Nõva, Lääne County

59.222523.681667Koordinaten: 59 ° 13 ' N, 23 ° 41' O

The village Nõva ( Nõva küla ) is in the northwest of the Republic of Estonia. It is the capital of the homonymous country church Nõva in Lääne ( Lääne maakond ).

Population and location

The village has 112 inhabitants (as at 31 December 2011). It is located on the Baltic Sea Bay of Keibu, 32 kilometers north-east of the district capital of Haapsalu.

Through the village the river Nõva ( Nõva Jõgi ) flows.

In the 14th century the area belonged to the nunnery of Lihula. It fell in 1402 by exchange to the convent Padise.

Nõva itself was first mentioned in the 15th century under the name Neyve. It is thought that the place name of the same Finno- Ugric word, which also has the Russian river Neva given its name. It means marsh or swamp.

During the Middle Ages lived in the village and its surroundings Estonia Sweden in particular.

Good and manor of Nõva

The Good Nõva was first mentioned in 1559 as an economic good of the monastery Padise documented. In 1575 it was privately owned. 1663 the monastic property was confiscated before it fell into private hands.

During the 17th century the estate often changed its owners. After the Great Northern War in the early 18th century, it was first the noble Baltic German family Mohrenschildt. From 1833 onwards, it was owned by the family Ungern- Sternberg.

The elongated, one-storey wooden mansion was probably mid-19th century appearance. It was designed in the style of classicism, but was often transformed.

In the course of Estonian land reform good and mansion were expropriated by the young Estonian state. Last private owner was Josefine of Baggehufwudt (born Ungern- Sternberg, 1839-1917 ) and her son and heir Edward ( Ned ) of Baggehufwudt.

Since 1920, located in the former mansion, the school of the village. During the 20th century, the building was again remodeled several times. He was replaced ailing construction entirely in 2002. Here, the local authorities, design and appearance of the historic building sought to preserve.

Wooden church of Nõva

In Nõva is one of the oldest preserved wooden churches of Estonia. The church has existed since the 17th century. It is dedicated to Saint Olav, suggesting an early church planting.

The present church building was probably built in the 18th century as a beach chapel, as was typical of the Estonian coast. Few of these wooden churches have been preserved. It is with a footprint of 13.6 x 7.1 m one of the smallest churches in Estonia. In the nave, the west tower connects. Through arched windows, the light passes into the interior of the church. The original church ceiling made ​​of wood has been preserved.

Inside a wooden wheel cross is obtained. The windows on the east side imitates painted parchment from 1836 the missing glass windows. The separate pews for men (with backrest ) and women ( without backrest) are designed differently. Altar and pulpit are more recent and have been designed in the Gothic Revival style. The oil painting, which shows Christ in Golgotha, is a donation from the year 1820.

Next to the building is the local cemetery. Characteristic of the cemetery are the numerous custom wheel crosses of iron, which were manufactured by local smiths. In the churchyard is the grave of the last private owner of the local manor, the Baltic German nobility Josefine of Baggehufwudt (born Ungern- Sternberg, 1839-1917 ). The wheel cross on her grave was made to his own design.

Personalities

The most famous son of the town is the Evangelical Lutheran parish clerk and school teacher Friedrich Brandt ( 1830-1890 ). He presented numerous popular Estonian hymn books together. Overall, Brandt is regarded as the author of over ninety publications. He is the father of the Estonian bookseller and publicist Alexander Edward Brandt ( 1856-1909 ).