Page 104 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

102  EST ONIA REGION B Y REGION

9 Pärnu equally opulent interior.
Intended as an architectural
Often referred to as Estonia’s summer capital, Pärnu has showpiece, St Catherine’s had
historic buildings, pastel-coloured wooden houses and a significant influence on
elegant late 19th-century villas set along leafy streets. The Orthodox churches through -
town centre is situated on an estuary between the Pärnu river out the Baltic States.
and the Baltic Sea, with all the main sights located within F Pärnu Concert Hall
walking distance. The Old Town is centred around the Aida 4. Tel 445 5800. Open 10am–
pedes trianized Rüütli Street, with the most pop ular beach a 6pm Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm Sat (box
10-minute walk away. With an ultra-modern concert hall and office). & 7 = ∑ concert.ee
high-quality theatre, Pärnu also has an exciting cultural scene. The Pärnu Concert Hall is a
source of great pride for local
people. The curvaceous glass
P Town Hall and steel building is a strong
Uus 4/Nikolai 3. example of modern archi tecture
The elegant Neo-Classical in the country and compares
building that is now the Town favourably with similar
Hall was erected in 1797 as a structures in other European
wealthy merchant’s residence. cities. Its seashell-like shape was
In 1819, the structure was intended to symbolize Pärnu’s
slightly altered to serve as the status as a coastal town. The
house for the town’s governor multifunct ional building mostly
and, in 1839, it took on its hosts theatre performances and
current function as Pärnu’s Town concerts, although it also
Hall. What makes it worth houses an art gallery, music
visiting is the magni ficent Art school and music shop.
Nouveau extension built in
1911. Its brooding dark exterior P Tallinn Gate
is in total con trast to the bright Mere pst.
yellow façade of the original The only trace of the 17th-
struc ture and provides a century ramparts that protected
fascinating juxtaposition of Green domes and yellow walls of Pärnu at one time, Tallinn Gate
two radically different St Catherine’s Church still offers a significant glimpse
architectural styles. of the once impressive
R St Catherine’s Church fortifications. Until 1710, when
R Elizabeth’s Church Vee 16. Tel 444 3198. Open 9am– Swedish rule came to an end,
Nikolai 22. Tel 443 1381. Open Jun– 5pm daily. 5 it was known as Gustav’s Gate,
Aug: 10am–6pm daily, Sep–May: Built in 1768 for the Pärnu named after King Gustav
10am–2pm Mon–Fri. 5 garrison during the reign of Adolphus of Sweden
∑ eliisabet.ee Catherine the Great, St (1594–1632).
Another excellent example of Catherine’s Church (Ekateriina Today, the Tallinn Gate’s only
local Baroque architecture, kirik) is arguably the finest function is to provide an elegant
Elizabeth’s Church (Eliisabeti Baroque church in Estonia. With portal between the Old Town
kirik) has an elegant ochre bottle-green domes and lemon- and the area leading to the sea.
exterior and a maroon spire yellow walls, the church boasts The cobble stoned passageway
towering above the surroun- an elegant exterior and an offers a pleasant walk.
ding narrow side streets. It was
founded specifically as a
Lutheran church, in 1747, by
the Russian Empress Elizabeth
(1709–61). Today, it serves as
the largest Protestant place of
worship in Pärnu.
The wood-panelled interior is
refined and understated, but all
the more impressive for it. The
church’s spire was built by
Johann Heinrich Wülbern, who
also const ructed Rīga’s St Peter’s
Church. Elizabeth’s Church is
also renowned for its organ,
one of the best in Estonia, built
in 1929 by H Kolbe. Verdant setting of the Tallinn Gate, formerly known as Gustav’s Gate
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp297–8 and pp316–18

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