Attractions - Visit Haapsalu

Worth seeing in Haapsalu and Läänemaa

In the romantic small town of Haapsalu and small villages, hospitable people await you, surprising you with their sincerity and interest in history and culture. The guests who stayed here are remembered again and again with great respect.

Noarootsi Church

Noarootsi Church in late-Gothic style was built around 1500. You will first notice the Falu red plank roof – the church is one of the three plank-roof churches in Estonia. In the medieval times the lime and rubble stone building also had the function of being a fortified church.
Inside the church one should pay attention to the baptising stone, baroque pulpit, limestone baroque epitaph to Minister Martin Winter. Interesting facts: By the entrance there is a stone slab with royal autographs from the present King of Sweden – Carl XVI Gustav who visited Noarootsi in 1992. Across the road from the church you will see the oldest wooden building in Läänemaa – the parsonage originating from the 17th century.

Noarootsi kirikumõis, Hosby küla, Lääne-Nigula vald, Lääne maakond

Lääne-Nigula Church

Driving on the highway through Taebla you will see Lääne-Nigula Church. The building was restored in 1816, the steeple dates back to 1882. The height of the church is 52.2 metres of which the spire is 26.7 metres.
There is an old cemetery around the church. You will find the old crosses and headstones in the cemetery interesting. The present interior design of the church dates back to the 19th century. The magnificent Empire style altar wall was made by master Sigismund from St Petersburg. Interesting facts: The altar paintings “Last Supper” and “Resurrection” are copies of Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings.

Kivivare, Nigula küla, Lääne-Nigula vald, Lääne maakond

Österby jetty and fire station

The Österby fire station was originally built in the 1930s, but fully restored in 1998. It is a place that is closely connected to the social lives of the people who lived during the period of the first Estonian republic. The stone jetty, meanwhile, which is 265 metres long, was constructed in the early 20th century by local farmers.
Did you know…? *There was a regular boat service between Österby and Haapsalu until 1994

Österby sadam, Österby küla, Lääne-Nigula vald, Lääne maakond

Haapsalu Kaubamaja department store

Haapsalu Kaubamaja department store, located in the heart of Haapsalu, is home to a wide range of stores, interesting services, and different eateries. Coop shopping centre is located on the ground floor.

Tallinna mnt 1, Haapsalu linn, Haapsalu linn, Lääne maakond

Ungru Manor ruins

Ungru Manor is one of the most impressive neo-baroque buildings in Estonia, although the castle was never fully completed. It is an imposing building, which is an almost exact copy of the Merseburg Castle in Germany. Behind the construction of the manor was a sad love story:

Count Ungern-Sternberg fell in love with the daughter of the lord of Merseburg Castle, who had promised to spend her entire life in Merseburg Castle. The count promised to build an exact replica of the building and she agreed to move there. However, the construction stopped when the count’s lover suddenly fell ill and died.
These are mystical ruins in a beautiful place, making it a wonderful place for taking pictures!

Ungru loss, Kiltsi küla, Haapsalu linn, Lääne maakond

Saxby Lighthouse

Saxby lighthouse has a 27-metre-high beacon that controls the entrance to the Väinameri Sea archipelago and is an important aspect in the Vormsi island’s culture. The tower, built in 1864, is the oldest lighthouse assembled from cast-iron using the Gordon system. The tower was built at the same time as the Kihnu and Virtsu lighthouses and looks similar to them, which is why a legend from Kihnu island tells a story about the construction of lighthouses. It’s said that there are only three of lighthouses in the world: one on Kihnu island, the second on Vormsi island, and the third one at the bottom of the sea, which is said to have disappeared on a sea lane at an unknown location.
The lighthouse is open and offers a beautiful view of the Vormsi island’s Northwestern coast.

Vormsi tulepaak 596, Saxby küla, Vormsi vald, Lääne maakond