Things to do in Laane County, Laane County: The Best Sights & Landmarks

Karuse church is one of the oldest sacral buildings in Laanemaa – it was built in the 1260s as a fortress-church for the Livonian Order.Inside the church you should pay attention to the Baroque-style pulpit and altar. When walking around the churchyard you will see the trapezoid headstones originating from the 13th century and wheel crosses dating back to the 17th century.Interesting facts:It is likely that the master of the Livonian Order who was killed near Karuse in the sea ice battle with the Lithuanians is buried in the church.

The original church of St Elizabeth in Lihula was destroyed in a battle between the German order and a bishop in 1297. A new church was then erected which remained standing until 1874, when its poor status saw it condemned. The current church was completed two years later, in 1876. Its altar, pews and chancellery were the work of a local master, Laurberg, while its baroque sculptures date from an even older church - as do its altar painting and one of its bells. The organ was made by a master builder by the name of Tanton.

Kirbla church built in the beginning of 6th century is one of the smallest stone churches in Estonia. Its length is 30 metres and its width 11 metres. According to the legend people could not agree on the location for the church. Finally heaven itself gave a sign and a sudden bolt of lightning struck Kirbla hill. Lightning had shattered a sacrifice stone as big as a sauna – this was the place where the church was built.Interesting facts:The church is unique for its varying size of windows and the position thereof. One window is in the north wall, the one in the west wall is round and the middle window in the south wall is narrower and higher compared to the others.The grave of the last Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia (1918-1940) – Juri Uluots – who died in Sweden in 1945 is in the churchyard.

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. Goseken’s epitaph and triumphal arch group.Interesting facts: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 Rohumagi – 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.

The Episcopal castle in Haapsalu is a park for the ruins of a former stronghold. It is an architectural pearl dating from the 13th century that used to be the residence of local authorities until the end of the 17th century. This is the place where Estonia's most famous ghost - the eternal lover the White Lady - lives. At present the main building of the castle hosts a museum that gives an overview of the history of the stronghold and Oesel-Wiek Bishopric, the weaponry used in the medieval and early modern period and the ashlar found in the castle. The most important sights of the museum include the cathedral of the former Oesel-Wiek Bishopric located in the south wing of the castle, which was first mentioned in written records in 1279, and the watchtower now used as a belfry. While in the main fortress, one can enjoy a nice view overlooking Haapsalu and the surrounding sea. Historic fortresses have, over the course of time, been turned into parks. This is a unique symbiosis of architecture and nature that provides the joy of discovery for both adults and as children. Small visitors to the fortress can enjoy the playground inspired by the Middle Ages in the vicinity of the main fortress.

Haapsalu, which is bordered by the sea on three sides, fits on a piece of land with a size of just 10.59 km2. The Old Town is located on a peninsula with two eskers, which continue to the north-west as a chain of islets (holms) connected to the mainland. There are low meanders between the holms – Suur and Vaike Viik.The culturally and environmentally valuable Old Town of Haapsalu can be divided into its medieval section and the 20th century health resort area. The medieval part is around the Episcopal castle, with the medieval network of Kooli, Jaani, Vee, Linda, Ruutli and Vaike-Mere Streets and buildings. It is surrounded by a belt of wooden houses and the Promenade, Aafrika beach and parks.

On the Promenade make a stop at the monument to Carl Abraham Hunniuse (1797-1851), who established the resort of Haapsalu. Dr, Hunnius was the first to notice that the local residents used the sea mud to find relief for their ailments and was inspired to start investigating the properties of the mud. At his initiative, the first therapeutic mud baths were established in Haapsalu in 1825. Interesting fact: Haapsalu was named an Imperial resort, and Russian Tsars Nicholas I, Alexander II, Alexander III and Nicholas II and their families all vacationed here and took the mud baths.Come and try a Haapsalu therapeutic mud bath in the Laine and Fra Mare Spa hotels!

The ruins of the Ungru manor used to represent one of the most impressive Neo-Baroque buildings in Estonia, although it never was really finished. Its sophisticated footprint and the numerous baroque volute ornaments on its gables are characteristic for the castle.Interesting to know:The Ungru Manor was an almost exact copy of the Merseburg castle in Germany. After World War II the manor fell into the hands of Soviet troops, in 1968 the chief of the airport decided to use the ruins of the manor to fill in the holes in the runway. About one third of the manor was torn down, fortunately the rest was preserved until today.Compare the neat ruins of the manor to the contrasting Soviet airfield remains next to them

The splendour of Haapsalu, the famous Czarist era resort, is recalled by the seafront Promenade and its jewel -- the Assembly Hall with its wooden “gingerbread”. 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 a former 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 behind the band shell.

The Estonian Orthodox Maria Magdaleena Church is located in an idyllic area of Haapsalu – on the Promenade. Russian Tsar Alexander II attended the opening of the church in 1852. The church was restored to its present state only a few years ago. The church is open on Sundays from 9 am to noon. To visit at other times, please contact us in advance.Interesting fact: The church and the surrounding buildings are depicted in Ilon Wikland’s book Long, Long Journey. Ilon Wikland, who was the illustrator of Astrid Lindgren’s books, describes her Haapsalu childhood in the book.