Haapsalu Travel Guide

 MikeBird Says:  The tourist information about Haapsalu makes quite a point about the fact that Piotr Tchaikovsky spent some time during the summer months of 1867 in Haapsalu and indeed was inspired by a folk song heard in the town from which he developed the melody for his sixth... 

 MikeBird Says:  The large and extensive grounds of the castle are bordered by impressive curtain walls with occasional towers built at strategic points. It's possible to climb up the steep steps of these towers to get a better view but to be honest that was a wee bit disappointing as we... 

 MalenaN Says:  Ilon Wikland was born in Tartu in 1930. As a child she often spent her summers in Haapsalu where her grandparents lived. When Ilon was 14 years old she came to Sweden as a refugee and there she has lived ever since.Ilon Wikland is famous for illustrating many of Astrid... 

 MalenaN Says:  When I visited in April the museum, the Dome Church and the 38 metre tall clock tower were unfortunately closed, because that time of the year you can only walk around the grounds. The grounds are open daily between 7am - midnight. A wall surrounds the grounds and you can... 

 MalenaN Says:  A few hundred metres northeast of the castle , where the promenade begins, there is a 15 metres high bird watching tower. From the top you will have a nice view over the surrounding area and when I visited there were lots of swans and ducks in the water below. 

 MalenaN Says:  Läänemaa Museum is situated in the old Town Hall and it has been housed here since 1949. There are many old photos from Haapsalu, most of them with explanation only in Estonian. The woman working in the museum pointed out a photo with the Swedish crown prince that visited in... 

 MalenaN Says:  Museum of the Estonian Swedes is a small museum over Estonia’s Swedish speaking population that lived in the coastal are from the 13th century to 1944, when many of the 8000 Swedes fled to Sweden during the World War II. In one room there are many photos and also items like... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  The little baroque town hall looks tiny next to the castle. Even for the administration of a small town like Haapsalu it has become too small in the meantime. It is now the seat of Läänemaa Muuseum, a museum aboput the history and culture of the district. Opening hours: Oct... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  Lots of stories and legends are around about Czar Peter the Great and how he learned the profession of a carpenter in Holland - remember Lortzing's opera. Haapsalu tells how he visited the town incognito and stayed overnight with a citizen of the town whom he recognized as a... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  A sad legend tells about a young Estonian girl who was in love with the Dean of the cathedral, and vice versa. Not only was he a cleric, the inner castle was fobidden ground for any female. The Dean tried to smuggle his girl into the castle, disguised in a boy's clothes.... 

 MalenaN Says:  After walking around the castle grounds, and before continuing , I decided it was time for lunch. Near the exit from the castle I found the restaurant Hermannuse Maja. When I entered the waitress gave me the menu and I asked if they had any lunch offers. She pointed at a... 

 MalenaN Says:  Müüriääre Kohvik is a lovely café situated outside the western walls of the castle (Müüriääre actually means beside the wall). On the menu there are salads, sandwiches and of course cakes and pastries. I had a very delicious cake (wouldn’t mind a piece of that cake now) and... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  The fastest and most convenient means of overland travel in Estonia is the bus. The train route from Tallinn to Haapsalu has long been closed down and partly demolished. There are thoughts to reinstall it but so far, the distance is best covered by bus.Haapsalu can easily be... 

 LysDor Says:  In the 19th century Haapsalu developed into one of the best known spa resorts in Russia. Also the famous russian composer Tchaikovsky and several members of the Royal family have all stayed here. The bench is located on the way to the harbour when following the peaceful...