Haapsalu

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In the 13th century Haapsalu became the centre of the Diocese of West Estonia and the Islands and the Episcopal castle was built here. Haapsalu received its town charter in 1279. By that time there was already the chapter house or the Small Castle and the Dome Church, the largest one-naved church in the Baltics. The construction of the castle, surrounded by a 803 metre long wall, was finally completed in early 16th century. Unfortunately the castle and the town were almost completely destroyed in the Livonian War (1560) and in the fire of 1688.


Haapsalu became a sea resort in the middle of the 19th century. The first mud bath was founded in 1825 on the initiative of Carl Abraham Hunnius. The news of the curative mud reached Tallinn and St.Petersburg and among the many visitors were the members of the Tsar family, the artist Nikolai Roerich, the composer Pjotr Tchaikovsky (memorial bench), as well as Estonian celebrities, the Finns, the Swedes and the Germans.

The old town on the peninsula has preserved its medieval street network and most of its turn-of-the-century wooden architecture. The oldest building is Jaani Church, a 15.th-century granary that was rebuilt as a church in 1524. The Eastern Orthodox Church dates from 1845. You could walk along the Promenade on the Tagalaht Bay with one of the loveliest wooden houses in the town, the well-preserved Kuursaal (1898). The railway station (1905) has the longest covered platform in Europe (216 m). The railway station houses the Estonian Railroad Museum, displaying many old engines and carriages.

Haapsalu has an excellent yacht marina and the lovely Paralepa beach.

The Castle Court is the venue for the numerous cultural events in summer. On a moonlight night in August one can see a white figure of a lady in one of the windows of the Dome Church - the so-called White Lady. The main event of the year, The Days of the White Lady in late August, is based on this legend. There are concerts, open-air performances and many sports events. The Days of the Old Haapsalu are in late June, in July there is a disco festival Karsummer. The new stadium is the venue for many sports events. 

In different ways you will also be reminded of the Swedish period and the Swedish speaking minority. When we visited the town we found posters in Swedish inviting to cultural events. Haapsalu has an old history as the "capital" for the Estonian Swedes. 

More information on Haapsalu can be found at:

ELLENnet

or

Haapsalu  information center
 Address: Raudtee 2, Haapsalu, 90504
Tel. +372 47 33 248
E-mail: info@haapsalu.tourism.ee