The Estonian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene is located on the Haapsalu Promenade. The family of the Russian Emperor Nicholas I attended the opening of the church in 1852. The church was restored to its present state and it is open as an Othodox place of worship in 2001. The church is open on Sundays from 9am to noon. To visit at other times, please contact us in advance. The church windows are decorated with stained glass by artist Dolores Hoffmann. The illustrator Ilon Wikland lived with her grandmother and grandfather in the church house during 1938-1944 at Linda 2.

Marker towers, which are normally found on the shore close to the waterline or within low water itself, were originally designed to ensure safe sailing and simplify navigation. The towers at Telise were constructed from local stone in 1910. The lower tower rises 7 metres above sea level; the upper tower 11.9 metres above sea level. The distance between them is 416 metres.
Did you know…?
*Marker towers have fallen out of use and are no longer constructed. Those that remain in Estonia have been placed under national protection.

Of the interior of the church which dates back to the 13th century one should pay attention to the pulpit, chandeliers, organ, altar painting, H. Göseken’s epitaph and triumphal arch group.

In the churchyard you will see Estonia’s oldest wheel cross which reads Sitta Kodt Matz. According to a legend Matz had been gathering horse droppings, then fertilised the field with those and then he grew mighty rye there. He became so rich that he could get himself buried in the churchyard.

Estonia’s first professional composer Rudolf Tobias (1873-1918) is buried in the churchyard.

Nearby you will find Kullamaa Rohumägi – Estonians’ for of nearly 2000 m2 dating back to the 11th-12th centuries. Kullamaa is also the place where the oldest Estonian language signs were found.

Uuemõisa manor a few kilometres away from the centre of Haapsalu was first mentioned in 1539 when it was an Episcopal manor. The last owner before the compulsory sale of the manor, which in the 17th century belonged to the de la Gardie family, was princess Yevgeniya Shakhovskaya. In 1833 a two-storey post-classicist main building was constructed in the manor. In the 1920s the building was reconstructed based on the design made by Karl Burman. As a result, long one-storey wings were added to the building. All of this made it an immensely long building.

At present are in the manor Uuemõisa kindergarten and Primary School. The White Hall of the manor is a good place for concerts.

Ilon’s Wonderland is a theme park for children and families that showcases the work of Ilon Wikland, the illustrator of Astrid Lindgren’s children’s books.

The three-storey building is open from September to April. It has a gallery, a cinema, an exhibition hall, Karlsson’s Room, Ilon’s Kitchen, and a playroom, where workshops and thematic events take place.

From May to August, the Wonderland courtyard is also open. Inside you’ll find Mattias’s cottage and a handicrafts workshop where you and your kids can make many exciting items yourself. In the courtyard, you can try your hand at target throwing, stilt-walking, fishing, acting, and sandbox games.

The lovely Mirimart handicraft shop is located in the old town of Haapsalu.
In the shop, you will find exciting products from Estonian craftsmen. The shop offers a wide range of Estonian souvenirs, ceramics, gifts and products of local woodworkers. In addition, you will also find lovely knitwear from local craftsmen and much more. Buy a nice, warm sweater, a beautiful accessory for the kitchen, or a great board game to enjoy later at home.
The Mirimart product range has something for everyone.

Haapsalu Castle is an architectural gem built in the 13^th century, which until the end of the 17^th century was the seat of power for local authorities.
The museum in the main castle focuses on the history of the castle itself. You can learn about the construction of the castle, the birth of the town of Haapsalu, and the fate of the rulers and locals of the Bishopric of Ösel–Wiek. In order to better understand the life of that time, guests can try out different mechanisms. The passages on the walls offer a wonderful view of the castle and the picturesque town of Haapsalu.

Haeska Ceramics is located on the northern shore of Matsalu Bay. Margit Mald, a ceramist, lives and works there.
Most of her works are regular household items, burned at a high temperature of 1,260 degrees. The aim of the artist is to create simple products which turn to life when food is placed on them, creating positive emotions. Here, you will also find unique pottery, which gives you the opportunity to play with material, form, and technique.

Vormsi is an island where Swedes lived for centuries. Documents show that there was a settlement as early as in the 13th century. Vormsi was a Swedish-speaking island, where, for example, in 1934, 2,393 Swedes and 122 Estonians lived.
Vormsi Farm Museum is a typical pre-World War II farm of Estonian Swedish people. The farm has been restored with the help of old photographs, written sources, and the memories of the people of Vormsi who were born in Vormsi and fled Sweden to escape the war.
The museum sells Vormsi handicrafts, souvenirs, and Vormsi-themed books.

Haapsalu Art School Galleries offer diverse exhibitions of works by its pupils and other artists. There are new exhibitions every 3–4 weeks. There are three different types of galleries: the house, yard, and cellar gallery. The house gallery is open year-round, the yard gallery opens in April, and the cellar gallery can be visited from May.

The timber-laced Kuursaal resort hall and the bandstand on the seaside promenade were built at the end of the 19th century and are the only ones of the kind that have survived in their original shape. From the first half of the 20th century until present day, the resort hall has been the centre of summer activities in Haapsalu.
Interesting to know: in 1898, the house was practically under water; later, the small coves of the bay on both sides of the building were filled and the embankment got its present shape. The resort hall with the bandstand was a favourite place of the Russian emperor’s court and the aristocracy from St. Petersburg. During the Soviet time, the resort hall was used as a storehouse.
National Register of Cultural Monuments

Vormsi church which dates back to the 14th century and is the main memento of its history and culture – is located in the centre of the island, in Hullo. The church was unused for a long time after the Swedish escaped from the island in the end of World War II. The church was dedicated again on Olav’s Day in 1990.
Be sure to take a look at the characteristic square-shaped nave and have look at the old ceiling paintings in the altar room.
Interesting facts:
The first church in Vormsi was a wooden church.
* St. Olav’s church in Vormsi is unique for the fact that it has no belfry, the bell hangs above the door under the high ridge.
* There are two gnarled pine trees at the gate of the church – this is the place where the pillory stood.