What to do and see in , Parnu County: The Best Things to do

The imposing Pootsi-Kopu Holy Trinity Apostolic Orthodox Church is made of natural stone and decorated with large domes. It was built in 1873. The church has a baroque atmosphere and it is rather unique in Parnu County in architectural terms as there is no bell tower above the main entrance. Other orthodox churches have also been built by this standard design created by G. Schell, such as Lalsi Church in Viljandi County, Ooriku and Leisi in Saaremaa, etc. Useful information! Some of the congregation members who separated from the rest built the nearby wooden Seliste church 7 years earlier. There is a memorial plaque to Platon, the first bishop of the Estonian Apostolic-Orthodox Church, inside the church.

The beautifully renovated Tostamaa Manor has a colourful history and it is one of the best known sights in the area. Even though it has a late classicist appearance, the manor was established in the Middle Ages. It has been used as a school since 1921. You can go on a tour of the manor where you will learn about its history and see its rooms. The wall and ceiling murals, the beautiful main staircase and the room under the mantle chimney are particularly impressive. Useful information!The last owner of the manor was Alexander Stael von Holstein, a famous Orientalist who even became a professor at the University of Beijing. The crown of the manor, which is under heritage and nature conservation, is an oak with a top whose diameter is 23 m.

The local museum opened in the basement and chimney hall of Tostamaa Manor in 3006 introduces the life of local people through items and photos. You can see several exhibitions in the basement hall of the museum, which include a room full of different tools, illustrated stories of history, items from the Soviet times and also items associated with the sea and the lives of fishermen.You take a closer look at the mantle chimney and different exhibitions in the chimney hall on the third wall.

The present Tostamaa St Mary’s Lutheran Church of natural stone was built instead of the wooden church in 1763-1768. The tall church tower was the most important landmark for fishermen in Kihnu Strait. Inside the church, you can admire the beautiful arched ceiling, the altar painting given to the church for its 100th anniversary, the carved pulpit and memorial plaques to pastors and squires. Useful information! The building has been built on an unsteady surface of sand containing water, which has caused the church to sink over time. It can be explained with a local legend, which says that a church would not last if the village built a pub before it built a church.

Pootsi Rug Centre is located in the former farmhand’s house of Pootsi Manor. Woven rugs are always in demand and in fashion and you can take your pick from the rugs rolled out on the floor or the unfinished ones on the loom. You can buy or order the kind of rugs, runners, bags that you want. Other local handicrafts are also available. You can also learn weaving on the loom by appointment.

Sorgu is a tiny rocky island between Parnu and Riga. Its surface area is only five hectares (12 acres). It is a natural rockery and a paradise for seabirds. You can reach the shore by boat only from the northern tip of the island, which is a high plateau rising from the sea to the lighthouse. In order to protect migratory birds, it is prohibited to visit the island between 15th April and 1st July.Interesting to know:Iron stones from the island can be found in Parnu in old cobblestone pavements and piers. It is necessary to ask permission to visit the island from the Parnu County Environmental Services. But it is, for example, a wonderful canoeing destination.