Photos |
WEDSAAREMAA-00 : Our Honeymoon part 2 - Saaremaa Islands, Parnu, Tartu and other towns in Estonia and Latvia (Jul/05) |
|
Saaremaa - literally Land of Islands - is the second biggest island in the Baltic Sea with an area of 2 668 square km. At the same time Saaremaa is the biggest island of the Republic of Estonia and situated close to the western coast of the mainland of Estonia. The nearest point on the mainland is the harbour of Virtsu, 8 km away. Actually there are 2 islands, Muhu (closest to Estonia) and Saaremaa itself, the largest island which fortunately are both connected by a bridge.
At the west part of Muhu there is a small 'museum village of few cottages called Koguva . The cottages are maintained in their old fashion and although some people live here, they are not allowed to refurbish. This large green cottage is the main museum of Koguva.
|
WEDSAAREMAA-01 : Our Honeymoon part 2 - Saaremaa Islands, Parnu, Tartu and other towns in Estonia and Latvia (Jul/05) |
|
A nice photo of me and Malin near a typical cottage in Koguva, situated in peaceful countryside. The only things you can hear are birds, wind and occasional buzzing of insects or dog bark.
|
WEDSAAREMAA-02 : Our Honeymoon part 2 - Saaremaa Islands, Parnu, Tartu and other towns in Estonia and Latvia (Jul/05) |
|
Another photo from Koguva showing a cottage and man-operated well using a bar and pivot system.
|
WEDSAAREMAA-03 : Our Honeymoon part 2 - Saaremaa Islands, Parnu, Tartu and other towns in Estonia and Latvia (Jul/05) |
|
More cottages from Koguva in Muhu island.
|
WEDSAAREMAA-04 : Our Honeymoon part 2 - Saaremaa Islands, Parnu, Tartu and other towns in Estonia and Latvia (Jul/05) |
|
An old cobweb in old Koguva village.
|
WEDSAAREMAA-05 : Our Honeymoon part 2 - Saaremaa Islands, Parnu, Tartu and other towns in Estonia and Latvia (Jul/05) |
|
After leaving Koguva we passed from Muhu to Saaremaa island over the connecting bridge and drove about 80km to arrive to Kuressaare - the main town of the island situated at the South. We arrived late and could not find (and had not enough time) to find a suitable hotel so we decided to sleep in the car in a park near Kuressaare castle, seen here at the background.
|
WEDSAAREMAA-06 : Our Honeymoon part 2 - Saaremaa Islands, Parnu, Tartu and other towns in Estonia and Latvia (Jul/05) |
|
Kuressaare castle silhouette by the sunset skies. Today (Saturday 9th July) was the castle day and there were many activities going on, but we came here around 9pm and so we did not have the opportunity to watch any activities. However there were still a group of youths who camped nearby the castle still dressed up for the occasion in traditional clothes and singing loudly (driven by some beer of course) medieval - sounding 'poems' before they went to sleep. So at least we enjoyed something of "Castle Day" day
|
WEDSAAREMAA-07 : Our Honeymoon part 2 - Saaremaa Islands, Parnu, Tartu and other towns in Estonia and Latvia (Jul/05) |
|
Photo of the city map. Very useful if the tourist information is closed and need a reference map. At the centre there is well indicated a small 'island' where the castle of Kuressaare is located. I am not sure if that is actually a natural island or a man-made moat around the castle.
|
WEDSAAREMAA-08 : Our Honeymoon part 2 - Saaremaa Islands, Parnu, Tartu and other towns in Estonia and Latvia (Jul/05) |
|
This is the front face of the Episcopal castle of Kuressaare . It served as a residence for the bishop of Estonia for many centuries. The castle was built of chiselled dolomite blocks in the late 14th century in gothic style architecture. The basic plan of the building is a square with sides 43 metres. There are two towers on the northern side of the building: The Watch Tower, also called Tall Herman, and the Defence Tower or Sturvolt.
|
WEDSAAREMAA-09 : Our Honeymoon part 2 - Saaremaa Islands, Parnu, Tartu and other towns in Estonia and Latvia (Jul/05) |
|
This is the entrance door of the castle, with a dark brown balcony above which probably served as a watch-out to pull up or down the iron gate. Nowadays the castle is a large museum which takes 2-3 hours to visit it all. This was my favourite museum in whole Estonia and Latvia.
|
|
|