• 1796

  First spas

  

  Meri ja supelasutused Kadriorus (fragment), EKM j 190:149 G 2272, Eesti Kunstimuuseum, http://www.muis.ee/museaalview/1484758

  One of the first spas was Carlsbad that opened in 1796 in Viimsi Manor. It was made up of a guesthouse, bathhouse and a restaurant. In 1798 a similar entertainment centre was opened in Löwenruh (Roosna) Manor. In addition to private bathrooms it boasted a ballroom, bowling alley, shooting range, bakery and a restaurant. A similar complex was opened in 1812 in Wittenhof Manor. In 1813 – 1815 four new spas popped up in Tallinn…

• 1813

  First seaside resort

  

  Tallinn, Pirita, grupp suvitajad rannaliivas., TLM F 5638, Tallinna Linnamuuseum, http://www.muis.ee/museaalview/2162787

  In Kadriorg, near Tallinn (now central Tallinn) imperial palace and a park, Doctor Benedikt Georg Witte’s spa, guesthouse, stables and bathing machines on the beach formed what became known as the first seaside resort of the Russian Empire. The guests could enjoy hot and cold salt water baths, both with and without various herbs. Kadriorg became the most popular resort amongst the Russian elite for decades to come. It was also visited by the members of the imperial family. Including Emperor Nikolai the First’s three daughters.

• 1824

  First medical spa in Saaremaa

  

  Kuressaare, linna supelasutus, ERM Fk 2805:10, Eesti Rahva Muuseum, http://www.muis.ee/museaalview/564126

  In the beginning of the 19th century a business-minded farmer in Saaremaa started offering mud treatments in his sauna. This inspired the local estate owner to open a mud treatment centre with six specially equipped bathrooms. The first guests arrived from St. Petersburg and the Baltics. Good treatment results were not left unnoticed and soon the imperial health department of Livonia was conducting research into therapeutic effects of the mud of Saaremaa. The treatment centre was open until 1836, the local farmers offered treatments throughout the whole 19^th century.

• 1825

  Establishing of the Haapsalu Resort

  

  Haapsalu Suur Promenaad. Postkaart. Jaan Moik’i erakogu.

  In 1825 Count Magnus de la Gardie opened a bathhouse and mud treatment centre in Haapsalu.  Running it was doctor Carl Abraham Hunnius who was very interested in therapeutic effects of the local sea mud. His research was a solid foundation for future use of therapeutic mud.

• 1838

  Establishing of the Pärnu resort

  In the fall of 1837 the building of a bathing centre was begun. On the 28^th of June in 1838 it received its first guests. Salt water baths and swimming sessions in the sea were offered in the summer. In the winter the establishment served as a sauna. 

• 1840

  Establishing of the Kuressaare resort

  

  Grupp turiste kõlakoja ees , SM F 3761:904 F, Saaremaa Muuseum, http://www.muis.ee/museaalview/1563021

  Kuressaare became the 4^th resort town when a small mud treatment centre opened its doors. It was called Weise and it was a small house with thatched roof.

• 1845

  The seaway between Haapsalu and St. Petersburg

  

  Fotopostkaart. Suur grupp inimesi (kontserdipublik?) Haapsalu pargis, HKM Fp 815:108 F 3364, Hiiumaa Muuseum, http://www.muis.ee/museaalview/1841644

  In 1845 a ship route was established between Haapsalu and St. Petersburg. The popularity of the destination rose accordingly and Haapsalu became the new favourite spot for the imperial family of Russia. In the years 1845-46 an estate ownder Theodor Andreas von Ungern-Strenberg built an elite medical spa in Haapsalu.

• 1876

  Development of Kuressaare

  

  Kuressaare laht, esiplaanil pirjekad, SM F 3761:995 F, Saaremaa Muuseum, http://www.muis.ee/museaalview/1610961

  Kuressaare’s most exclusive and modern mud treatment centre run by dr. Mierzejevski was opened in 1876. In addition to that another treatment centre with 36 bathrooms was opened in 1883. Many new houses were built to cater the needs of health tourists.

• 1876

  First medical spa in Narva-Jõesuu

  In 1876 a medical spa focused on water treatments was opened in the holiday resort of Narva-Jõesuu. In 1894 Narva-Jõesuu officially became a resort and obtained nicknames like Miniature St. Petersburg and Pearl of the Baltic Sea. It became very popular among the high society of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

• 1890

  Pärnu – the Imperial Resort

  In 1890 another modern bathing facility was opened in Pärnu. The same year Pärnu was officially added to the list of Imperial Resorts of the Russian Empire. This title had a very positive effect on development of Pärnu. New avenues were planned and built, seaside park was expanded, children’s play yards, stadiums, tennis courts, a velodrome and a district of villas was built.

• 1902

  The development of Narva-Jõesuu

  In the year 1902 and 1909 two more medical spas were opened in Narva-Jõesuu.  Main treatment methods were different baths (mud, pine extract, steam, sulphur etc) but also showers, massage and electrical treatments.

• 1922

  Estonian Travel Bureau – AS Eesti Reisibüroo

  In the year 1922 Estonian Travel Bureau was established. Its main goal was to promote Estonia as a tourism destination in foreign countries. Campaigns were held in Germany, in Finland and most actively in Sweden. Also – visa was easier to get if one visited Estonia in the summer and for holidays.

  The campaigns were successful and in the first half of the 1920s inquiries about the spas started coming in. Soon the first tourists from Finland and other Scandinavian countries started pouring in.

• 1922

  New sanatorium in Haapsalu

  

  Haapsalu kuursaal. Foto. Jaan Moik’i erakogu.

  In the summer of 1922 a new sanatorium was opened in Haapsalu. It was partly funded by the Estonian Red Cross and was meant for the disabled. Medical services were offered by three more institutions at that time.

• 1923

  Scandalous beaches

  

  Suvepäev Pirita rannas: suplejad meres, jalutajad, puhkajad lamamistoolidel ja liival, rannakohvik., TLM F 10229:119, Tallinna Linnamuuseum, http://www.muis.ee/museaalview/1190709

  The European beach culture – unisex beaches, suntanning, socializing and sports games – reached Estonia in the beginning of the 1920s. The first unisex beach was opened in 1923 near Tallinn, in Pirita (a very popular beach in Estonia even nowadays). The next one in the year 1924 in Pärnu. Many of the old fashioned resort towns considered unisex beaches totally outrageous and refused to follow such practice. In Kuressaare there were separate dressing rooms and swimming hours for men and women until the 1930s. Unisex beach was not opened until 1932.

• 1939

  II World War

  The resorts were enthusiastically planning new spa trends for the seasons to come, but the mutual assistance pact forced upon Estonia by the Soviet Union, the Soviet Union’s hostilities against Finland and political aftermaths of these actions halted the development of the resorts for years.

• 1940

  Changes

  The new Soviet government brought a lot of changes. Resorts were nationalized and now they were run by different government institutions. The ideology and priorities of the Soviet Union were also carried out in the management of the spas – for example the services were now a privilege enjoyed by the factory workers not foreign aristocrats or tourists. Pärnu Beach Hotel was turned into a holiday home for workmen: “Our working class heroes now enjoy relaxing vacations for the first time in their lives. All thanks to the government!”

• 1942

  Resort for the military

  From the year 1942 to 1944 the spas of Pärnu were primarily available for the soldiers.

• 1943

  Haapsalu reopens

  

  Haapsalu jahtklubi. Postkaart. Jaan Moik’i erakogu.

  In the summer of 1943 the Haapsalu mud treatment centre opened its doors again. “These days workers and their children are the only eligible holidaymakers and we are happy to welcome them!” wrote the local newspaper.

• 1950

  Soviet Period

Source / texts author: Tiit Kask © 2012-2013