Sights in Saaremaa
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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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Vilsandi National Park
Vilsandi, 6km (4mi) long and in places up to 3km (2mi) wide, is a low, wooded island, the largest of 161 covering an area of 18,155ha forming the Vilsandi National Park off Saaremaa's west coast. One of the island's highlights is a working ostrich farm. Early May to mid-June is the best time for visiting - there's a ferry from Papisaare.
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Sőrve Peninsula
Small cliffs rear up along the west coast of the 32km (19mi) southwestern Sõrve Peninsula. This is where the island's magic can really be felt. A bike or car trip along the coastline will expose you to some fabulous views. This sparsely populated strip of land saw some of the heaviest fighting of WWII, and some of the scars remain.
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Süla Talu
In an isolated patch of woods in Oja, this tiny village is a great option. Not only does it have comfortable wood cabins, sauna and home-cooked meals, but it can also boat up to four people to Vilsandi or around the Tagamõisa Peninsula. Staff can offer advice, arrange horse riding and assist with a range of other activities.
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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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Folk Windmill
North of Mustjala along the Ninase Peninsula is one of Saaremaa's kitschier icons. You can't miss the clunky wooden folk windmill, built to resemble a giant man in traditional costume. Sadly, his counterpart, a giant clothed female windmill, burned down in 2004.
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Musta Jala Galerii
Heading east from here, you'll pass the town of Mustjala, where you'll find Musta Jala Galerii, an art gallery where you can see colourful works by Navritolla and other Estonian artists. There's a handicrafts shop and a homy café with a garden patio.
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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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Pidula Fish Farm
East of the peninsula and 1km west of Pidula is the Pidula Fish Farm, where you can 'fish' for trout in stocked ponds. They'll even clean it and cook it for you if you wish. Camping and simple wooden cabins are available.
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Windmills
Angla, 40km from Kuressaare on the main road to the north coast, is the site of the biggest and most photogenic grouping of Saaremaa's old windmills - five of them of various sizes lined up together on the roadside.
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Mihkli Farm Museum
At Viki on the road to Kihelkonna, about 30km from Kuressaare, a 19th-century farm has been preserved as the Mihkli Farm Museum. Here you can tour the old wooden farmhouses, rent out the sauna or pitch a tent.
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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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Karja Church
Opposite the windmills is the turn-off to the 14th-century Karja Church, 2km east, which has a fortresslike façade and an elaborate crucifixion carving on one of its inner walls.
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Kiipsaare Lighthouse
At the northwestern tip of Tagamõisa Peninsula is the striking Kiipsaare lighthouse, which leans at a steep angle towards the sea.
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Panga Pank
Panga pank, Saaremaa's highest cliffs, run along the northern coast near Panga and offer some lovely panoramic views from the top.
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Triigi
From Leisi it's 3.5km to the harbour of Triigi, a picturesque bay on Saaremaa's north coast with views across to Hiiumaa.
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Tuhkana
There's a sandy beach at Tuhkana, 3km north of Metsküla, which is 10km west of Leisi, mostly by unpaved roads.
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