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.

The building of Läänemaa Upper Secondary School

The historic building has accommodated a school for almost 200 years, making it one of the oldest schools in Haapsalu. The oldest part of the schoolhouse was built at the end of the 18th century, the newest part in 1928. The completely renovated school that re-opened in 2013 is now called Läänemaa Upper Secondary School; formerly, it was named in the honour of linguist and scientist F. J. Wiedemann. Some years ago the schoolhouse got an extension – a sports hall, which is the most contemporary sports facility in town. One can cheer for their favourite team there, rent the gym for sport games, use the body building centre and the sauna. The building belongs in the National Registry of Cultural Monuments.

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Africa Beach and Promenade

The splendour of Haapsalu, the famous Czarist era resort, is brought to mind by the seafront Promenade and its jewel — the Assembly Hall with its wooden lattice designs. Walk on the sloping promenade and glance dreamily at the sea; check the time at the sundial and have a rest on the bench named for the world-famous composer Tchaikovsky. Interesting facts: The Promenade starts at the exotically named Africa Beach, and ends at the Chocolate Promenade, which is named after an old café. There is a children’s playground on the Promenade and the town’s only observation tower. There is also a monument to Carl Hunnius, the discoverer of Haapsalu’s therapeutic mud standing just behind the stage.

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St Olav’s Church in Vormsi

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.

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Church of St Prince Alexander Nevsky, Haapsalu

The church erected in 1896–1897 on the site of the old graveyard in Haapsalu was dedicated to Alexander Nevsky. A Moscow style tent roof crowned with a small onion dome and a vestibule with a belfry were added according to the project by architect A. F. Krassovsky from St. Petersburg. The original iconostasis based on the drawings by academician Šaub is now at the orthodox church in Kiviõli, where it was transferred in 1962 after the church was closed. The church was used as a venue for funerals all year round. A stove was built in the church in the middle of the 20th century and then it was used as the winter church. At the moment the Haapsalu Mary Magdalene (Alexander Nevsky) parish of the Estonian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate uses the church.

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Tchaikovsky’s Bench in Haapsalu

The world-famous Russian composer Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky stayed in Haapsalu in 1867. To commemorate him, a memorial bench was erected on the Šokolaadi Promenaad (Chocolate Promenade), where the maestro loved to watch the sunrise from the shore and marvel at the swans. Interesting to know: in Haapsalu, Tchaikovsky continued to work on his opera ‘Voyevoda’ and composed the cycle of piano pieces ‘Souvenir de Hapsal.’ After having heard the Estonian folk song “Dear Mary”, he later used the melody in his famous VI Symphony, the first notes of the tune were also carved into the dolomite memorial bench. Today, the bench is equipped with a technical solution with the aid of which you can listen to the composer’s music and information related to him.

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Ridala Baptist Chapel

This congregation is one of the fountains of awakening in Lääne County. The book “Ridala ärkamise ajalugu” (“History of the awakening of Ridala”) by M. Busch dates the breaking of bread in the midst of nature on 13 September 1882 as the first event of the congregation. P. Püssim is the architect of the new chapel, which was finished in 1988. The building follows the historical architecture of churches. The three south-north bound gable roofed sections of the building that rise and expand step by step make the building unique. Traditional ornamental church art and stained glass is used in the interior design. 

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