EN 5 INSIDER TIPS 5 INSIDER TIPS 1. Enjoy a rest for body and 1. Visit the medieval ruins soul and visit S:t Mary´s of the Orden Castle. The Cathedral, built in 1225 by construction of the castle merchants from Lübeck. began in 1224, built on the Unique organ from 1599. former Estonian stronghold. 2. Explore the impressive City 2. Relax at the shores of Lake Wall. The 3,5 km long City Viljandi. Wall started to be built in the middle of the 13th century 3. Enjoy the best selection of to protect the medieval local cuisine at café Fellin and 9 ENCHANTING Android: iOs: Hanseatic city. It belongs to Android & iOs: café-restaurant Harmoonia. the most complete and best- preserved fortifications in 4. Take part in workshops of HANSEATIC CITIES VISBY Europe. VILJANDI Bonifatius Guild’s craftsmen. 3. Enjoy the Black Truffle. 5. Visit the annual Hanseatic What almost nobody knows – Day in Viljandi, always on the CITIES WITH Visby – Manhattan of Middle Ages Black Truffle grows on Viljandi (Fellin) – City of Festivals 1st weekend of June. STORIES TO TELL Gotland! The real highlight Joint heritage. Castles. In 1161 Gotland signs the Artlenburg Treaty with the especially the Cathedral S:t Mary. Visby remained a The oldest settlement findings at the Viljandi Lake it was permanently extended and modernized. In is the Truffle Festival in Medieval flair. German Duke Henry the Lion. The Hansa was born. Hanseatic centre for 200 years. In 1361 the island was November. date back to the 5th millennium B.C. In the 12th 1283 Viljandi got town privileges. In the beginning of German merchants used Gotland as important trading conquered by the Danish king Valdemar and slowly fell century the first permanent settlement around the 14th century, the town became a member of the point within the Baltic Sea region. Visby was founded into a slumber of ages. Since 1645 Gotland belongs to 4. Biking tours around Visby. the Viljandi castle emerged, which later developed Hanseatic League and an important trading point to CULINARY AND INFORMATION and became the first commercial centre of the Hansa. Sweden. Today Visby is a flourishing town where the Rent a bike and make a tour to an economic centre in the Sakala District. In the and from Russia. Viljandi is a bit remote place in the TIPS Merchants came from far and near to trade. Magnifi- Hanseatic heritage is present everywhere. The Old Local. Seasonal. Tasteful. in the surroundings of Visby early 13th century, the Sword Brethren besieged southestonian forests but is anyhow a very beloved Inspired by old recipes. cent churches, convents and impressive warehouses Town of Visby, listed as UNESCO World Heritage, is and enjoy the breath-taking Viljandi. Where a wooden stronghold was situated, tourism destination by the Estonians. In the small gave the city its character. The architect Corbusier has the venue of several festivals all through the year: the nature. the construction of a powerful Orden Centre was charming city, a wide range of popular thematic in modern times called Visby the medieval Manhat- Medieval Week and the Gotland Art Week in August, initiated in 1224. It was supposed to be the biggest festivals take place, from Viljandi Folk Music Festival BIKING AND TREKKING tan – nowhere else so many imposing buildings were to the Food-Festival Gotland Gastronomy in April and the 5. Enjoy the Medieval Week – one in the Baltic region. During the next 200 years to authentic medieval markets. ROUTES be seen. Some of them are still impressive landmarks, Truffle Festival in November. an authentic Hanseatic Nearness to nature. festival in August. Medieval Breath-taking scenery. 9 HIGHLIGHTS market, tournaments, 9 HIGHLIGHTS concerts and much more. 1 Park Almedalen, originally 1 The ruins of the medieval HANSEATIC FESTIVALS the Hanseatic harbour Viljandi castle Medieval ambience. 2 The Cathedral S:t Mary 2 Viljandi suspension bridge, Taste, feel, experience. constructed in 1879 in 3 The Botanical Garden, an Rīga, installed at Viljandi oasis all year round Castle in 1931 4 Stora Torget, dominated by 3 Kondas Centre, the ruins of the Franciscan art museum convent 4 Viljandi Museum, presents 5 Klinten, hill from where the history of Viljandi you have a wonderful view 5 Viljandi Old Water Tower 6 Gotlands Museum, get to Contacts Contacts know Gotland’s rich history Tourist Information Centre, 6 Bonifatius Guild, medieval Viljandi Tourist Information 7 St Hans Café, situated in Donners plats 1 artisans’ guild Centre, the ruins of St Per and 7 Lake Viljandi beach Vabaduse plats 6, Viljandi, St Hans churches 621 57 Visby, Sweden Tel.: +46 498 20 17 00 8 Strawberries in Viljandi Estonia 8 Fiskargränd, the most Tel.: +372 433 0442 beautiful alley of the Old [email protected] 9 Viljandi St. John’s Church, SUOMI Town www.gotland.com built on the ruins of a [email protected] PÄRNU, VILJANDI Franciscan Abbey www.visitviljandi.ee CĒSIS, KOKNESE,STRAUPE, KULDĪGA, VALMIERA LIMBAŽI, VISBY 9 Restaurant Lindgården, /inspirationgotland NORGE taste local specialities SVERIGE EESTI 5 INSIDER TIPS 5 INSIDER TIPS Pärnu Viljandi A 1. Visit Cēsis Castle Complex. 1. Pärnu Beach. Enjoy a E ROSSIJA The Medieval Castle and romantic walk along Pärnu's S Valmiera Limbaži the New Castle make an beach promenade. Stop for a interesting ensemble, which drink at sunset in one of the Visby Cēsis reflects 10 centuries of cosy beach-cafés. C Straupe I history. 2. The wooden villas. Admire DANMARK T LATVIJA Koknese L Kuldīga 2. Explore Cīrulīši Nature the architecture from Pärnu’s A Trails by the River Gauja. ancient times as a health B The River Gauja served as resort. an important trade route in Android: iOs: Android: iOs: MOBILE APPS LIETUVA the Middle Ages. Today the 3. Feel the festival mood at the river is perfectly suited for Hanseatic Day. Always the last recreational activities. weekend in June. Medieval market, performances, music. CĒSIS 3. Experience the Hansa PÄRNU Easy. Offline. Just download and “Explore Hansa”. ABOUT THE HANSA PROJECT Market and Cēsis Town Festival. 4. The thematic tour “City In the 3rd weekend of July, air shall set you free”. Get to The HANSA project unites 9 small and enchanting Hanseatic cities,BIEŁARU Ś Cēsis (Wenden) – Where Past Meets Future history comes alive at a Pärnu (Pernau) – Hanseatic Paradise for Seaside Holiday know everything about the Explore Hansa mobile applications provide you with all the necessary rich in heritage and tradition, – Visby in Sweden, Pärnu and Viljandi in sparkling medieval festival. way of living in Pärnu during information about each city and its wonderful sights. You can also Estonia and Cēsis, Koknese, Kuldīga, Limbaži, Straupe and Valmiera Cēsis was founded in 1206 and is the third oldest town Today Cēsis belongs to the most important Latvian Pärnu was founded in 1251 by the Teutonic Order, the tourists come from Estonia, Finland, Germany and Hanseatic times. learn about the Hanseatic history of the 9 cities. in Latvia. in Latvia. In the 14th century Cēsis became a member of centres for art and culture. Sights of interest are the 4. Take a themed tour “Cēsis – and the castle Ordensburg (Castle of the Order) was Sweden (Swedes already before WWII). After the fall of POLSKA the Hanseatic League. Thanks to the city’s favourable medieval castle, the Old Town with its completely Hanseatic Town”. mentioned for the first time in 1265. Pärnu became the iron curtain and Estonia’s regained independence, 5. Pärnu moat. Admire the The QR codes you find on the page about each city. Available both for DEUTSCHLAND The cities are real hidden gems, worthwhile to experience and explo- location on the trading route to Russia, Cēsis rapidly preserved street-net, the oldest brewery in Northern a member of the Hanseatic League – of importance Pärnu was appointed „Summer capital of Estonia“ highest fountain in Estonia Android and iOS. The downloaded Apps can be used offline. Available re. Make your choice: developed into an important trading post for all kinds Europe and the wooden villas built on the banks of the 5. Participate in a medieval was the ice-free harbour. After the Livonian war in in June 1996. Pärnu has a big yacht harbour and an and enjoy a walk or a picnic in several languages. of merchandise. A mint was built towards the end of the River Gauja. feast at Cēsis Castle. 1561, Pärnu belonged to Sweden and had a cultural airport. The Elisabeth and Katarina churches, the Red on the charming meadow of • A cosy weekend to enjoy local specialities 15th century and Cēsis got its own currency: the Cēsis An opulent medieval meal in and economic heyday. Pärnu is situated at the mouth Tower, the Villa Ammende and the Tallinn (Reval) Gate the Pärnu moat. • Active holiday by biking, walking or trekking Schilling. This brought an even higher significance to the splendid castle, shared of the river with the same name. The city has a 3 km are interesting sights in the Old Town. Cēsis and the city became one of the most important long sandy beach in the northern part of the Bay of • Exciting authentic Hanseatic Festivals with the most famous Hanseatic junctions in the whole Baltic region. Rīga. Pärnu is a popular spa and beach resort since • Splendid scenery for nature lovers personality of the Livonian period – the Master of 1838, when the first swimming baths opened. Most of The HANSA project is part of the activities of the modern Hansa the Livonian Order, Wolter network (die Hanse), established in Zwolle in 1980, and their label 9 HIGHLIGHTS von Plettenberg. 9 HIGHLIGHTS as Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, awarded in 1991.