Story
The story of Kuressaare Castle
Kuressaare Castle is considered one of the best preserved medieval fortifications in Estonia. Its written story begins in the 1380s, when the Teutonic Order started building it for the bishops of Ösel-Wiek, at a time when the islanders were fiercely resisting Christianisation. The square convent building wraps around a central courtyard, and its defence tower in the northern corner rises 37 metres.
Inside, a cloister links the main rooms: the refectory, the dormitory, the chapel and the bishop's quarters, where eleven Baroque epitaphs of Saaremaa noblemen are displayed. The cellar even had a hypocaust heating system. Denmark-Norway took the castle in 1559, Sweden gained it after the Peace of Brömsebro, and Russia after the Great Northern War.
In the 19th century it served as a poorhouse. Its darkest chapter came in 1941, when Soviet forces executed 90 civilians in the castle yard; during the Nazi occupation that followed, over 300 people were killed on the grounds. Today the castle houses the Saaremaa Museum.
This story is compiled from Wikipedia and other open sources; dates and numbers are checked against the source. The text is shared under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Source ↗
Hear this story on the spot, in a natural voice
On Sightlore, the story of Kuressaare Castle is narrated in a natural voice in 5 languages. When you arrive, say "I'm here" and get your passport stamp.
18 more stories from Saaremaa & Muhu in the app
More highlights in Saaremaa & Muhu
- Kaali craterKaali is a group of nine meteorite craters in the village of Kaali on the Estonian island of Saaremaa. The most recent estimates put its formation shortly after 1530–1450 BC (3237 ± 10 14C yr BP).
- Angla windmillsFive windmills in the village of Angla on Saaremaa: four post mills with rotating bodies and one octagonal Dutch-type mill.
- Kaavi LighthouseKaavi Lighthouse is a lighthouse located in Sõrve Peninsula, in the village of Kaavi, Torgu Parish, on the island of Saaremaa, in Estonia.
- Salme shipsThe Salme ships are two clinker-built ships of Scandinavian origin discovered in 2008 and 2010 near the village of Salme on the island of Saaremaa, Estonia.
- Valjala StrongholdThe Valjala Stronghold was a major ringfort on the island of Saaremaa in Estonia. Established in the 12th century, at the time it was the most important Oeselian stronghold. Its surrender in 1227 finalized the crusader conquest of Estonia.
- Panga CliffPanga Cliff is a coastal cliff located on the northern shore of Saaremaa, at the end of the road from Kuressaare to Võhma, close to the village of Panga.