When the notorious iron curtain collapsed, we were surprised to find out how many interesting and unexplored places on the territory of our former former CIS. The island of Saaremaa is a striking example. This place was the strategic point of our army. Slightly pass or swim - and here it is, the enemy territory, so that the island was a great place for the deployment of troops. And while the military considered Saaremaa a classified place, its ecology could not be spoiled either by industrial enterprises or large ports.
Saaremaa is the largest Estonian island. Here, everyone will find an occupation for themselves - fishing, horse or sea walks, quadracycle races. And so excursion programs can not be counted. In addition, many legends of "ancient times" have survived in Saaremaa: windmills, churches, even several meteorite craters.
How to get
Options to get into this is a magical place two - to buy a ticket to a travel agency or to travel independently. Pros and cons of the first and second option, it all depends on personal preferences. If it is more important for you to avoid all sorts of troubles, you can easily be brought to your hotel room - then, of course, it is better to contact specialists.
For those who chose the second option, it will be superfluous to know that there are no direct buses to Kuressaare. First you need to get to Tallinn, there, at the bus station, to make a transfer - in principle, nothing complicated. For lovers traveling on their cars the Tallinn highway from Narva is the most suitable. When traveling around Tallinn, it will take about 8 hours to travel from Narva to the island.
Search for tickets to the city of Tallinn (the nearest airport to Saaremaa)
A little about ferries
Saaremaa is still an island, therefore, to reach the end point, you have to use the ferry. The ferry departs from Virtsu, it is better to book a ticket for it - a lot of people are rushing to Saaremaa on weekends. The advantage of an electronic ticket is that it is possible to pass the loading / unloading out of turn. From the port to Kuressaare, there are only 50 minutes to go.
Resorts Saaremaa
The largest city on the island, considered concurrently resort, Kuressaare
It literally is stuffed with all sorts of mud baths, spa salons, so here you can not just relax, but also thoroughly recover - the sea air, curative mud and mild climate of the island have an amazing effect on health.
Hotels Saaremaa
If the goal is - just n rovest night, then the island is full of small hoteliers or traditional huts for any whim. But it is worthwhile to take advantage not only of the aesthetic pleasures of this wonderful island, but also practical, which can be attributed to the possibility of obtaining a course of procedures for rejuvenation and recovery.
The healing mud of Saaremaa is known already from the 19th century - all aristocracy of Russia, Scandinavia and Germany came here to take mud baths . Modern spa centers offer significantly more services . In Kuressaare, you can recommend three spa hotels, the range of services in them is about the same, and they are located one after another, so the choice depends on the personal preferences and thickness of the wallet: Meri Spa 3 *, Ruutli Spa 4 * and Saaremaa Valss Spa 2 * . Aqua centers with Jacuzzi, swimming pool, hydromassage and sauna, salt cave, various massages (classical, aromatic , medical), mother-of-pearl wraps in the assortment .
Entertainment, sightseeing and sightseeing Saaremaa
On the south-eastern part of the island, right by the sea, tourists are waiting for the first of the sights - the episcopal castle. In the annals there are references to the castle dating back to 1380, but despite the age, it looks good - thanks to the timely restoration. Now in the castle, instead of the residence of Bishop Saare-Lyaensky, after which the castle is called episcopal, there is a historical museum. Having paid for the entrance of about two EUR, you can spend hours looking at intricate exhibits and wandering around the booming rooms.
The ruins of the Maasai castle are also recommended for viewing, they are located near the town of Orissaare, on a hill, right on the beach. The main thing when you go there to look at the signs along the road, so as not to miss the necessary pointer. Now works on restoration and restoration of the castle have begun, but this will not prevent you from getting into the castle's chambers and wandering through the ancient corridors
Crater Kaali
There is another one on Saaremaa - extraterrestrial attraction . About 4 thousand years ago on the island the sky struck the earth hard with a pillar of fire, leaving behind a huge crater . The alien visitor was a huge meteorite that loosened up the land of Saaremaa and scattered the fragments on both sides . Traces of this disgrace have now dragged on - a funnel of diameters of about a hundred meters and a depth th at 20 meters now resembles a small lake whose banks have grown with trees and shrubs . Called this place the crater of Kaali, and if it is interesting to look at it, then look for the road between the cities of Kuressaare and Orissaare pointer .
Windmills Saaremaa
Here where without a camera in any way, so if you are going to the Museum of windmills, do not forget about the extra memory card. All the mills have already abandoned the idea of grinding flour, but this does not prevent them from looking well in the middle of the island's fields. The spectacle is very impressive - it seemed as though they had broken off on the calendar for a couple of centuries ....
Panga Pank
In this place, which causes trembling in the knees not only with its history, but also with the appearance, it is necessary to visit. The Panga cliff rises 21 meters above the sea - this is a coastal ledge, from which sacrifices were sacrificed to the gods in ancient times.
Despite the fact that there are a lot of warning signs about the danger of the sign near the cliff, tourists and strive to look into the face of the abyss. Do not do this - the gods have not received their victims for a long time. Observe safety precautions, signs will not be displayed in vain. Photo Saaremaa (18)