Car Hire Kuressaare Airport (URE)

Saaremaa is Estonia's largest island and is a place of varied countryside, from rolling farmland and woodland to craggy shores and offshore islets. Saaremaa has abundance of wildlife and is also rich in history, with medieval churches, windmills and small, picturesque villages. Kuressaare was untouched by the wars that ravaged the mainland and by Soviet industrialisation and so has a surprisingly rich architectural heritage of Baroque, northern-Gothic and neo-classical buildings.

Kuressaare airport is situated on Saaremaa. The airport has two runways and is used for both domestic and international flights. Both runways were renovated in 1999 and there is a fully-equipped, modern terminal building.

Kuressaare has a number of interesting attractions. Its castle is the best preserved medieval fortress in Estonia. For many centuries it served as an episcopal residence, a prison and a sanctuary. The basic structure was built over a forty-year period from 1340 - 1380 and its massive walls were added in the 15th century. During the summer the castle hosts a full programme of concerts and the surrounding park often serves as the venue for song festivals and carnivals.

Further afield, the Viidumae Nature Reserve has its headquarters near the hamlet of Viidu. The building was originally a leper colony, but at the turn of the century it was converted into a scientific research centre. The reserve is small, covering only sixteen square kilometres and it consists entirely of forest or swamp. Unpromising as this may sound, 700 species of butterfly and 200 species of moths can be found within its boundaries. It is also home to a unique species of fern.

Kaali crater was formed around 3,000 BC by the impact of a meteor from space. Its strangeness attracts visitors and it was a sacred site to pre-Christian Estonians. The jade-green pool is almost a perfect circle and measures approximately 100m across.

Cars can be hired at the airport for exploring the island. Travellers to the island should book cars through their travel agents to get a good rate and to avoid the difficulty of pre-booking the car ferries from the mainland.