Haapsalu – the historical summer resort of the Czarist court

Haapsalu, often called the Venice of the Nordic countries, received its town rights in 1279 and is one of the oldest and most respectable cities in Estonia. The legend says that the city received its name after a sacred place of the Estonians – the aspen grove (haavasalu in Estonian).

Haapsalu is surrounded by the sea on three sides and is primarily renowned as a quiet summer town and mud treatment resort. Because Haapsalu Bay is shallow, it warms up more than the other bays along the Estonian coast in the summers, with the average temperature of the seawater being +21 degrees in the summer. Haapsalu is considered to be the sunniest resort in Estonia.    

 

 

 

The first mud baths were established here in

1825 and 1845 and the quiet town quickly became on of the most popular resorts. Reports about the curative effect of sea mud reached the upper class in St Petersburg and thence the resort town strewn with numerous inlets and small islands became the beloved summer residence of rich St Petersburg nobility and the Imperial family of Russia. The Czars Peter I, Alexander I, Alexander II, Alexander III and Nocholas II all came to Haapsalu to improve their health and to enjoy some royal still life. The golden era of Haapsalu as a resort is today also reflected by the seaside boardwalk – the Promenade and the lacy wooden kurhaus building. The Promenade along with the Africa Beach, located on the shores of the bay of Tagalaht was the centre of the resort life in the 20^th century. After Estonia gained independence, both local statesmen as well as visitors from visitors from Sweden, Finland and Germany spent their summers in the town.

Kurhauses existed in almost all resorts, but the one at Haapsalu is unique since it is the only kurhaus in Estonia that has survived in its original form. The restoration of assembly hall commenced in 1995 and two years later, it opened its doors to visitors as a summer café. There are many legends associated with Haapsalu, the best known of which is the story of the mysterious Lady in White, who appears on the vestry window of the Dome Church during the August full moon nights as a symbol of eternal love.

Many different versions have been documented of the legend of the Lady in White over the decades. The best known of these is the story of the poor village girl who, dressed as a choirboy, hides herself in the castle in the name of love. Unfortunately, her loved one also has a rival – the bailiff’s son, who discovers the deception and, succumbing to blind jealousy, has the girl walled into the castle alive. The mystical girl appears on the window of the church’s baptistery every August during full moon as a sign of immortal love.