Kuressaare

Kuressaare has a population of 12,000, over third of that of Saaremaa Island; the town was established by the Vikings in the 7th century. It became a spa town in the 19th century, when reserves of healing mud were found nearby; there are still many spa hotels here.

We have a guided tour of the attractions around the town on our tour bus before being dropped off at the triangular shaped town centre for a walking tour, being dropped off at Kuressaare Castle to do our own thing (see captions on photos).

Kuressaare Castle, aka Kuressaare Episcopal Castle or the Bishop's Castle, is the best preserved in the Baltic; it is Gothic in style, with a square building around a central courtyard. It was founded in 1260, but what we see today is from the 14th century and made from Dolomite sandstone; the bastions were added in the 16th and 17th centuries. It contains the Saaremaa Museum, dedicated to the nature and history of the island. It was an interesting visit.

After that, I walk around the bastions outside and up to the harbour area, taking many pictures, Then it's back across the beach to the very conveniently located hotel. I go back for a swim in Kuressaare Bay, the Baltic Sea, later on; it was lovely - not cold and not salt! A great day.Read more