Lahemaa National Park

• Address: Estonia;
• Area: 725 km ²;
• Foundation date: 1971;
• Website: keskkonnaamet.ee.

Near the resort town of Toila in Estonia is a huge protected park Lahemaa, in translation its name means "land of bays". By attendance, the reserve takes first place among natural attractions . In the park you can not only enjoy the surrounding nature, but also get acquainted with historical monuments, such as aristocratic estates and the remains of Estonian villages.

Lahemaa National Park (Estonia) - attractions

A lot of attractions are located on the territory of the National Park of Lahemaa, which will be of interest to tourists. Among the main of them you can list the following:

1. Viru swamp belongs to the natural objects of the park. This is a small water area, on the sides of which there is a pine forest. Although it is called a swamp, the water in it is clean enough to swim. From the eastern side of the swamp is an observation deck in the form of a tower, from which you can view the entire reserve and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
2. Lahemaa National Park has access to the Gulf of Finland, where small peninsulas with clean sandy beaches adjoin the shore. The northernmost peninsula is the Pyrenesia , which is surrounded by a stony scythe. Walking through the territory, you can see giant boulders. The largest is Käsmu, its diameter is 20 m. Each boulder has its own name so that its mark can be found in the map for travelers.
3. On the territory of the reserve there are manors, built several centuries ago. In Estonia, homesteads with an approximate farm are called manzes. One of them, the Vihula Manor is an interesting object, on its territory there are a lot of outbuildings intended for different purposes: a tea house, a laundry room, barns and other buildings. The whole estate has an ideal view, now this territory is complemented by tourist facilities: a spa hotel, a swimming pool and other recreation areas.
4. Travelers will be able to appreciate the picturesque view of 19th-century buildings and a preserved pond with transitional bridges. Kolga Manor has a centuries-old history, in the 13th century there were ruins of the fortress here.
5. On the territory of the park there is another manor - the manor of the Sagada , it was able to preserve its original appearance until today. Now the central building serves as a museum, where you can admire the interior of the XIX century, as well as the museum of the forest.
6. On the picturesque coast of Lahemaa there are other historical and geographical memorials. In the locality of Loksa, which belongs to the protected area of ​​Lahemaa, there is the Church of St. Mary . According to the architectural standards of the XIX century, this small structure, but inside there is a unique cultural attraction - a picture depicting the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
7. The northern part of the Peninsula peninsula is considered the northernmost point of Estonia, marked on the map of the mainland. The village of Kiasmu was once a village of captains, in the period from 1884 to 1931 there was a naval school here, and also ships stopped in cold weather. Kiasma was a refuge for smugglers, who traded in salt, and later with alcohol to Finland. For today in settlement there are private houses which correspond to the general style, are painted in light colors.
8. To enjoy the sea color, in the park of Lahemaa you can visit the Maritime Museum . It contains many items devoted to fishing. These are fishing gear, naval orientation textbooks, the rules for driving a ship and the ancient attributes of ships. The park has its own chapel, although in appearance it looks more like a church, it has an altar and an organ. On the territory of the chapel there are ancient burials.

In the protected park of Lahemaa in Estonia, there is something to admire and see, there is a stunning nature and ancient monuments are collected. On the territory of Lahemma, you can find yourself simultaneously in the forest, on the seashore or near the swamp, and enjoy the peasant and noble life in the period of the XVIII - XIX centuries.

How to get there?

It is better to get to Lahemaa National Park from Tallinn by bus to Ulliallika stop.