Maasi

58.56416666666723.0475Koordinaten: 58 ° 34 'N, 23 ° 3' O

Maasi ( German Masick ) is an Estonian village in the municipality Orissaare on the island of Saaremaa. The village has 39 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2007).

Maasi ( Maasilinn ) was the administrative center of the island Muhu and the eastern part of Saaremaa in the Middle Ages. The settlement then part of the parish Pöide.

In 1985 there was the oldest ship of Estonia, the so-called Maasilinna Laev found and lifted two years later. It was built around 1550 and is the only surviving ship from the Estonia of the Middle Ages.

Ordensburg Maasilinn

In 1345 the Livonian Order began with the construction of Ordensburg Maasilinn (Estonian Maasilinna ordulinnus, German Soneburg ). It was built on the orders of the Grand Master Burchard of Three Lives ( 1340-1345 ) after the destruction of the fortress Pöide and the suppression of the uprising in the Georg night. Initially the castle was made ​​of wood, but then Goswin von Herike (1345-1359), the stone castle was under the successor of Burchard, expanded. She was also the heart of local bailiwick. 1518 a bailey was added and probably strengthened in the 16th century with further towers and cannon ramps.

1564 the castle fell through sale of the Order of the Danes, the award gave them two years later, the razing. The castle was partially re- directed during the Livonian War (1558-1583) twice, in 1568 and in 1575 conquered by the Swedes. 1576 Maasilinn was finally blown up on the Danish King Frederick II command. Since then, the ruins are still preserved. They were extensively renovated in 2001.