Sights in Kuressaare
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Saaremaa Regional Museum
Housed in the majestic Kuressaare Castle is the Saaremaa Regional Museum. On the ground floor look for the hüpokaust (hypocaust) on the southwestern side - a furnace that fuelled a medieval central heating system. According to legend, condemned prisoners were dispatched through a small room without a floor near the bishop's chamber, to be received by hungry lions.
Legends also tell of the body of a knight found when a room previously sealed with bricks was uncovered in the 18th century. It is said that, upon discovery, the knight's body dissolved into dust, which has given rise to varying accounts of how the unfortunate captive met his tragic fate.
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Historic Buildings & Churches
The best of Kuressaare's other old buildings are grouped around the central square Keskväljak, notably the town hall (built in 1670), on the eastern side, with a pair of fine stone lions at the door, and the weigh-house (now Vaekoja pub) across from it, both 17th-century baroque. There's a handsome Lutheran Church at the northeast end of Keskväljak and an Orthodox Church (Lossi tänav 8).
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Kuressaare Castle
This is the best preserved castle in the Baltics and the only medieval stone castle in the region that has remained intact. The inside of the castle is a warren of chambers, halls, passages and stairways that will feed anyone's fantasies about Gothic fortresses. It also houses the intriguing Saaremaa Regional Museum.
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Beaches
The best beach in the Kuressaare area is Järverand at Järve, about 14km west, some 2km past Mändjala. There's also a beach at Sutu, 12km east. Salme, Torgu or Sääre buses from Kuressaare go to Järverand.
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Aaviks Museum
Aaviks Museum is dedicated to the life and works of linguist Johannes Aavik (1880-1973), who introduced major reforms to the Estonian language, and his musically talented cousin, Joosep Aavik (1899-1989).
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