lily Uibokand ja Wikimedia Commons