Kuressaare: The Cutest Town in Estonia
Every Estonian city is mesmerizing in their own way, but this one is particularly cute.
With a population of 13,276, Kuressaare is not quite a city — though in Estonia, everything above 5000 people is considered a formidable crowd!
If you’re looking for a cozy medieval town to shoot your next movie in — or just relax after some extensive filming travel and work — the picturesque municipality is the perfect place to explore, wind down, write, and maybe even shoot a few more scenes.
Once a popular resort town due to its proximity to the Baltic Sea, Kuressaare’s charm still draws summer crowds. But during the off-season it’s practically deserted, which makes it the perfect place to not only enjoy inexpensive accommodation, but also film with few interruptions.
Situated on the coast of the Gulf of Riga, Kuressaare is the capital of Saare County, an area which includes Saaremaa, the largest Estonian island, as well as its surrounding smaller islands. To get there from Tallinn, it’s at least a three-hour drive and ferry ride. Or even better, you can fly from Tallinn to Kuressaare, if the idea of a short ride in an ancient-looking propeller plane doesn’t scare you off!
The town’s main attraction is the Gothic-style Kuressaare Castle, which records show was built before the 1380s. These days, Kuressaare Castle is open to everybody. It’s considered one of the best-preserved medieval fortifications in Estonia. The architecture in this place is simple yet stunning, as one would imagine a 14th-century medieval building might look.
This is the perfect location to shoot a period piece. But Estonia is becoming more popular by the minute, so if you want to get there to film a movie using the vast space and exquisite medieval castle, hurry up, before someone else takes their cameras to this incredible place.
If the quaint medieval backdrop, relaxed feel and unique architecture isn’t enough to draw you in, you should also know that Kuressaare is famous for is its spas. In in fact there are over a dozen spa hotels centrally located and at reasonable price points!
While perhaps not the most unique movie locations, Kuressaare spas still offer an opportunity to recover after a hard day’s work. After all, who could resist the lure of a place which offers unique filming opportunities in a quiet setting complete with affordable spa hotels?
The benefits of filming in Kuressaare are not limited to these sweet sites, though.
Should you decide to bring your movie production to Estonia, you may be eligible to receive a 30% cash rebate on eligible production costs!