Estonia - small and very cozy - is waiting for you to relax on the picturesque shores of the Baltic. You will find a rich excursion program and treatment at mineral springs. Rest here has several advantages. This is proximity to Russia. In addition, almost everyone here speaks Russian. But the article presents the sights of Haapsalu.
general description
How can this small town deserve the attention of tourists? There are many reasons for this. Haapsalu attractions can be listed all day. A tiny but very cozy town is ready to offer you a lot of options for relaxation. In addition, other small towns and villages are located nearby, which have their own interesting places. Getting to them by bus is not difficult.
The history of this city began in the XI century. At the same time, many ancient buildings that are worth visiting are preserved. There are three mud baths that offer their services to tourists.
Haapsalu Castle
Located in the west of Estonia. It was founded in the middle of the XIII century and was once used as a defensive structure. The reconstruction of the castle continued for several centuries, which today makes it an object of close study. Wall thickness reaches 2 meters in some places. There is also a watchtower, whose height is 29 meters. Later it began to be used as a bell tower. The museum opened in the castle is especially interesting. Medieval guns and ammunition are on display here for tourists.
Matsalu National Park
This is Haapsalu's most attractive attraction. Photos taken here will remind you of a wonderful excursion for a long time to come. The park covers an area of 486 square meters. km Three hiking trails are laid here, but public transport runs along only one of them. There is a huge number of birds, about 270 species live in total. The park has towers that allow you to watch them. In addition to birds, roe deer, elk, raccoon dogs and foxes, as well as hares, live here. You can explore the park by boat, by bicycle or by bus.
Toy museum
Haapsalu attractions cannot be considered without this museum, because both children and adults love it. Pleasant atmosphere and rich exposure return adults to childhood. The museum building at the beginning of the XIX century was the estate of the county of Tartu. By the way, the journey from Haapsalu to the museum will take no more than 3 hours. To date, the building has been completely renovated, its original appearance has been recreated.
The toy collection consists of more than 6,000 dolls and other models. Ancient Estonian toys for children are widely represented. The museum has a room for games and skills, various programs are organized here that will make the visit unforgettable.
Rakvere Castle
Continuing to explore Haapsalu attractions, you should visit this castle, which is located in northern Estonia. And he appeared here in the XIII century. Throughout history, it has been rebuilt several times by different owners. In the XVIII century, its ruins were used as a quarry, but later they acquired special significance. The castle has become a picturesque place for walks and picnics. In 1975, work began on the restoration of the castle. Today it is one of the main attractions of Haapsalu.
You can walk along this fortress on your own or accompanied by guides. Here the atmosphere of the Middle Ages was very successfully recreated. The controllers are dressed in the appropriate outfits, and small workshops have been opened around the entire perimeter, where you can not only see and touch everything, but also try your hand at this art. Inside the castle there is a dungeon and a room of fear. This is a torture room filled with torture tools. The next room is a crypt with the dead and, finally, hell, where even the floor walks with a shaker. There are still many castles and bastions, but if you want to meet one day, you will not be able to visit everything.
Dark garden
It is a favorite place for locals and tourists in Estonia. The sights of Haapsalu can be divided into what nature has created and the creations of human hands. The Dark Garden is an example of landscape architecture of the 19th century. There are trees that are over 100 years old. The park has a monument, which is a cast-iron cross. This is the memory of the dead Russian soldiers. There is another outstanding sculpture here. This is a Swedish lion, which is installed in memory of the battle of Russians and Swedes near Narva.
Pyukhtitsky Assumption Convent
This is one of Haapsalu's most visited attractions. The photo with the description does not convey the whole charm of the atmosphere of this monastery. According to legend, the Mother of God once appeared at this place to a shepherd and presented an icon. In gratitude, a chapel was laid here in the 16th century. It was destroyed and rebuilt many times, and later a monastery was founded here. In Soviet times, he was the only one of the existing monasteries throughout its territory. Today, about 150 nuns live here. You can book a tour of the monastery, during which you will be shown the cells and the refectory, they will tell about the life of its inhabitants.
Botanical Garden
The leader, Professor G.N. Hermann was a passionate and enthusiastic researcher. Thanks to his efforts, the garden reached an enormous size of 3.5 hectares. Here you can see a collection of monocotyledonous plants and visit the huge palm greenhouse. But that is far from all. Here you can see valuable species of trees. Many in the garden and ornamental plants. This is a huge collection of irises and peonies, a rose garden, a subtropical greenhouse, in which succulents occupy a separate place. It seems that even in Sochi there is no such diversity of plants. This may be an exaggeration, but there are a huge number of plants. The park is especially good in the spring-summer season. The smell from the variety of flowering plants is such that it just makes you dizzy. Yes, and flowerbeds look very elegant.
Often, tourists coming to Estonia ask what to see in one day? Haapsalu is a small town, but it and the suburbs, as well as neighboring cities, are rich in unique and simply interesting places, as well as architectural monuments.