Lower down the river from Kavastu the slopes of the Emajõgi valley become also lower and the large flat areas of the mouth of the river begin. On the northern bank of the river, on top of a small hill there was the Uue-Kastre stronghold which has not survived. In German chronicles it is called Warbeck or Werbeke which means “a river stop”. In the Middle Age the ships were stopped to demand customs tariffs be paid. The stronghold was first mentioned in chronicles in 1392. During the Russian-Livonian War it fell into the hands of Russians. In the 17th century fortifications were strengthened and during the Great Northern War the stronghold played a certain role in defending Tartu. At the Uue-Kastre stronghold there was a battle in 1704 in which the Swedish fleet (13 ships with 98 guns) was destroyed on the River Emajõgi and Lake Peipsi. The Russian artillery was shooting the fleet from both banks. Some Swedish men surrendered but the commander of the fleet Löschert exploded the flagman “Carolus” of the fleet and perished. Local people can show even today where the Swedish warship rests on the bottom of the river. Russians destroyed the stronghold in 1704.
