The capital and the only city in Saaremaa is Kuressaare with over 15,000 inhabitants. The town that had its beginnings as a market and trading place still carries a certain sense of the ancient days. Cobblestone streets pass by centuries-old semi-hip roofed buildings.
The triangular shape of the central “square” and crossroads is representative of the type of villages where households were situated close together and makes Kuressaare thus a unique city in the Baltic Sea region. Kuressaare is in its city plan and offers a warm and friendly atmosphere with blends of fascinating history.
The first obligatory site to see is the Kuressaare fortress, situated in the middle of the Town Park, overlooking the whole town. The fortress is a good place to begin with the island’s history - it has seen rulers from Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Estonia.
The only full fortress extant in the Baltic States stands as a symbol of the troubled history of the island. It is a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture and it holds a museum of Saaremaa that introduces the history and nature of the neighborhood as well as the role of the fortress itself Art exhibits are available as well as the tower cafe which provides a wonderful view of the surrounding city and sea. The courtyard is also well worth the walk, especially in the summertime when various events take place and different handcraft workshops are open.