Discover Pürksi: Manor Park, Manor House and Swedish Educational History

Pürksi combines a protected manor park with an unusual Swedish-Estonian educational history and a section of the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house in Pürksi will find a place where historical discoveries and outdoor activities can be combined during a holiday.

The Manor and Swedish Educational History

In the main building of Pürksi Manor, the newly established Swedish-language Pürksi Agricultural and Folk High School opened its doors in autumn 1920. It was the first educational institution where Estonian Swedes from otherwise quite isolated places came together. More than 570 young people from various Estonian Swedish settlement areas acquired modern knowledge of agriculture and household management there.

The curriculum also included Standard Swedish as well as Swedish literature, music and culture. This history makes the manor a special destination for anyone who wants to learn not only about landscapes but also about regional identity and educational paths during their journey. The preserved main building was probably constructed in several stages during the 19th century. The restored manor house was ceremonially opened in December 1995.

The Three-Part Manor Park

The informally designed park at Pürksi Manor was created in the second half of the 19th century. The manor park covers 3 hectares and consists of three parts; at the same time, it is under state protection. A distinctive feature is the ring of ten linden trees. Their crowns, more than 28 metres high, are connected to one another and shape the park as an impressive group of trees.

Individual natural features also deserve attention. A beech tree grows in the manor park and is protected as an individual natural object. The protected bat species põhja-nahkhiir and pargi-nahkhiir also live there. In 2005, the park contained 32 taxa of trees and shrubs. A walk at the manor can therefore be combined with a closer look at the trees, the park structure and protected nature.

Hiking the Österby–Riguldi Section

The Österby–Riguldi section of the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route passes through Pürksi. Its route runs along asphalt and gravel roads. This specific road surface is relevant when planning the day if you choose accommodation as a starting point for a hike and want to include the route in your travel plans.

There is a shop and a catering establishment along the section only in the village of Pürksi. This gives the village a clear point of reference within the route section described here. At the same time, it is worth adapting your daily plans to the section actually intended and its roads, rather than deriving additional characteristics from the route name.

Nature Information Directly at the Manor

The Noarootsi Nature Information Centre is located on the grounds of Pürksi Manor. It is housed in a building recognised as a historical monument. The centre organises themed seminars and other events. Visitors can learn about the region’s natural attractions there and obtain information about the protected manor park.

Pürksi may therefore be particularly interesting when choosing accommodation if you want to combine historic buildings, parkland nature and a documented hiking route in one stay. Depending on your focus, you can devote more of the day to the manor’s history, the park’s natural features or the Österby–Riguldi section. For further orientation, pages on Paslepa, Elbiku, Dirhami, Spithami, Rooslepa, Einbi and Tuksi are also available.

For the higher-level travel overview: Noarootsi.