Hermann Castle is the forward most point of the walls facing Russia. The fortifications were first constructed by the Danes in 14th century. Due to neglect, they are now considered to be near collapse.

TALLINN — Even though the 17th century fortifications of Narva’s city walls were once among the most formidable in Northern Europe, they are now on the brink of collapse because money needed for restoration has run dry.

The state of the walls can be seen in an exhibition in Tallinn showing the medieval fort. The exhibit coincidentally opened one week before local elections.

Experts say they are worried that the historic structures could become a crumbled relic and lost forever.

“There is only one Narva in Estonia, and I think it says a lot. We have one of Tallinn’s Old Town, surrounded by a city wall and we have one of Narva, virtually surrounded by a stone bastions. This loss would be irreparable,” Narva College lecturer Kaarel Vanamölder told the Eesti Päevaleht newspaper.

Narva was traditionally a trade route between Russia and the West, making the inhabitants wealthy. The fortifications were built to protect the wealthy merchants of the city.

The first major fortifications were built by the Danes in the 14th century.