ABOUT HAAPSALU

The county capital, Haapsalu, was awarded town rights in 1279.

Haapsalu is 101 km from Tallinn, 184 km from Helsinki, 292 km from Riga, 399 km from St. Petersburg, 554 km from Stockholm, 593 km from Vilnius, 966 km from Moscow and 2280 km from Brussels.

Haapsalu is Estonia’s oldest resort, famous for its therapeutic mud – in which 51 people simultaneously bathed on the Promenade in 2010, setting a new world record.

All of the tsars who ruled Russia in the 19th century visited Haapsalu, inspiring such cultural giants as Tchaikovsky to do the same.

For almost 300 years (between 1279 and 1559) Haapsalu was the capital of an extensive bishopric directly linked to Rome and many other key European centres.

Sound in Haapsalu’s cathedral enjoys a duration of 11 seconds, providing outstanding acoustics for concerts.

The 216-metre platform at the historical railway station is completely covered from one end to the other.

The Haapsalu shawl is a true work of art, with a knit so fine that the entire article canfit through a person’s ring.

Ronja castle, from the illustrations of Swedish author Astrid Lindgren’s children’s books as drawn by Ilon Wikland, is similar to Haapsalu’s castle.

At Lääne County Museum you’ll see the world’s oldest preserved monument to Friedrich Schiller.

The world’s largest collection of circular crosses can be found in the graveyard at St.Olaf’s church on Vormsi – there are more than 300 in total.

At just 13.6 x 7.1 metres, the church in Nõva is one of the smallest in Estonia.

The sands on Nõva beach are said to sing – when you step on them, the friction between the grains produces a sound similar to that made when playing a violin.

The altar paintings in Lääne-Nigula church (The Last Supper and The Resurrection) are copies of paintings of the same name by Leonardo da Vinci

The Neugrund meteorite crater on the sea bed just off the island of Osmussaar measures 7 km in diameter, making it the biggest in the country.

Millions of aquatic birds make stops along the coast of the county in spring and autumn on their way to and from their nesting sites in the Arctic.

Matsalu National Park is the oldest Ramsar site of international importance in Estonia.

Haapsalu became the city in 1279 and this year celebrates 740th birthday. Haapsalu is the westernmost city in Estonia on the mainland. In the 1930s Haapslu was known as Northern Venice. Here have been on holidays the Scandinavian ministers and kings, the composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky and the Russian tsars. Peterburg - Tallinn - Haapsalu railway was also built in 1906 in Haapsalu after the St. Petersburg. The people of the city call Haapsalu city ofWhite Lady, where a white womans figure appears on the church window in August.

Silence, greenery, swans and the 700-year-old bishop's castle are the

trumps of Haapsalu. They are waiting for you.

Summertime - Haapsalu Culture programme2019

01.06. ITALIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL

Festival will bring Ricchi e Poveri and Riccardo Fogli to the resort town.

www.monstermusic.ee

12. – 14.07. AMERICAN BEAUTY CAR SHOW

American Beauty Car Show is an international event that is directed to american cars and culture lovers since 2001. American Beauty

Car Show is one of the most unique car events in nearby countries for it’s location and concept. The event consists of car

exhibition, reunion, drag race, glorious american car cruising through the city and of course entertainment by local and international bands.

www.america.ee

19. – 20. 07. ROCK IN HAAPSALU

The Rock Festival In Haapsalu is held for the third time and will bring jazz and pop star Katie Melua along with the romance king Chris de Burgh to Estonia.

www.rockinhaapsalu.ee

27. – 28.07. YOGA FESTIVAL

The national Yoga Festival, that is held in Haapsalu for the 8th time, will bring cosiness a magical atmosphere and life in nice tents to Haapsalus’s fortress. The main act is the charming yoga instructor and mucisian Justin Michael Williams from the USA.

www.joogafestival.ee

02. – 04.08. AUGUST BLUES FESTIVAL

August Bluesfest will transform Haapsalu into a paradise for blues lovers for the 26thyear. The main concerts of the festival will be held over two nights on the grounds of the ancient bishop’s castle. During day workshops are held, a traditional a coustictheconcert in the railway station and a poetry concert at the Kuursaal.

www.augustibluus.ee

16. – 18.08. THE WHITE LADY TIME AND HAAPSALU 740

During the closest weekend of August’s full moon Haapsalu’s old town will turn into abuzzing faigound where a colorful culture programme will be held from the earlyhours of the moring until the crach of dawn. When the darkness hits The White Lady open air show will be played at the Castle grounds. In addition to this Haapsalu’s 740th anniversary celebrations will be held.

www.kultuurimaja.ee

Open air show of White Lady at Castle grounds

Open air show of White Lady at Castle grounds

Festival of White Lady on the main street

The Kuursaal- the only wooden Resort Hall in Estonia to have retained itsoriginal design

Lace Centre – great knitters of famous Haapsalu Shawls and dresses

The world’s largest collection of circular crosses at graveyard at St. Olaf’schurch on Vormsi

St. Olaf’s church on Vormsi

Vormsi (Ormsö) in middle of the island

Läänemaa handmade jewelry