Haapsalu

Haapsalu
Haapsalu
Town
	View from Haapsalu Castle
	Haapsalu Location of Haapsalu in the Baltic Sea region Haapsalu Location in Estonia
	Coordinates: 58°56′22″N 23°32′27″E / 58.93944°N 23.54083°E
Country	Estonia
County	Lääne
Municipality	Haapsalu
Town rights	1279
Area
• Total	11.09 km2 (4.28 sq mi)
Elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Population (2020)
• Total	9,375
• Rank	14th
• Density	850/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
Ethnicity
• Estonians	81%
• other (Finns, Swedes, Russians)	19%
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	90503 to 90507
Area code	(+372) 047
Vehicle registration	S

Haapsalu (Estonian pronunciation: [ˈhɑːpsɑlu]) is a seaside resort town located on the west coast of Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Lääne County, and on 1 January 2020 it had a population of 9,375.^[1]

Description

Haapsalu has been well known for centuries for its warm seawater, curative mud and peaceful atmosphere. Salt mud spas frequented by the Russian Romanov family still operate. Narrow streets with early 20th century wooden houses lead to the sea. Haapsalu has been called the "Venice of the Baltics",^[2] although this claim has been criticized as an exaggeration.^[3] The name "Haapsalu" is from Estonian haab 'aspen' and salu 'grove.'^[4] In Swedish and German, the town is called Hapsal, and in Russian it is Га́псаль (Gapsal).

History

The town dates back to 1279, when it was chartered and became the centre of the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek, which it remained for the next 300 years. Buildings from those early days remain today, including an episcopal castle which has the largest single-nave cathedral in the Baltic states, Haapsalu Castle.

Haapsalu and the surrounding area was the center for the Estonian Swedes from the 13th century until the evacuation of almost all ethnic Swedes from Estonia in 1944.

Neighborhoods of Haapsalu

There are six neighborhoods of Haapsalu:

Holmi
Kesklinn
Männiku
Paralepa
Randsalu
Vanalinn.^[5]

Healing spas

For many years, locals have claimed that the sea mud has a curative effect. A military doctor, Carl Abraham Hunnius, founded the first mud cure resort in 1825. News of the curative mud quickly reached the aristocracy of Saint Petersburg, the capital of the Russian Empire. Ever since then, Haapsalu has been a popular summer destination where people from all around the world come for medical treatment. Today, there are three mud cure establishments in Haapsalu varying in size and location.

Haapsalu shawl

In the 19th century, Haapsalu became famous for its shawls, a delicate craft made by local women.

Other attractions

Drone video of Haapsalu promenade, peninsula of Krimmi holm, Tagalaht and Haapsalu old town in June 2022

The Land of Ilon Wikland (Wiklandia), a recreation centre for children, is set to open in a few years^[when?] within the town. This world-famous book illustrator has been involved with Haapsalu since her childhood.

The August Blues Festival is held every August in Haapsalu.

Since 2005 the town hosts Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival, an annual film festival dedicated to genre films.^[6] In 2017, the pastors of Haapsalu made an open statement calling to end the city's financing of the festival, claiming the horror and violence depicted in the screened films were not fit to represent the resort town image.^[7] The same year the festival was held to a record-breaking attendance.^[8]

In popular culture

Haapsalu is site of a fencing school founded by Estonian fencer Endel Nelis, used as the setting of the Finnish-Estonian film The Fencer.^[9]

Gallery

Central square
City center
Haapsalu resort hall
Boats in gulf Tagalaht
Haapsalu Railway Station, now disused, and notable for the length of its platform canopy.
Town Hall
Train station
Water tower
Train station polyclinic
Steam locomotive
A pavilion at Haapsalu seaside promenade
Sculpture "Kepimurdja", by Juhan Raudsepp

Sculpture "Kepimurdja", by Juhan Raudsepp
View from the promenade
Jaani church
Orthodox Church of St. Mary Magdalene