Kiltsi Castle was built on the ruins of a medieval vassal castle. The exact date of its foundation is unknown, it is thought that the the oldest part of the structure was made in the late 14th century, and the castle was enlarged in the 16th century, at which time round corner towers were added. Kiltsi is one of the few Estonian castles that have preserved fragments of the lord's house from the Middle Ages. It is the only estate in Estonia where the ancillary buildings adjoin the lord's house.
Due to the fact that deep streams flow through the center of the estate and flow into Põltsamaa, water barriers were created for protection. At a distance of 3 kilometres from the castle, on the same bank of the river, is the Vao castle tower, built at the end of the 14th century. Legend has it that these castles were connected by an underground passage that was never discovered, so it remains a legend.
The castle was not intended for defence or warfare, but there are several military episodes associated with it. At the beginning of the Livonian War, in 1558, the owner of the castle Robert von Gilzen was in a fierce battle with Russian troops, after which he took refuge within the castle walls. Then the Russians failed to capture the castle. In one of the subsequent assaults, the Russians did capture the castle and it's been in disrepair has been in disrepair ever since.
Kiltsay manor belonged to the Gilsen family from 1514 to 1581. After that it was owned by different owners. In 1778, the last owner Captain Joachim Friedrich von Rosen sold the Kiltsi manor to Major Hermann Johann von Benckendorff. The castle was rebuilt into a lord's house on the baron's orders. His family crest can be seen on the front of the structure. During archaeological work in the basement, child and female skeletons were found. Presumably, they were hiding here during the Livonian War, but when the castle caught fire, they couldn't get out. The manor got its present features in 1790. The major died in the castle in 1800, as commemorated by a plaque on the house.
In 1816 the manor was bought by the famous navigator Adam Johannes Krusenstern, who circumnavigated the globe in 1803-1806. The last period of the life of this of this great traveller was associated with Kiltsi Manor. Two of his daughters, Charlotte and Julia, were born here. Whilst living in Kiltsi, Kruzenstern worked on his most important project, the Atlas of the South Sea. Kruzenshtern died at the age of 75, he was buried in the Dome Church in Tallinn. The manor was passed on inheritance. In 1911 the navigator's granddaughter, Sophia von Rüdiger, sold the manor. The Countess had never been to the manor and had no idea of the importance of the manuscripts in the manor house. And so it came to pass that the valuable archives Bouley were irretrievably lost.
From 1922 to the present day, the building of the manor has housed a parochial school. The school flag shows the main part of the Kiltsi manor. In 1993 teachers at the school established the Great Traveller's Skills Foundation. In 1995, on the 225th anniversary of the birth of admiral and scientist Adam Johannes Krusenstern, a memorial room was opened, where you can learn both about the navigator himself, and the other owners of the manor. The original engravings from the First Russian Circumnavigation from the First Russian circumnavigation of the globe, as well as atlases, compiled by the navigators, the ship's log of the ship "Nadezhda", commanded by Ivan Fedorovich. There are also the awards that Ivan Fedorovich received for this voyage.
Since 2000, restoration works have been carried out in the castle. You can get acquainted with the manor can be explored by booking a guided tour. There are regular events in Kiltsay, in Kiltsay to commemorate the famous navigator.
