Kuressaare
(Estonian Reform Party )
Kuressaare (1952-1988: Kingissepa; German A ( h) Rensburg ) is the largest city on the Estonian island of Saaremaa ( Osel German ).
The historical German name of the city Kuressaare ( Low German: Eagle Castle ) is derived from the on the arms of the city to be recognized eagle, the symbol of John the Evangelist. Also, the Estonian name is probably derived from misunderstood Crest Image ( kurg, called kure - Crane, Kuressaare ie about Crane Island).
History
The city formed around a Bishop's Castle, which was first mentioned in 1381 and after the city Kuressaare was called. 1559 sold the last Prince-Bishop of Saaremaa, Magnus of Denmark and Norway, Kuressaare to Denmark. 1563 was the place the city right after the model of Riga. 1645 fell Arensburg to Sweden. 1710 Arens castle was burnt down in the Great Northern War by Russian troops. With the Peace of Nystad (1721 ) it became part of the Russian Empire and became the capital of the circle ( Ujesd ) Osel in the government of Livonia.
In the 19th century the town became a popular spa town.
1917/1918 and from 1941 to 1944 the city was occupied by German troops. 1918, it was officially renamed part of the newly independent Estonia and in Kuressaare. 1939 /40 to 1941 and from 1944 to 1990 the town was under Soviet administration. In the years 1952 to 1988, she was named to honor of Bolshevik Kuressaare Viktor Kingissepp " Kingissepa ".
1990 was the first city in Estonia, which regained the right to local self-government Kuressaare.
Culture and sights
In the city park are organized chamber music and opera festivals in the summer every year. In 1999, the renovated theater was reopened.
The Kuressaare Episcopal Castle is one of the best preserved medieval castles in the Baltics. Today it houses a museum of island history. The cityscape is dominated by magnificent buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries, including many wooden villas.
The 1654 built in the Baroque style Town Hall houses the largest ceiling fresco in Estonia.
The evangelical Lutheran church of St. Lawrence was built in 1733 and 1836 has been rebuilt. The church in the style of classicism has retained its original furnishings, including a Naturtaufstein from the village Anseküla.
The Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas was built between 1786-1798 by order of Empress Catherine II on the site of an existing wooden church since 1750 and consecrated on 22 September 1790. The early classical wrought iron gate to the cemetery was built in 1840 at the instigation of the church elders Sofoni Cholostow and is considered the most beautiful gate of the city.
The spa opened in 1889, was extensively renovated in 1988 and 1989, awarded "Best building in the Estonian SSR ".
Traffic
Kuressaare has a small airport with two runways. There is a regular daily flights to Tallinn and Riga and Pärnu and the island of Ruhnu. In the district Roomasaare, south of the town is the harbor.
Sons and daughters of the town
Twinning
- Since 21 November 1988 Ekenäs / Finland
- Since October 3, 1991 with Ronne / Denmark
- Since October 24, 1991 with Mariehamn / Finland
- Since 23 June 1993 Skövde / Sweden
- Since 30 June 1994 Vammala / Finland
- Since May 30, 1996, Turku / Finland
- Since May 27, 1998 Talsi / Latvia
- Since 9 August 1998 for Kuurne / Belgium