Kuressaare

Kuressaare (Estonian pronunciation: [ˈkureˈsˑɑːre]) is a town on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Saaremaa Parish and the capital of Saare County. Kuressaare is the westernmost town in Estonia. The recorded population on 1 January 2018 was 13,276.[1]

For the town in Germany, see Ahrensburg. For the village in Viljandi Parish, Viljandi County, see Kuressaare, Viljandi County.
"Kingissepa" redirects here. For the town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, see Kingisepp.
Kuressaare
Aerial view of Kuressaare
Kuressaare
Location of Kuressaare in Estonia
Kuressaare
Location of Kuressaare in the Baltic states
Coordinates: 58°15′N 22°29′E
Country Estonia
County Saare
First appeared on map1154
Government
 • MayorMikk Tuisk
Area
 • Total14.95 km2 (5.77 sq mi)
Elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2018)
 • Total13,276
 • Rank10th
 • Density890/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Ethnicity
 • Estonians97.6%
 • Russians1.2%
 • Finns0.3%
 • other0.9%
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
93813
Area code(s)(+372) 045
Vehicle registrationK
Websitewww.saaremaavald.ee/en/web/en/local-government

The town is situated on the southern coast of Saaremaa island, facing the Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea, and is served by the Kuressaare Airport, Roomassaare harbour, and Kuressaare yacht harbour.

Names
Kuressaare castle

Kuressaare's historic name Arensburg[2] (from Middle High German a(a)r: eagle, raptor) renders the Latin denotation arx aquilae for the city's castle. The fortress and the eagle, tetramorph symbol of Saint John the Evangelist, are also depicted on Kuressaare's coat of arms.

The town, which grew around the fortress, was simultaneously known as Arensburg and Kuressaarelinn; the latter name being a combination of Kuressaare—an ancient name of the Saaremaa Island—and linn, which means town.[3] Eventually, the town's name shortened to Kuressaare[3] and became official in 1918 after Estonia had declared its independence from Bolshevist Russia. Under the Soviet rule, the town was renamed Kingissepa in 1952; after the Bolshevik Kuressaare-native Viktor Kingissepp[3] executed in 1922. The name Kuressaare was restored in 1990.[3]

History
Historical affiliations
  Saare County pre–1227

Bishopric of Riga 1227–1228
Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek 1228–1236
  Saare County 1236–1241
Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek 1241–1261
  Saare County 1261–1262
Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek 1262–1343
  Saare County 1343–1345
Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek 1345–1560
Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek (Danish-controlled) 1560–1572
Kingdom of Denmark 1572–1645
Kingdom of Sweden 1645–1704
Tsardom of Russia 1710–1721
Russian Empire 1721–1917
 Russian Republic 1917
Ober Ost 1917–1918
 United Baltic Duchy 1918
 Republic of Estonia 1918–1940
 Republic of Estonia (Soviet-occupied) 1940
Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic 1940
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 1940–1941
German Military Administration 1941
Reichskommissariat Ostland 1941–1944
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 1944–1990
 Republic of Estonia (in transition) 1990–1991

 Republic of Estonia 1991–onwards

The town first appeared on maps around 1154. The island of Saaremaa (German, Swedish: Ösel) was conquered by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword under Volkwin of Naumburg in 1227, who merged with the Teutonic Knights shortly afterwards.[4] The first documentation of the castle (arx aquilae) was found in Latin texts written in 1381 and 1422. Over time, a town, which became known as Arensburg or Kuressaarelinn,[3] grew and flourished around the fortress. It became the see of the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek established by Albert of Riga in 1228, part of the Terra Mariana.[5]

Johann von Münchhausen, bishop since 1542, converted to Protestantism. With the advance of the troops of Tsar Ivan IV of Russia in the course of the Livonian War, Münchhausen sold his lands to King Frederick II of Denmark in 1559 and returned to Germany. Frederick sent his younger brother Prince Magnus to Kuressaare where he was elected bishop the following year. It was through his influence that the city obtained its civic charter in 1563, modeled after that of Riga.[2] The bishopric was finally secularised in 1572 and Kuressaare fell to the Danish Crown.

In 1645, it passed to Swedish control through the Treaty of Brömsebro after the Danish defeat in the Torstenson War.[2] Queen Christina of Sweden granted her favourite, Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie, the title of Count of Arensburg, the German and Swedish name for Kuressaare at that time. The city was burnt to the ground by Russian troops in 1710 during the Great Northern War and suffered heavily from the plague.[6] Abandoned by the Swedes it was incorporated into the Governorate of Livonia of the Russian Empire through the Treaty of Nystad in 1721.

During the 19th century Kuressaare became a popular seaside resort on the Baltic coast. During World War I, between September and October 1917, German land and naval forces occupied Saaremaa with Operation Albion. During World War II, the Battle of Tehumardi took place. In October 1990, Kuressaare was the first town in Estonia to regain its self-governing status.

Neighborhoods of Kuressaare

There are nine neighborhoods of Kuressaare:

  • Ida-Niidu
  • Kesklinn
  • Kellamäe
  • Marientali
  • Põllu alev
  • Roomassaare
  • Smuuli
  • Suuremõisa
  • Tori.[7]

Landmarks and culture
Town hall
Historical buildings in city center
The Kuressaare Castle in winter

The medieval episcopal Kuressaare Castle today houses the Saaremaa Regional Museum. The original wooden castle was constructed between 1338 and 1380, although other sources claim a fortress was built in Kuressaare as early as 1260.[8][9] In 1968, architect Kalvi Aluve began studies on Kuressaare Castle.[10]

The town hall was originally built in 1654, and restored, retaining classicist and baroque features.[6] It was last restored in the 1960s with dolomite stairs at the front.[6] St Nicolaus Church was built in 1790.[6]

The annual Saaremaa Opera Days (Saaremaa Ooperipäevad) have been held in Kuressaare each summer since 1999. Other festivals include Kuressaare Chamber Music Days (Kuressaare Kammermuusika Päevad), held since 1995 and Kuressaare Maritime Festival (Kuressaare Merepäevad), held since 1998.

Kuressaare also hosts the FC Kuressaare football club.

Climate
Climate data for Kuressaare (1971–1999)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8.3
(46.9)		 10.8
(51.4)		 12.1
(53.8)		 24.0
(75.2)		 26.2
(79.2)		 31.4
(88.5)		 30.9
(87.6)		 32.0
(89.6)		 24.5
(76.1)		 18.6
(65.5)		 12.6
(54.7)		 9.4
(48.9)		 32.0
(89.6)
Average high °C (°F) −0.1
(31.8)		 −0.8
(30.6)		 1.8
(35.2)		 7.5
(45.5)		 14.6
(58.3)		 18.6
(65.5)		 20.7
(69.3)		 20.0
(68.0)		 15.1
(59.2)		 9.9
(49.8)		 4.8
(40.6)		 1.6
(34.9)		 9.5
(49.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.2
(28.0)		 −3.3
(26.1)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 3.6
(38.5)		 10.0
(50.0)		 14.5
(58.1)		 16.9
(62.4)		 16.4
(61.5)		 11.9
(53.4)		 7.4
(45.3)		 2.8
(37.0)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 6.4
(43.5)
Average low °C (°F) −4.9
(23.2)		 −6.2
(20.8)		 −3.8
(25.2)		 0.4
(32.7)		 5.7
(42.3)		 10.4
(50.7)		 13.1
(55.6)		 12.7
(54.9)		 8.8
(47.8)		 4.7
(40.5)		 0.6
(33.1)		 −3.1
(26.4)		 3.2
(37.8)
Record low °C (°F) −31.6
(−24.9)		 −29.8
(−21.6)		 −20.9
(−5.6)		 −9.4
(15.1)		 −3.8
(25.2)		 1.0
(33.8)		 6.4
(43.5)		 3.7
(38.7)		 −3.1
(26.4)		 −9
(16)		 −16.4
(2.5)		 −32.6
(−26.7)		 −32.6
(−26.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 44
(1.7)		 31
(1.2)		 33
(1.3)		 35
(1.4)		 32
(1.3)		 49
(1.9)		 58
(2.3)		 63
(2.5)		 71
(2.8)		 72
(2.8)		 72
(2.8)		 59
(2.3)		 617
(24.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 11 8 9 8 6 7 7 10 12 12 14 14 118
Average relative humidity (%) 87 86 85 79 71 75 78 80 82 84 86 87 82
Source: Estonian Weather Service[11][12]

Economy

Transportation

Kuressaare is served by Kuressaare Airport, located on a peninsula southeast of the town. There is regular traffic to Tallinn, as well as seasonal flights to the island of Ruhnu.

There are bus connections around the island, as well as with Kuivastu on Muhu Island, a ferry terminal with connection to the mainland.

In 1917, during the German occupation, an urban railway was built in Kuressaare, and in 1918, it was transferred to the town administration. It connected the port with the city center/ One of the station was provisionally located in Kurhouse, and in 1924, the dedicated Park Station was built. The railway functioned until the 1930s when it was gradually disused and mostly dismantled. An attempt to revive the railway in the beginning of the 1950s, during the Soviet period, was unsuccessful, and ended up with rails fully removed from the streets.[13]

Notable people

Twin towns and sister cities

Kuressaare is twinned with:[14]

  • Kuressaare St. Lawrence Church
  • Kuressaare Resort Hall
  • Residential building
  • Monument to the Estonian War of Independence
  • Pub in Kuressaare weighthouse
  • Big Bridge of Kuressaare
  • Mill tavern
  • Town theater
  • Castle Park
  • Fitness center
  • 8th Street
  • Tallinna street, 10
  • Buildings in Kuressaare center
  • Hotel by Kuressaare Castle
  • Kuressaare historical center
  • Lasteaia street

See also

References

Notes
  1. Statistics Estonia
  2. Bes, Lennart; Frankot, Edda; Brand, Hanno (2007). Baltic Connections: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany. BRILL. p. 178. ISBN 978-90-04-16431-4. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  3. Pospelov, p. 28
  4. Kjaergaard, Thorkild (1994). Castles around the Baltic Sea: the illustrated guide. Castle Museum. p. 64. ISBN 978-83-86206-03-2. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  5. Murray, Alan V. (2001). Crusade and conversion on the Baltic frontier, 1150–1500. Ashgate. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-7546-0325-2. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  6. Taylor, Neil (17 August 2010). Bradt Estonia. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 255. ISBN 978-1-84162-320-7. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  7. "LINNAOSADE JA -JAGUDE LÜHENDID". www.eki.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  8. O'Connor, Kevin (2006). Culture And Customs of the Baltic States. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 207. ISBN 978-0-313-33125-1. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  9. Jarvis, Howard; Ochser, Tim (2 May 2011). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania. Dorling Kindersley. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-4053-6063-0. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  10. Lang, V.; Laneman, Margot (2006). Archaeological research in Estonia, 1865–2005. Tartu University Press. p. 185. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  11. "Kliimanormid-Õhutemperatuur" (in Estonian). Estonian Weather Service. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2016.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. "Kliimanormid-Sademed, õhuniiskus" (in Estonian). Estonian Weather Service. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2016.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. Fish, Endel. "Railroad of Saaremaa". Tourism in Saaremaa.
  14. "Kuressaare sõpruslinnad". Kuressaare linn. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  15. "The Teutonic Order (M2TW-K-TC faction)". wiki.totalwar.com. Retrieved 27 November 2019.

Sources
  • Е. М. Поспелов (Ye. M. Pospelov). "Имена городов: вчера и сегодня (1917–1992). Топонимический словарь." (City Names: Yesterday and Today (1917–1992). Toponymic Dictionary.) Москва, "Русские словари", 1993.

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