Things are happening in Läänemaa
In the romantic small town of Haapsalu and small villages, hospitable people await you, surprising you with their sincerity and interest in history and culture. The guests who stayed here are remembered again and again with great respect.
Läänemaa tour for families with children
Läänemaa and Haapsalu are quiet and peaceful, making it popular among families with children. Every member of the family can have fun in the playgrounds and drawing or crafting in Ilon’s Wonderland.
The castle and the medieval playground in the moat are also exciting for the whole family to discover.
During the hot summer days, families can spend their holiday on Paralepa beach, where you can snorkel in the shallow and warm seawater or rent a boat.
Tasting at Tänava Farm
Tänava Farm, with its stone buildings and old apple orchard, is located on the edge of Matsalu National Park. A young family lives on the farm, keeping a variety of animals and birds – the farm’s pastures are home to Scottish mountain cattle, sheep, and goats. The farm’s apple orchard and berry-field, with its surrounding meadows and lawns, provides raw materials for many different syrups and preserves, as well as drinks.
When visiting Tänava Farm, you can get acquainted with the activities and works of the farm, see different animals and birds, and taste the best the farm has to offer. It is possible to have lunch or dinner on the farm upon reservation.
Tour from Haapsalu to Marimetsa
This tour and Marimetsa bog will lead you on the paths of ancient nature. When coming from Haapsalu, you will also pass Ants Laikmaa Museum and Pikajala Hill in Palivere, the highest point in Lääne County, which offers a wonderful nature view. From Risti, you can go on the Marimetsa Bog Hiking Trail. The trail is wet in some places, which is why you should definitely wear your rubber boots. The trail cannot be passed by bicycle.
The oldest building in Kullamaa is a church from the 13th century and the Koluvere castle / water castle. Today, the castle is privately owned and you can eat at the restaurant in the summer.
On the way back, be sure to visit the ruins of Ungru Castle and Kiltsi airfield by Rohuküla Road.
Railway and Communications Museum
The former terminal station of the railway was constructed between 1903 and 1905 to serve the resort town of Haapsalu. With its mysterious and grandiose station building, it invites you to discover the nearly century and a half of Estonian railways and out-of-commission trains.
While travelling through time in the old station with an unusually long roofed platform and a royal pavilion, you can hear the sound of a locomotive and meet the courteous station master from the 1930s.
In addition, we welcome you on a trip through the fascinating world of telecommunications and to explore the development and history of communication devices from telegraphy and crank telephone to mobile phones and computers.
Tchaikovsky’s Bench in Haapsalu
The world-famous Russian composer Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky stayed in Haapsalu in 1867. To commemorate him, a memorial bench was erected on the Šokolaadi Promenaad (Chocolate Promenade), where the maestro loved to watch the sunrise from the shore and marvel at the swans.
Interesting to know: in Haapsalu, Tchaikovsky continued to work on his opera ‘Voyevoda’ and composed the cycle of piano pieces ‘Souvenir de Hapsal.’ After having heard the Estonian folk song “Dear Mary”, he later used the melody in his famous VI Symphony, the first notes of the tune were also carved into the dolomite memorial bench. Today, the bench is equipped with a technical solution with the aid of which you can listen to the composer’s music and information related to him.