Tourists who have found themselves in Estonia are always advised to visit - the only city located on the island of Saaremaa. It is remarkable not only for its picturesque nature, but also for the many sights located on its territory.
What to see in Kuressaare?
Among the main architectural attractions of Kuressaare are:
- Town Hall Kuressaare - the date of its foundation is 1654, it was built until 1670. The initiator of this construction was the Swedish Count Magnus Gabriel de la Gardia. The architectural style to which the town hall corresponds is baroque, it is characterized by simplicity of lines and at the same time grandeur. The Town Hall is decorated with a sculptural portal, which contains the date "1670". The main attraction of the town hall is the ceiling picture, which is recognized as the largest in Estonia. In the building there is a gallery and a restaurant located in the basement.
- The Episcopal Castle is one of the main sites that represent the sights in Kuressaare. The peculiarity of the building is that it was completely preserved in the form in which it existed in the Middle Ages. The castle is built in the shape of a square, it has 40-meter watchtowers, amazing with its majesty. There is a version that the first fortress was built in 1222 by the Danes, while in the central part of its courtyard was a tower, which is called the "Long Herman".
- The sculptural composition "Big Tõll and Piret" is connected with the legend according to which the giant Tõll was so fond of his Saaremaa land that he brought cabbage from Ruhnu island home. His wife Piret at that time bred fire, and when the water boiled, the giant just brought cabbage.
- A church that rose twice from the ashes. It was built in the style of classicism in 1729. Previously, in its place was a temple that burned down during the Northern War. The new church suffered the same fate, it burned down in 1828, but was again restored in 1836.
- A wooden school from the 19th century is a light yellow wooden building, erected as a resort center in 1889.
Natural attractions
The city of Kuressaare is extremely picturesque. Among the most memorable natural attractions are the following:
- Kuressaare City Park - was founded in 1861 in connection with the decision on the landscaping of the territory near the castle Kuressaare. This was due to the fact that the city began to acquire the status of the resort due to the fact that it was discovered a deposit of therapeutic clay. The local residents provided significant assistance in the construction of the park, helping with money and bringing seedlings of trees. The location of the park was the territory of the old church and wasteland around the fortress. In memory of people buried in the church, a monument was erected. In 1930, the park brought rare plant species, now there are about 80 species.
- Lake Kaali - is located 19 km from, with many legends connected with it. The lake has a very interesting shape, it is almost perfectly round, is 60 m in diameter. In appearance, it looks like a funnel. According to one of the legends, the merit in its creation belongs to the hero-giants Suuru Talu. Another legend says that the lake arose as a punishment for the decision of the brother and sister to marry, in the place of the estate where they lived, this reservoir was formed. The origin of the lake was tried to unravel the scientists, for example, the German geographer and geologist Luce, the German scientist Wangenheim, who believed that it arose as a result of volcanic activity. Russian academician EI Eyhvald put forward the hypothesis that the lake was created by human hands. In 1927, Estonian mining engineer Rainwald conducted a study and suggested that the reservoir originated at the site of the meteorite fall. Later, he found his pieces, and his theory was confirmed.