The name of Sangaste (Sagnitz) appears in medieval records since the 13th century. In the course of time both the Bishop of Tartu and the King of Poland were among owners of the manor. The present mansion, mainly inspired by England's Windsor Castle, was commissioned by the last landlord Friedrich von Berg, a prominent plant and animal breeder, inventor and scholar, from the Tallinn architect O.P. Hippius in 1874-81. Outside, the structure is decorated with turrets, dormers, projections and indentations, with a prominent gate tower over the main entrance. Many original features in the Gothic Revival and Moorish styles survive in the interior.