Page 114 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

112  EST ONIA REGION B Y REGION

Exploring Lahemaa National Park since the late 19th century. The
resort is 2 km (1 mile) long and
The sheer size of Lahemaa National Park makes getting packed with elegant wooden
around it by bike or car the best option. When driving to houses from end to end.
Lahemaa along the Tallinn-Narva Highway, turn off at the The most distinctive building
crossroads at Viitna and head north towards Palmse village, in the village is the old Fire
Tower, which now houses an art
where there is a National Park Visitors’ Centre. From Palmse, it gallery. Its beach, with Blue Flag
is a relatively short drive to all the main villages, sites and status, is also one of the most
areas of natural beauty. Käsmu and Võsu make convenient attrac tive along the north coast.
hiking and cycling bases, with plenty of good accommodation, With its soft white sand and
although most places are often booked up well in advance pine-fringed dunes, it offers
gentle shade during the hot
during summer.
summer days. It is also a
con venient base for further
explo rations of Oandu and Altja.
} Käsmu
16 km (10 miles N of Palmse.) * 130.
0- Käsmu Maritime Museum:
Tel 323 8136. Open May–Sep:
10am–7pm daily; Oct–Apr:
10am–5pm Mon–Fri. ∑ kasmu.ee
Approximately 6 km (4 miles)
long and 3 km (2 miles) wide,
Käsmu village is situated on the
smallest of the four penin sulas
in Lahemaa National Park. It is
often referred to as the prettiest
Regal interior of the ornately decorated Palmse Manor House village in the region due to its
proudly kept homesteads.
P Palmse Manor House landscaped. In summer, visitors Käsmu has a history as a
8 km (5 miles) N of Viitna. Tel 324 can take a boat tour of the shipbuilding cen tre of repute
0070. Open May–Sep: 10am–7pm serene Swan Lake and soak up in the 19th century, while the
daily, Oct–Apr: 10am–6pm daily. & the surrounding tranquility. largely ice-free bay made it a
8 call in advance. 7 0 - regular place of anchor in winter.
∑ palmse.ee } Võsu A maritime school was set up
The attractive village of Palmse 8 km (5 miles) N of Palmse. in the village in 1884 and the
is the ideal starting point for a * 480. @ from Tallinn. 0 - building now houses the
tour of the enchan ting Lahemaa ∑ keskkonnaamet.ee/lahe Käsmu Maritime Museum.
National Park. It also has a well- A charming and quiet little The museum’s emphasis is on
run visitors’ centre. The focus of coastal village, Võsu is a popular the 1920s and 30s through
the village is the splendid holiday resort. Its peaceful World War II and the Soviet era,
Palmse Manor House, an ambience and stun ning natural and it has an eclectic collection
elegant Baroque building that beauty have made it a favourite of artifacts honouring the
origi nally served as a Cistercian summer getaway for families village’s seafaring past.
convent. In 1677, it became the Käsmu is also called the
family home of the von Pahlens, Captain’s Village, because of the
a leading family of Baltic barons. 62 captains who resided here
Today, the manor house between World War I and World
serves as a museum, offering War II. It was decimated by the
an interesting overview of the Soviets in the 1940s, with many
estate’s history. The old distill ery families sent to Siberia and
has been converted into a hotel others fleeing across the sea.
with an excellent res taurant, Today, the village enjoys a
while a lovely café now reputation as one of the best
occupies the bathhouse. holiday resorts in the park.
The manor house runs a wine It also boasts a fascinating
tour, where visitors can enjoy a coastline strewn with giant
glass of sparkling wine or locally erratic boulders, a large
produced wine made from scattering of which lie in a
berries grown in the nearby stone field near the village. This
Brest Pavilion. The manor Tourists enjoying themselves at the is the highlight of the famous
grounds are beautifully pine-fringed beach in Võsu Käsmu Boulder Walk (see p114).
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp298–9 and pp318–19

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