People have always been inspired by the mystery and remoteness of islands

It is no news that the more inaccessible the place, the more you want to go there. One of the reasons why islands continue to attract people is probably the opportunity to feel like an explorer discovering a new world.

Estonia has 1,521 offshore islands, which cover 4,140 sq km. 93% of the total area is accounted for by Saaremaa, Hiiumaa and Muhu islands.

During the Soviet regime the access to the islands was either restricted or completely forbidden, and you needed a special permission to visit Saaremaa. Some islands were voluntarily abandoned, and some were just emptied of people.

Today you can visit islands whenever you like, provided you find a suitable harbour to begin your journey, and a suitable boatman. The latter, of course, only applies to smaller islands. Saaremaa, the biggest island in Estonia, can be reached by ferries or by regular flights. The feeling of remoteness still remains, since ferry and plane traffic would stop at sunset. This is where the mystery of islands begins: you think you are free, but actually you are not.

Being surrounded by the sea, it has taught the Islanders two things: firstly, they have learned to be patient waiting to get to the island and secondly, they have learned to look into the distance, while walking on the shore. The Islanders have realised that they are not the centre of the world, since there are many other lands across the sea, which they and their ancestors have visited. And the Islanders have also realised that it is unwise to brave the stormy weather and the wild sea. These pieces of wisdom seem to have made the Islanders stick together, and whenever one Islander meets another, they always feel the bond between them.

Saaremaa and Muhu: former provincial estates

According to historians, the local manor architecture is rather modest. The soil suitable for large-scale farming was scarce, as opposed to the number of estates, which was considerable. Most mansions were one-storied and built on wood. There is no trace of awe-inspiring clusters of adjacent buildings. But regardless of that, there are a variety of manor houses worth preserving and exploring. Compared to the mainland building practices, the local architecture is much more archaic and true to tradition.

Manors that are worth exploring - Pädaste, Oti, Audla, Laimjala, Lööne, Pidula, Pilguse, Tumala, Tõlluste, Võhksa, Pihtla, Karja, Kandla, Saareküla. The list of Saaremaa's manor houses is actually much longer. You can stop by Audla, Laimjala, Lööne, Tumala, Võhksa, Pihtla, Karja, Kandla and Saareküla manors, where the mansions have been more or less preserved, offering a comprehensive overview of Saaremaa manor architecture. However there are a number of estates, where only the ancient park trees and ruins waiting to be renovated speak of the former glory.