Events - Visit Haapsalu

Things are happening in 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.

Telise marker towers

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.

Telise küla / Tällnäs, Lääne-Nigula vald, 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

Vormsi Cemetery

Vormsi Cemetery right next to St Olav’s Church on the island of Vormsi is one of the most unique cemeteries in Estonia. In the older part of the cemetery you will find many limestone and sandstone wheel crosses. More than 330 wheel crosses have survived and there are many crosses of ordinary shapes.
Interesting facts: There are two memorial stones in the churchyard – one for the Estonian-Swedish cultural figure Hans Pöhl, and the other for the Swedish missionary Österblom who brought about fundamental changes in the local religious life. Try to find the oldest grave stone in the cemetery originating from 1743. Outside the churchyard you can see one of the few freedom monuments in Estonia which stood in its place through the whole of the Soviet era.

Kiriku, Hullo küla, Vormsi vald, Lääne maakond

Haapsalu Church of Mary Magdalene

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.

Linda tn 2, Haapsalu linn, Haapsalu linn, 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

Ernst Enno Monument

Poet Ernst Enno came to Haapsalu in 1919, when he became a school adviser in Lääne County. His Haapsalu period was not the peak of his career, but it was here that he wrote his best children’s songs. If you are walking on the Haapsalu embankment stop by the park named for him and monument dedicated to him.

Interesting facts: Ernst Enno’s grave is in Haapsalu’s Old Cemetery, where many famous cultural figures rest under the indigenous trees. The author of the monument is Roman Haavamägi, whose is famous for his sculptures, including monuments that are located primarily in Haapsalu.

Õhtu kallas 31, Haapsalu linn, Haapsalu linn, Lääne maakond