Haapsalu
Location and history
The town of Haapsalu was founded at the end of the 13th century and was then the episcopal see for the island of Ösel (Saaremaa). Haapsalu (German and Swedish: Hapsal) lies on Estonia’s west coast, opposite the island of Hiiumaa (Dagö), the smaller of the two large islands off the Gulf of Riga. At the beginning of the 19th century, the healing properties of the mud found near the town were discovered. Haapsalu consequently became a fashionable spa and holiday resort, a reputation it gained while Estonia was still part of the Russian Empire. Pyotr Tchaikovsky was also a frequent visitor.
Blick von der Ruine der Bischofsburg auf Haapsalu
Photo: © oben: Wiki_Onkel Joe_CC3.0, Mitte: Wiki_Ivar_Leidus_CC3.0, unten: Wiki_Kalervo_Kinnunen_gemeinfrei
Attractions in Haapsalu
The Bishop’s Castle dates back to the town’s founding. It played an important role throughout the town’s eventful history and was razed under Tsar Peter I at the beginning of the 18th century. Today, its ruins bear witness to the town’s former importance.
The cathedral church is part of the Bishop’s Castle. It is considered the largest single-nave church in the Nordic and Baltic countries. Its unique acoustics make it a popular concert venue. According to the legend of the White Lady, she can be seen on a full-moon night in August. A young cleric is said to have smuggled his beloved into the castle dressed as a choir singer. The bishop had the girl walled up alive inside the church.
The historic resort hall, with its wooden façade, is the only one of its kind in Estonia to have survived in its original condition. Since the first half of the 20th century, the resort hall has remained one of Haapsalu’s main summer holiday destinations. As late as 1898, the building stood almost entirely in the sea; later, the small bays on either side of it were filled in, and the shoreline was shaped into its present form. The resort hall and its concert venue were favourite places of the Russian imperial court and the upper classes of St Petersburg.
The island of Hiiumaa (Dagö)
Estonia’s second-largest island is a popular destination for day trips and offers almost everything you could want from a Baltic holiday in Estonia: long sandy coastlines, sleepy villages and a densely forested interior. Hiiumaa is ideal for nature lovers, hiking, sailing or simply enjoying a relaxing holiday. Many music festivals take place in summer; for example, the Hiiumaa Chamber Music Days and the Hiiumaa Folk Music Festival are held every July. The island’s many lighthouses are always worth a visit.
You can book hotels in Haapsalu directly.
