Kuressaare

Infobox City
official_name = Kuressaare
native_name =


image_caption = Kuressaare Castle


image_shield = Kuressaare_coatofarms.pngpushpin_

map_caption = Location of Kuressaare in Estonia
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Estonia
subdivision_type1 = County
subdivision_name1 = Saare County
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Urve Tiidus
established_title = First appeared on map
established_date = 1154
area_total_km2 = 14.95
area_total_sq_mi = 5.77
population_as_of = 2007
population_total = 14898
population_density_km2 = 996.52
population_density_sq_mi = 2581.98
timezone = EET
utc_offset = +2
timezone_DST = EEST
utc_offset_DST = +3
latd=58 |latm=15 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=22 |longm=29 |longs= |longEW=E
website = [http://www.kuressaare.ee/uus/?setlang=eng www.kuressaare.ee]
footnotes =

Kuressaare ( _de. Arensburg) is a town and a municipality on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the capital of Saare County. The current population is about 15,300.

The town is situated on the coast of Gulf of Riga and is served by Kuressaare Airport.

History

Kuressaare, first mentioned in 1422, developed around a bishop's castle (Latin "Arx Aquilae"), first mentioned in 1381. In 1559 it was sold by the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek to Denmark, and it obtained its civic charter, modeled after that of Riga from Magnus of Livonia in 1563. In 1645 it passed to Swedish control in the Treaty of Brömsebro. Kuressaare was formerly known by the German and Swedish name of "Arensburg". Kuressaare was burnt to the ground by Russian troops in 1710 during the Great Northern War. With the Treaty of Nystad of 1721 the town passed to Russian control. During the 18th century Kuressaare became a popular resort. Its historic German name of Arensburg was replaced by Kuressaare in 1918 when Estonia declared its independence during World War I. From 1952-1988 it was called Kingissepa after the Bolshevik Kuressaare-native Viktor Kingissepp (not to be confused with the Russian town Kingisepp).

In October 1990, Kuressaare was the first town in Estonia to regain its self-governing status. Today, Kuressaare is a safe and healthy town, open for international cooperation and communication. It also hosts the FC Kuressaare football club.

Notable residents

Kuressaare is the birthplace of Voldemar Väli (1903-1997), who was a two time Olympic medalist for Estonia in the sport of Men's Greco-Roman Featherweight Wrestling. The Estonian-American architect Louis Kahn was also born there.

Sights

* The medieval episcopal castle, which houses the Saaremaa Regional Museum.

Twin towns

Ekenäs, Finland since 21 November 1988
Rønne, Denmark since 3 October 1991
Mariehamn, Finland since 24 October 1991
Skövde, Sweden since 23 June 1993
Vammala, Finland since 30 June 1994
Turku, Finland since 30 May 1996
Talsi, Latvia since 27 May 1998
Kuurne, Belgium since 9 August 1998

Gallery

See also

*Municipalities of Estonia
*List of municipalities of Estonia
*List of towns in Estonia

External links

en icon [http://www.kuressaare.ee/uus/?setlang=eng Kuressaare.ee - Official Website] en icon [http://www.saaremaa.ee/eng/general/kuressaare.php Information and history about the town] et icon [http://www.eeke.ee/ Kuressaare Airport homepage] en icon [http://85.89.38.58/ Kuressaare Live Webcam] en icon [http://www.estlandia.de/en/tourism-estonia/cities/kuressaare.html Kuressaare travel information]