The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Saare County, Saare County

The Kuressaare episcopal castle, also known as the Kuressaare Castle, was built in the 14th century. Today, the castle houses the Saaremaa Museum which is devoted to the island’s nature and history. A large part of the fun is exploring the warren of chambers, halls, passages and stairways, apt to fuel anyone’s fantasies. One room near the bishop’s chamber looks down to a dungeon where, according to legend, condemned prisoners were dispatched to be devoured by hungry lions (recorded growls reinforce the mental image). Legend also tells of a knight’s body found when a sealed room was opened in the 18th century, which has given rise to varying accounts of how he met his tragic fate. Upon discovery the knight’s body dissolved into dust but don’t worry, it’s since been re-created. There’s also interesting coverage of daily life under the USSR, including the interior of a typical apartment. On the top floor, the museum has wonderful views over the bay and surrounding countryside.

Kuressaare Castle-Fortress is built in the 14th century. Today, the castle houses the Saaremaa Museum. Saaremaa Museum is one of the oldest (founded in 1865) and biggest museums in Estonia and is visited by 70 000-80 000 people every year. As a county museum its main function is to preserve and strengthen the identity of Saaremaa as a region with extraordinary nature, history and culture. The museum tries to exhibit the essence of the castle and tells its story to the whole world.

Muhu Church has been mentioned in chronicles since 1267. The church is a beautiful building in early Gothic style. The interior of Muhu Church boasts high ceilings with high domical arches and cross vaults in the choir section. Fragments of murals that date back to the 1330s have been preserved on the northern and eastern walls of the church’s choir room.You can see a rare trapeze-shaped grave plate from the 13th or the 13th century in the church wall above the door leading to the staircase.Interesting facts:Muhu Church is one of the rural churches with the most beautiful proportions in Estonia.The pulpit of Muhu Church is one of the oldest in Saare County.The church has also been used as a defence facility.

The maximum height of the cliff is 21.3 m. The cliff runs for about 2.5 km. Panga Cliff stands as a slate wall reaching up straight from the beach. Interestingly, couple of hundred meters from the cliff in the sea there is a steep slope. The location of the slope becomes visible on stormy days as line of foamy waves. Good to know: Panga Cliff is the highest of all Saaremaa and Muhu northern coast cliffs. The cliffs of Saaremaa are all slate cliffs. On the highest point of the Panga cliff there is an ancient ritual site where people sacrificed for the sea.

The establishment of housing and landscape gardening got into full speed in the second half of the 19th century when Kuressaare became thanks to discovery of medical mud one of the spa cities of Estonia. For park establishment and administration in 1861 was formed a park committee. Versatile help was offered by residents who donated money, seedlings and gave for work horses and vehicles. In 1930 new rare types of trees that were ordered from Tartu University were planted in town park. The plant life of park is rich, here you can find around 80 species of trees and bushes.Interesting to know:Town park is a former cemetery.

In 1646 Livonian governor general Gabriel Oxenstierna had a primitive lighthouse – a beacon – built on a little island located at the tip of Sorve Peninsula. Autumn storms showed that the small island selected for the beacon was unsuitable and the beacon was relocated to the tip of Sorve Peninsula. A stone tower was established there in 1770, but it was destroyed in the Second World War. The present cone-shaped lighthouse of monolithic concrete was built in 1960.Interesting facts: • The height of Sorve Lighthouse from its foot is 52 metres and it is 53 metres above sea level.

Quaint village with windmills.