Rakvere  is a town in North Estonia, county seat of Lääne-Viru County, 20 km south of the Gulf of Finland. Rakvere is mainly known for its historic stone castle atop Vallimägi hill. The castle was built before 1226 at the site of the Tarwanpe fortress of ancient Vironians.
Rakvere is also known now for its Tarvas statue of an aurochs, which was made by the Estonian sculptor Tauno Kangro. It is thought to be the largest animal statue in the Baltic countries. It is situated on the edge of Vallimägi hill and was erected for the town's 700th birthday. Along with the granite block it sits on, the statue is 7 meters long, 4 meters high and weighs about 7 tons.The statue is made out of bronze. The names of the companies and private people who financed it are engraved in the granite block.