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St Bartholomews Lutheran Church
Another star of the movie adaptation of Kevade, this lovely Gothic church has its roots in the 13th century, although it has been substantially altered over time. Its most interesting feature is a carved wooden pulpit from 1696, festooned with saints and angels.
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Tuhkana
Tucked away within pine forest, Tuhkana is one of Saaremaa’s best sandy beaches, due in large part to its remoteness. To get here from Leisi, head west for 11km to Metsküla and turn right onto the unsealed road. After about 3km, look for a parking area on your left.
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Pikk Maja
The Long House was once home to the cloth-factory bigwigs but now has displays related to the factory, including a reconstructed workers cottage. Also featured is work by local artists and upstairs theres a collection of Estonian military and civil service medals.
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Ilon’s Wonderland
Showcasing the works of Estonian-Swedish illustrator Ilon Wikland, who spent her childhood in Haapsalu and is best known for her illustrations for the Pippi Longstocking books, this gallery is fabulously set up for kids, with many artworks hung at their viewing level.
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Vormsi Farm Museum
The island’s Swedish heritage is kept alive in this restored farmstead, including the inhabitants’ distinctive fashion sense (the women wore chunky red socks to emphasise their ankles as strong legs were a sex symbol; nobody wanted a wife who couldn’t perform heavy manual work).
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St Nicholas Orthodox Church
Built in 1827 on the site of an earlier church, St Nicholas was the focal point for the Russian traders that Vene street was named for. It’s known for its precious iconostasis.
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Võru County Museum
Housed in one of the town’s ugliest buildings, this museum has mildly interesting exhibits on regional history and culture. Captions are in Estonian and Russian but an English translation booklet is provided. Theres also a gallery which displays temporary exhibitions of mainly loca
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Rudolf Tobias House Museum
On the western edge of Käina, the humble 1840 wood-and-thatch home of Rudolf Tobias (1873–1918), composer of some of Estonia’s first orchestral works, has been preserved in his memory. There’s no English signage but the staff do their best to point things out. There’s a windmill ou
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Old Believers Museum
There’s not much in this little private museum in Kolkja village but it’s interesting to read about the seemingly minor liturgical changes that caused such bloodshed. Its tricky to find – turn left at the Estonian flag, continue past the blue-painted restaurant and turn right at th
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Aparaaditehas
It was still part abandoned building, part construction site when we last visited, but this old factory complex could be well worth checking out. Plans are afoot to turn it into a hip dining, drinking, shopping and cultural hub akin to the extremely popular Telliskivi Creative City
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Angel’s & Devil’s Bridges
The approach from Raekoja plats is along Lossi, which passes beneath the Angel’s Bridge (Inglisild), which was built between 1836 and 1838 – follow local superstition and hold your breath and make a wish as you cross it for the first time. A bit further up the hill is Devil’s Bridg
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Paralepa Forest Park
On the western edge of town, beyond the train station, this shady park has a popular beachfront which, despite being a bit swampy, attracts plenty of sunseekers. In summer theres a cafe and a kiosk which rents rowboats. To get to the beach, follow the signs towards Fra Mare Thalass
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Panga Pank
Saaremaa’s highest cliffs run along the northern coast near Panga for 3km. The highest point (21.3m) was a sacred place where sacrifices were made to the sea god; gifts of flowers, coins, vodka and beer are still sometimes left here. It’s a pretty spot, looking down at the treacher
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Market Square
For a Soviet-era plaza, Tartus expansive main square is actually pretty cool. Big yellow steel lamps arch over pebble circles and fountains, and theres a whimsical statue of composer Arvo Pärt pictured as a young boy holding his bicycle. Around its perimeter youll find cafes and th
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Viljandi järv
Accessed by a steep path leading down from Pikk street, the lake is a popular place for a swim on warm summer days. All the usual hallmarks of the Estonian beach are here (volleyball court, cafes, boat rental) and there’s a swimming platform just offshore. Come Midsummers Eve, its
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Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God
When we visited a new layer of bling was being added to this cute 19th-century Orthodox church, with its elegant onion domes in the process of being gilded. It contains the relics of Sergius Florinsky, a local priest who was shot in 1918 by local communists, now regarded as a saint
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Maasilinnus
The German knights built this castle, 4km north of Orissaare, during the 14th to 16th centuries. It was blown up by the Danes in 1578 to prevent the Swedes from taking it, leaving behind a jumble of stones by a pretty reed-lined shore. Indulge your inner archaeologist by exploring
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Africa Beach
People still take to the waters at this pint-sized beach, despite the water being murky and full of weeds. It earned its name from the statues of wild animals which used to grace the shoreline (and which were sadly used as firewood by Soviet soldiers in the 1940s). There’s an excel
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Koidula Museum
The memory of one of Estonia’s poetic greats, Lydia Koidula (1843–86), is kept alive in this modest six-room museum in her former home/schoolhouse. The old classroom and the antique-strewn living room and bedrooms are moderately interesting, even if you’re not all that enthused abo
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Viljandi Museum
Facing the old market square, this modest two-storey museum has displays tracing Viljandi’s history from the Stone Age to the mid-20th century. There are folk costumes, stuffed animals, old photos of the city, Viking-era jewellery and a mock-up of what the original castle probably
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