The Explore group spent one full day in Saaremaa Island beginning with a morning tour led by the owner of our Staadioni Hotell a 12-minute walk from the center of Kuressaare. A short bus ride around Kuressaare with view of migrating birds…View image, golf course (the pride and joy of small Kuressaare) utilized by Swedes who come over to play a few rounds, and a stop at the atmospheric old sea men’s cemetery…View image… before a lengthy visit inside the most important site, Kuressaare Teutonic (Episcopal) Castle Fortress.

The Kuressaare Castle/Fortress, whatever you choose to call it, has seen rulers from Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Estonia and is a Gothic masterpiece. It has also survived in better condition then the majority of castles throughout all the Baltic countries. During the summer, various events and workshops are held but today was sunny, raw and cold as we waited in the courtyard for the castle to open at 10:00 a.m. Kuressaare Castle has two towers. The Watching Tower also called “Big Hermann” and the Defense Tower, currently under renovation.

Kuressaare Teutonic Castle, Saaremaa Island, Estonia 

Sheila freezing to death on a Kuressaare Castle cannon, Estonia
We walked to the Kuressaare Castle entrance…View image… through the City Park and entered..View image. The castle was built as a bishop’s stronghold to rule over the territory in a convent-style castle with three stories. The shortest history version is: 1227, the Teutonic Knights (Germany) thwarted the Estonian fight for freedom, and 31 bishops ruled; In 1559, Bishop Munchhausen sold his estates to the King of Denmark who ruled until 1559; Sweden’s turn next until 1710 when during the course of the Northern War, the Swedes (ravaged by plague) surrendered the castle to the Russians who occupied the castle until 1917. Whew…this is the short version!

Kuressaare Castle/Fortress layout, Saaremaa Island, Estonia
The Main Floor was built of dolomite with vaulted ceilings. The group visited whatever levels and rooms that were open to the public:

- The refectory (dining hall), main hall;

- Living quarters of the Bishops including a list of every Bishop that controlled the fortress…View image and 10 examples of Baroque wood carvings and epitaphs…View image;

- A chapel/cloisters with an altar table, sacramental plates and stone niches (all from the 14th century) with two extremely interesting pieces. The coat of arms of the Bishopric and the Castle both from 1515;

- An area in the tower used a prison. The prisoner would be lowered into the deep shaft and kept there until he/she had learned the error of his/her ways. Another area where prisoners were once sentenced and thrown to the lions. I have doubts about this story. They brought a lion to the Baltics all the way from Africa? Maybe…;

- The stone toilet with a very long drop under it; and

- A small cell (video) at the exit to Kuressaare Castle that had been walled up until 1785 when this room was discovered with a skeleton in it. Watch the video above for the entire story.

 

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