10 Interesting Facts About Haapsalu

Facts About Haapsalu

Facts About Haapsalu

  1. The town dates back to 1279, when it was chartered and became the centre of the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek, which it remained for the next 300 years.
  2. Haapsalu and the surrounding area was the centre for the Estonian Swedes from the 13th century until the evacuation of almost all ethnic Swedes from Estonia in 1944.
  3. In the 19th century, Haapsalu became famous for its shawls, a delicate craft made by local women.
  4. Haapsalu is the site of a fencing school founded by Estonian fencer Endel Nelis, used as the setting of the Finnish-Estonian film The Fencer.
  5. Haapsalu is twinned with: Borovichi, Novgorod Oblast, Russia; Bethlehem, Palestine; Eskilstuna, Sweden; Fundão, Portugal; Greve in Chianti, Italy; Haninge, Sweden; Hanko, Finland; Uman, Ukraine; Rendsburg, Germany & Loviisa, Finland.
  6. The first Haapsalu mud spa opened its doors in 1825 and since then Haapsalu has attracted spa lovers from all over the world including the Old Russian czars.
  7. The name “Haapsalu” is from Estonian Haab ‘aspen’ and salu ‘grove. In Swedish and German, the town is called Hapsal, and in Russian it is Га́псаль (Gapsal).
  8. The August Blues Festival is held every August in Haapsalu.
  9. Haapsalu is a seaside resort town located on the west coast of Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Lääne County.
  10. The population of Haapsalu is 10,236, as of 2017.
Facts About Haapsalu
Facts About Haapsalu