- Address: Lossihoov 1, Kuressaare, 93815 Saare maakond, Estonia;
- Built: in the XIV century;
- Working hours: every day from 11:00 to 19:00;
- Phone: +372 455 4463;
- Website: saaremaamuuseum.ee.
The Bishop's Castle in Kuressaare is famous for being the only building of this type that has always survived to our days since the distant Middle Ages (XIII century). It is interesting that initially the castle in Kuressaare was built as an administrative center where it was supposed to hold important meetings and negotiations, and not as a strategic military-defensive structure. Only two centuries later, taking into account the tense situation in the Baltic lands, it was decided to build a bypass wall around the castle, and also to supplement the fortress with towers with loopholes for guns.
Castle in Kuressaare - description
Throughout the era of the bishopric, the castle of Kuressaare was a reliable residence of the supremacy and was never attacked by enemies. In the middle of the 16th century the fortress passes to the Danish king, who grants all Saaremaan lands to his brother - the duke Magnus. He in turn orders to strengthen the defensive positions of the already slightly dilapidated castle. Powerful earthworks and ravelines are built, massive bastions are being built at the corners, a deep moat is being digged around the castle. All this allowed the Kuressaare fortress to remain unscathed during the Livonian War and be only partially damaged during the Northern period.
Today the former bishop's castle is one of the most visited places in Estonia . There are many interesting museum exhibits from different time periods. The courtyard is often used as an open stage for cultural events. In the vicinity there is a beautiful park area.
Features of architecture
The main building - the convent house - is an example of construction in the Gothic style. The exterior architecture is rather cumbersome and monumental, but it harmoniously combines minimalist interior decor and elegant architectonics.
In the basement used to be warehouses, utility and utility rooms: kitchen, furnace, brewery, etc. By the way, in one of the cellars in the XVIII century was found a human skeleton. According to legend, it belonged to the knight-inquisitor, who was sent to the Bishop's castle in Kuressaare by the Pope to fight the outbreaks of Protestantism. Vassals also decided to get rid of a strict overseer and sent him a beautiful girl, so she seduced the knight. He could not resist her charms, for which he was brutally punished - he was mortally mortified.
Beletazh is more pompous. Here you can see beautiful composite ribs and lancet windows with a graceful sculptural frame. The main premises on the mezzanine:
- festive refectory - a spacious two-nave hall, which adorns the altar relief from the oak "Wedding of the Virgin;
- The chapel is the highest in the Kuressaare fortress, it has two sacramental niches decorated with hanging columns, Gothic crabs and decorative pediments (a part of the altar and medieval coat-of-arms from the dolomite of the 16th century were also preserved);
- the bishop's chambers are decorated quite simply, they have beautiful arches and octagonal columns;
- Episcopal cell - a small room without windows with a stone bed;
- dansker - hanging balcony;
- dormitory - a former dwelling of ancient monks with a large fireplace.
In the Bishop's castle Kuressaare there is another place with which an interesting legend is connected - it is a small bridge passing through an insulating mine at a depth of 10 meters. It is said that earlier in this pit there lived real lions and after each arrival in the castle of the Saare-Liaene bishop they were waited with a feast. The ruler administered justice and acted as a judge. After such meetings, several captives were sentenced to death. The punishment was immediately carried out - the unfortunates were dropped into the mine with predators. Since then, the moat leading from the castle to the tower "Long Herman" is called "Lion's Pit". By the way, walking on the bridge, sometimes you can hear the real growl of lions, but you should not be afraid - it's just an audio recording for the tourist entourage.
Museums of the castle Kuressaare
Many rooms of the castle are now occupied with museum expositions. The exhibition fund is quite impressive - about 153,000 exhibits. Among the many halls, the following exhibitions are very popular with tourists:
- hall of rare epitaphs ;
- collection of medieval wooden sculptures ;
- hall dedicated to the flora and fauna of Saaremaa (there are many realistic stuffed animals, especially this exposition is liked by children);
- the hall of the Ezelsky district of Livland province ;
- Hall of the history of the island until the middle of the XX century ;
- a large exhibition of World War II artifacts ;
- hall of labor glory ;
- social and household exhibition devoted to the Soviet way of life, which is presented in the form of visualization of an ordinary apartment of the USSR era with characteristic pieces of furniture and everyday life of those times.
There are also several exposures inside the towers. Temporary exhibitions are often held.
Information for tourists
The entrance to the territory of the castle Kuressaare is free. But to get inside and visit the exhibition halls, you need to buy a ticket. The adult costs € 6, the child costs € 3, the family costs € 15. Inspection of temporary exhibitions is two times cheaper (€ 3 / € 1,5 / € 7,5). In the warm season (from May to August), the Bishop's Castle in Kuressaare is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. From September to April in the territory can be located from 11:00 to 19:00. The ticket office closes at 17:00.
For € 8 you can take an audio guide with an overview of all the permanent exhibitions in the castle in Russian, Estonian, English and Finnish. Also, a professional guide offers his services. The cost of an hour and a half excursion for the group costs € 60. Since 2006, the castle has 4 craft workshops:
- glass processing ;
- pottery ;
- Kuznetsk ;
- on stone processing .
Here, tourists can watch the work of skilled craftsmen, take part in interesting master classes and buy souvenirs for memory.
In addition, other fascinating services are provided in the castle of Kuressaare. Among them: the organization of medieval dinners, archery, coinage and a shot from the historical cannon "Eagle".
How to get there?
Bishop's Castle in Kuressaare is located on Lossihoov Street 1. Distance from the airport is 3 km. From the city can be reached by bus. To do this, you should drive to the stop Pargi or Vallikraavi, and then go to the fortress about 450 m.