Page 100 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

98 EST ONIA REGION B Y REGION

Exploring Saaremaa Island little room where the resident
bishop could retire for
The best way to explore Saaremaa Island is by car. The island’s reflection, and a particularly
size makes it difficult to visit the major sights by bicycle, while eye-catching medieval lavatory.
public transport is extremely limited and erratic. Saaremaa
has excellent, well-signposted roads on the whole, although Kaali Meteor Crater
Kaali. @ from Kuressaare
bumpy dirt tracks are common in the more remote parts. to Kõnnu, 15 km (9 miles) NE, then
The majority of visitors stay in Kuressaare but there is an walk for 3 km (2 miles). n Kaali
abundance of excellent farmstead-style guesthouses Visitors’ Centre, 459 1184. 0 =
∑ kaali.kylastuskeskus.ee
scattered throughout Saaremaa for a more authentic
experience of rustic island life. All the major sights are The meteor crater at Kaali is
arguably one of the most
within comfortable driving distance of the capital.
extra ordinary geological sights
in Estonia. At first glance, it
appears to be a small lake, until
visitors notice the perfectly
rounded banks above the water
and the protruding shards of
dolomite that were thrown up
by the impact.
Scientists estimate that the
meteor struck sometime
between 4,000 and 7,500 years
ago. With a diameter of 110 m
(360 ft), the crater is the eighth-
largest in the world, and it
exudes atmos phere, inspiring
visitors to look upwards.
P Angla Windmills
Buildings interspersed with greenery in the attractive town of Kuressaare 15 km (9 miles) N of Kaali.
@ from Kuressaare.
Kuressaare out of local dolo mite, it is a Lined up along the Upa–Leisi
* 16,000. k 4 km (2 miles) SW of spectacular sight, as visitors road, the five Angla Windmills
town centre. n Tallinna 2. _ St John’s approach it through the (Angla tuulikud) are the last
Eve (23 Jun). ∑ kuressaare.ee surrounding landscaped park. remaining group of windmills in
This small, attractive and serene The castle houses the intriguing Saaremaa. In the mid-19th
town epitomizes the spirit of Saaremaa Regional Museum, century, there were 800 work ing
Saaremaa. Kuressaare’s main whose labyrinthine interior is windmills on the island. Four of
thorough fare, Lossi, which turns a joy to explore. The exhibits the Angla Windmills are
into Tallinna, is lined with a about Saaremaa are well constructed on the tradi tional
stunning stretch of beautiful arranged and offer a vivid Saaremaa model, while the
buildings, including the green- account of the island’s largest is a wooden ver sion of a
domed St Nicholas’s Church epic history. Dutch windmill. Together, they
(Nikolai kirik) and the step- Highlights of the castle form a mes merizing sight amid
gabled Weigh House, which include the Bishop’s Living the wide open landscape.
now serves as a pub known as Quarters with a dingy, spartan Although the windmills are not
Vaekoja. Most of all, though, the
town makes a delightful place
for a stroll, especially on a
pleasant evening.
P Bishop’s Castle
Lossihoov 1, Kuressaare. Tel 455 7542.
Open May–Aug: 10am–6pm daily;
Sep–Apr: 11am–6pm Wed–Sun.
& 8 call in advance. -
∑ saaremaamuuseum.ee
Dating back to the 14th century,
the Bishop’s Castle (Piisko-
pilinnus) in Kuressare is one of
the best-preserved medieval
castles in the Baltic States. Built The Bishop's Living Quarters set in the lush grounds of the Bishop’s Castle
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp297–8 and pp316–18