The Estonian city of Pärnu is a well-known and popular Baltic resort among tourists. Pärnu, the sights of which we will consider in our article below, is the fourth largest settlement in the republic. Pärnu attracts vacationers with its memorable architecture, modern spa complexes, rich nightlife and an overall great atmosphere. Today the city is considered the summer capital of Estonia. It is in the summer that it turns into one of the centers of tourism in Estonia, and in order to see a particular attraction, it is sometimes necessary to stand a long line.
The best churches in the city
If you decide to study in detail the city of Pärnu (sights), then you should start your acquaintance with its churches. There are many of them in the village, but the church of St. Catherine and the Church of St. Elizabeth.
The Church of St. Catherine is an active Orthodox religious building in the village. It was erected by order of Empress Catherine II. She also provided all kinds of support during construction work. But the church is dedicated not to the monarch, but to the holy martyr of Alexandria.
St. Elizabeth's Church is another temple worth seeing in Pärnu. Sights of this nature are best visited with a pure heart and in a good mood. After all, these are God's houses, and negative thoughts are inappropriate here. The Church of St. Elizabeth is one of the most beautiful baroque churches in the country. It is named after the Russian Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. The building is located in the old town. This is a red and white building, which in Estonia became the first Lutheran church. The consecration of the temple took place in the distant 1750. This church has a magnificent organ, which is considered one of the best in the Republic of Estonia.
City Hall
In every city there are objects that played a huge role in his life. Pärnu, whose sights we describe, was no exception. Here such a building is the Town Hall. In this institution, officials made many decisions that affected the fate of the village.
The Pärnu Town Hall was erected by the merchant P.R. Harder in 1797. The building at that time was the most representative in Pärnu. It is designed in the style of early classicism. Despite the fact that it was built at the end of the 18th century, it began to be used for its intended purpose only in 1839.
In 1911, an extension was made to the Town Hall - a modernist building with elements related to the neobarochny style.
Landmark of our century
Some of the sights of Pärnu (Estonia) were built in our century. So, in 2001, an avenue of sculptures was laid here. The first stone and bronze sculptures appeared here after the First International Sculpture Day was held in Pärnu.
In the park there are statues of American, Lithuanian, Icelandic, French, Finnish, Estonian, Latvian and Japanese sculptors. The statues are made of materials such as concrete, cast iron, steel and dolomite. Near the monuments there are tablets on which information about the masters who created them is indicated.
The symbol of the city
Each city has its own symbol. He is in Pärnu. All the attractions in this resort town can be considered its symbols. But there is one, a special talisman, at the mention of which tourists blur in a smile. This Kurzal is the largest inn in the country. Located on the seaside promenade of the city. Its construction dates back to 1880. Later a ringer was attached to the inn. Symphony concerts were arranged around her. After some time, the facility was converted into a casino.
Despite all the cataclysms experienced by the kursal, today it looks the same as before. The changes affected only the ringer, which was unsuccessfully restored in 1980, and it lost a large share of its ancient splendor.
Near Parnu
Some of the sights of Pärnu and the surrounding area are natural sites. For example, Kihnu island, an exotic, warm and cozy place where people wear national clothes every day. Here, the crafts of the older generations are held in high esteem. You can participate in various ceremonies on other small islands in the vicinity of the city.
Just eight kilometers from Pärnu is a wild beach. There is also a quiet seaside town in the vicinity, in which there is a bird ringing center.
What else to see
It is difficult to describe in detail all the places in Pärnu that deserve the attention of tourists. But you can make a list of the best attractions in Pärnu that you need to visit:
- Tallinn (Royal) gates are baroque incredibly beautiful gates, which are located on the site of the city's fortress wall. They lead towards the capital of Estonia, and Pärnu embankment starts from them.
- Pärnu City Museum is the main museum of the village. Sometimes very unusual exhibitions are organized here. For example, an exposition dedicated to alcoholic culture. The institution presents 11 centuries of history of the area.
- Pärnu mud baths are a symbol of the village as a resort area. You can find this building next to the beach. Every year people come here who want to improve their health and just breathe in the clean sea water.
- The Endla Theater. The institution was founded in 1911. Then it was located on Rüütli Square, where the Pärnu Theater operates today. During World War II, the Endla suffered significant damage. In 1967, a new building of the destroyed Endla Theater was erected in the central city square.
Here is a rough list of Pärnu attractions that you need to visit while in this amazing town.