Fortresses/strongholds, ancient sites
Castles and manor houses
Churches
Memorials and monuments
Nature reserves and National parks
Nature sites
Architectural monuments

Haapsalu was granted the rights of town in 1279 and nowadays it is the administrative centre of Lääne County. Its main attraction is the episcopal castle that today accommodates a museum and a café, and hosts plays and concerts in its courtyard. At full moon in August a translucent figure of a woman – the White Lady – appears in the window of the baptistery of Dome Church, the largest one-nave church in the Baltics. The old city centre is characterised by a miniature town hall and romantic wooden dwelling houses. By the seaside Promenade stands Kuursaal, one of the finest wooden buildings in Estonia, which houses a summer restaurant. The first mud spa opened its doors in Haapsalu in 1825. Haapsalu was the favourite holiday spot for the family of Russian czars and the famous composer Peter Tchaikovsky among others. Today, people are attracted to Haapsalu by its historic and maritime ambience and by the Paralepa beach.

 

Haapsalu was a source of inspiration for Ilon Wik­land who grew up here and later illustrated the children’s books of the world famous Swedish writer Ast­rid Lind­gren. From the 13th century until World War II there was a large Swedish community in West Estonia, which ­explains why so many locations in the area have Swedish names. To get a glimpse of the culture and history of the people called Coastal Swedes, you can visit special museums in Haap­salu and Saa­re (Lyckholm).

 

The landscape in Noarootsi is dotted with low lakes and thickets of reeds – tens of thousands of birds touch down here in their spring migration. One will find nice beaches in Österby and by the Roosta Resort and can visit Noa­rootsi Tavern in Pürk­si for a meal. The island of Vormsi with its juniper fields, seaside meadows, erratic boulders and lighthouses is best toured on a bicycle or on foot. The graveyard of Vorm­si Church (1632) is famous for numerous ancient circular crosses.

 

Matsalu National Park is a real paradise for bird watchers: it is an important migration stopover and nesting place for birds. 275 species of birds, 49 species of fish and 47 species of mammals have been recorded here. More information on hiking trails, bird-watching towers and boat rides is available in the centre of the national park in Penijõe. Characteristic of Marimetsa Nature protection Area is a bog with numerous pools, sand dunes covered with pine forest, a boardwalk hiking route and observation towers.

 

People interested in history should visit the well-preserved Koluvere Order Castle, medieval churches in Kullamaa and Ridala, and the museum of local history in Lihula Manor House. There are vast expanses of land in Lääne­maa and it is a nice area for just wandering around in the fields of junipers or at the seaside.