What to do and see in Laane County, Laane County: The Best Museums

A 13th century bishop and guild manor is nowaday’s known as Lihula museum. The museum gives overview of the history of South Laanemaa, Lihula and its fortress. The museum displays many interesting findings of archaeological studies. Visitors often admire the exhibition of local ethnographical materials like traditional clothing, carpets and tools. Special expositions are held during the summer months. Good to know: Lihula Tourism Information office is situated in the same building.

Communication Museum offers a reviewof the development of telecommunications in Western Estonia and other. Do You still remember old telephone terminals- and equipment from different time periods, starting from an old crank wall phone up to modern mobile phones? There's something interesting for everyone.Good to know:One museum room has been set up as a postal history room, they also use a special stamp.

Ants Laikmaa was one of the most colourful personalities of Estonian art, having gained prominence both as a portrait painter and a landscape artist. His favourite technique was pastel. In 1917 here, on the Tammiku Farm land in the village of Kadarpiku, Ants Laikmaa began the building of a new home. In 1932 the artist closed down his studio-school in Tallinn and moved to this parish of Taebla. His house was completed, built in a folk-romantic style, unique for Estonia at that time. In 1960 it was opened to the public as a museum, showcasing Ants Laikmaa's studio, living and working quarters. Take a walk in the picturesque park and visit the artist's final resting place at his home farm.

The Haapsalu Shawl, an extremely fine knitted shawl that can be pulled through a woman’ ring, has been the symbol of Haapsalu since the last century. At that time, as well as today, they are highly regarded by women. The knitters of traditional shawls knitter are professionals; the skill is passed down from generation to generation. In the Shawl Museum, which is located in a jewellery workshop, you can see a permanent exhibition on the past and present of the Haapsalu shawl, examine the extremely fine patterns, and buy one of the masterpieces for yourself.Interesting fact: Haapsalu shawls have been presented as gifts to the women of the Swedish Royal Family as well as the Estonian President’s honoured guests.

The Ilon Wikland Gallery, showcasing the work of the illustrator of Astrid Lindgren's children's books, opened in Haapsalu in 2006. Ilon's World of Wonders opened in 2009.Did you know...? *At Ilon's World of Wonders you can draw, watch films, admire Ilon's illustrations, write a letter to Karlsson, test your skills in the handicraft workshop and Mattias' house, discover the secrets of the Magic Well, try stilt-walking, watch children's performances, work in the Bullerby kitchen, enjoy a picnic and have a great time generally!Check out the summer and winter schedule of events on the Ilon's World of Wonders website.

The works of Evald Okas, a great figure in the Estonian art world and an honorary member of the Florence Art Academy, can be found in museum collections in Estonia and abroad. This museum has been enriching the art life of Haapsalu since 2003. The primary attraction is the constantly changing permanent exposition, exhibitions of works by Okas’ family and those of various other artists.Did you know...?*The building, constructed in the mid-19th century as a tavern, enjoys a unique aura*You can take part in art courses and attend interesting exhibitions*Since 1939, Okas’ works have been displayed in 50 solo exhibitions

This museum in Haapsalu introduces the thousand-year-old settlements of the coastal Swedes in Estonia. In the house inaugurated by the King of Sweden, you can acquaint yourself with their unique cultural heritage and see a 20-metre embroidered rug that depicts the life of the Estonian-Swedes. There is a scene where Swedish peasant bought Large-Pakri Island from the Padise Monastery for 34 gold marks in 1345. Swedish King Carl Gustaf had great words of praise for the pictorial rug! In addition, other interesting undertakings take place and traditional wedding feasts are held. Good to know: A wooden sailboat – Jaala – was built in the net shed next to the museum, which was modelled on boats from Ruhnu Island.

The railway terminus with its intriguingly grand station building, constructed in the early 20th century to service the bustling resort town of Haapsalu, invites you to take a virtual journey back in time, accompanied by steam engine noises, to learn about the evolution of railways in Estonia spanning almost a century and a half. Here you can also see different methods of communicating information, from early telegraph and telephone devices to the wireless communications and television. Old locomotives and carriages made their final stop here and you can also come across a polite stationmaster and a skeleton telephone, or visit the old post office. This is all the Station, a place of arrivals and departures through the prism of the past.

You can see vintage vehicles in the former house of field hands in the Virtsu Manor, the exhibits are from the private collection of Valeri Kirss. Among the displayed exhibits there are unique horse-drawn vehicles, bicycles, and automobiles. Good to know: there are also more than 200-year-old vehicles exhibited!

Haapsalu City Gallery showcases and promotes the artistic life not only of Haapsalu itself, but of Estonia as a whole. Located in newly refurbished premises in the Haapsalu Cultural Centre, the gallery is spacious and full of light, making it the perfect place to exhibit paintings and graphic art or even photography or ceramics.