Romantic castle hotel and spa. Laitse, Kernu parish, Harjumaa, Estonia. 35 minutes from the centre of Tallinn, no speeding. Background and goals: The goal was to reshape Laitse castle into a 21-room hotel, which would serve as one of the most romantic castle (manor) hotels, with a health spa situated in the courtyard. The spa would have a swimming pool, a large hot tub, and three saunas. In addition, we planned to create four mazes in the park: a large hedge maze, a small dome maze, a large sport maze, and a balancing maze for children. We’ve already completed the first public chapel of the restored Estonian Republic. We started renovations in the summer of 2012, and at present we have completed 14 romantic hotel rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floor. The 7 rooms are in the middle of renovations. In the summer 2013 the first public chapel in post-war Estonia was completed. We’ve created the first of the four planned mazes, and opened facilities on the first floor for organising cooking master classes. Construction has begun on the spa complex in the courtyard. View from the park. The Laitse area is relatively unique on today’s tourism landscape in Estonia. In close geographical proximity you can find four tourism-oriented enterprises, each one of which is at the top of their respective specialisations: Laitse Castle, Laitse Rally Park, Laitse Granite Villa (Tauno Kangro’s studio), and Ruila Stables. This region has the potential to become a more attractive tourist destination than the current complex of nationalised manor houses in Lahemaa. The emphasis in the tourism sector is to provide View from the park. customers with experiences. Experiences sell. The nascent tourism centre in Laitse is currently attractive to many specific demographics – rally and motor sports enthusiasts, culture and art aficionados, people interested in equestrian sports, manor tourism, and people interested in gastronomy. What’s missing is an experiential product aimed at a wider audience. And a spa center for the winter season. At the same time, the demand for such a product is acute and lasting. We at Laitse Castle want to offer various experiential Lobby. products for different target groups, which we will describe in more detail later. All of these products are bound together with our exemplary lodging and the kitchen of the restaurant. Balcony. History. Laitse manor, or Laitz in German, began life as a separate estate in 1642, when it was partitioned from the neighbouring Ruila manor. At the start of the 20th century, Nissi county had 14 estates, consisting of one 1 church estate, 9 main knight estates with 2 adjoining estates and 2 half-estates, and two grazing estates. Situating a few dozen kilometers southwest of Tallinn, Laitse has been mentioned as early Henrik’s Li- vonian Chronicles, where it’s recorded as a village called Ladise where crusaders sought refuge from the bitter colds of late February, 1219. For a long time the village was part of the Ruila order estate and was gifted along with it to the burgomaster of Riga, Johann Ulrich, in the spring of 1622. It was during his reign that the Laitse manor was founded, its existence confirmed by 1637 at the latest. Laitse was mostly held by the Ulrichs until 1814, when it was bequeathed to the Mohren- schildts. /../The Mohrenschildts remained in Laitse until the spring of 1860, after which the estate was held in succession by the pastor’s widows and or- phans fund of Tallinn, the industrialist Alexander Eg- gers and Paul Heinrich von Dehn, until in April 1883, Laitse Castle in 1905. the wealthy Natalie von Uexküll of Kose-Uuemõisa bought it for her son Woldemar. The current neogothic manor house was built by Woldemar von Uexküll around 1890. It is a romantic castle, and a romantic spirit was shared by its builder. Starting out in a military career, he later resigned and found his calling in literature and religious mysti- cism. /../ Uexküll, though, remained the owner of Laitse only until 1909, since his only son had been expunged from knighthood and couldn’t inherit, and his daugh- ter had moved abroad. Thus the estate finally ended up at the hands of the Bremens. Ants Hein, “Eesti Mőisaarhitektuur” Known owners of Laitse estate: 1642 Wilhelm Ulrich 1680 Johann Caspar Adam 1790 Friedrich Johann Ulrich 1814 Christina Mohrenschildt 1860 Tallinna kirikuőpetajate leskede ja orbude kassa 1873 Alexander Eggers 1879 Heinrich Dehn 1883 Woldemar von Uexküll 1910 Ulrich Bremen 1919 Eesti Vabariik In 1938, the Interior Ministry of the Estonian Republi opened a youth colony in the thoroughly restructured castle. During the second World War, the castle served as a prison for both the Germans and the Russians. According to the villagers, the guards were the same local men for both sides. After the war, the castle was used as a service building for the Laitse radio station, with dwellings, Communist corner, communications and other necessities. In what is now the colonial store in the courtyard held the village bath house. As of 1996, the formerly empty castle became the home of Sulo and Marju Muldia. Completed jobs When we first stepped into the castle in the early spring of 1996, it was in a pretty sad state. Damp, frozen, broken windows. The floor of what is now the pub had a thick layer of ice. But we were in love, and noth- ing seemed impossible. On September 5th, 1996, we signed the transfer act. It was several months before we found out that there’s a pond in the castle park. It was that grown in after years of neglect. In the first year we went there to dream. We didn’t have specific plans for the castle yet. In spring of 1997 we started moving trash out of the building, and in the autumn we started renovating our living quarters. We have rebuilt the castle from the start without rushing, room by room. We have tried to renovate and reuse everything we could, whether it is 100 or 20 years old. It’s all part of the building’s history. Laitse Castle in 1996. Laitse Castle in 2004. In 1999, the pub and banquet hall were renovated, in 2000 we opened a colonial-style general store in the courtyard. In 2003 we installed central heating and renovated the parlour. In 2004, the cellar floor was turned into a sauna complex, and the exterior of the castle was renovated. Guesthouse in 2003. Guesthouse in 2005. In 2005, we opened a 20-room guest house in the old journeyman quarters, situated next to the park. Across from the main entrance of the castle, a sculpture of the Castle Guardsman was erected. Castle Guardsman. In 2007, an old barn near the park was turned into a romatic apartment compelx with 8 flats. In 2012, the first part of the castle park was also restored. Old barn in 2005. Apartment complex in 2007. In the park, the White Chapel of Laitse Castle has been completed and has been actively used since then. As far as we know, it is the first public chapel built in the post-war era. The chapel doors are open to all comers during the day. The services held in the chapel are not bound to any particular denomination. The chapel has hosted weddings, baptisms, and concerts. Old pump station in 2012. Chapel in 2013, built to the place of pomp station. Investments in 2012-2013 In the autumn of 2012, we began major reconstruction. We started developing a proper castle hotel with a spa complex and other related services. On the cellar floor Sauna is opened and the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors, we’ve completed 14 unique hotel rooms, each with a singular interior design motif. Kitchen in the Chef`s room. Hallway in 3. floor. Hallway in 2. floor. Old Rosie`s room. Colonial room. Sleeping Beauty`s room. Tower room. Nannys room. Playroom. The doll room. Bathroom in the Old Rosie`s room. Miss room. In the tower room of the first floor, we’ve created an professional-grade studio kitchen, for holding cooking master class lessons. The marble counters have ample room for 12 participants. Tie your aprons, don your chefs hats, and prepare your dinner. A great idea for birthday celebrations, company trips, and after-hours activities for seminars. Different cuisines, different techniques, different chefs. Events can be self-run, without an instructor. Or we can invite one of Estonia’s top chefs to provide training Studio kitchen. and direction for the evening. It’s also possible to forgo cooking, and choose a wine course instead. Everything’s possible in the kitchen. Studio kitchen. The English Room on the 2nd floor has been turned into a fully equipped seminar hall. At 56 m2, it can fit up to 50 participants. Coffee breaks can be held in the Open Kitchen, the Head Chef’s Kitchen, the 2nd floor balcony, or the tower balcony. English room. In the park, the first maze has been completed, called the Thousand Tuft Hill. The second, sports labyrinth, is still under construction. Mazes and labyrinths are one of the most universal forms of experiential structures. Different mazes are suitable for different age groups, ensuring everyone has a time worth remembering. Tourist groups, especially foreign tourists, have been experience- oriented for a while. These experiences shouldn’t be too physically demanding, and should also allow for The dome maze. socialising. In our market analysis we have highlighted the crucial difference between the mazes being built at Laitse, and other existing and planned theme parks in Estonia.