Haapsalu – the administrative centre of Läänemaa County is located just an hour’s drive from the national capital Tallinn. The Venice of the Northern Europe – a beautiful and romantic historical resort – is the perfect destination for families, couples looking for romance and health enthusiasts alike. Beside enjoying spa pleasures Haapsalu is known for its cultural calendar filled to a brim with events – a veritable event resort at least during the summer season.
Mud therapy
One of the reasons for the seaside resorts to be established and developed in Estonia was the local mud – famed for its therapeutic qualities and used by the locals since ancient times as folk medicine for treatment and relief – which continues to be used today.
In Haapsalu a bathhouse and mud treatment centre were opened in 1825 and run by the doctor Carl Abraham Hunnius who took great interest in therapeutic impact of the local sea mud and his research was a solid foundation for the future use of the therapeutic mud not only in Haapsalu, but all over Estonia.
The cornerstone of the local resort these days is the HEAL joint stock company offering mud therapy since 1992, when the Bergfeldt mud clinic was opened. In 1997 the Fra Mare Thalasso Spa complex accommodating 220 customers and including a hotel, restaurant, Day Spa (sauna and swimming pool area), therapeutic yoga house, gym, beauty salon, and a centre for treatment and medical procedures, was opened. The spa offers thalassotherapy, utilizing the benefits of marine products (seawater, sea mud, salt, seaweed) for the care and treatment of its guests.
HEAL holds a license essential for providing rehabilitation services, including procedures with sea mud. Sea mud has been scientifically researched and recognized in Estonia as an effective treatment and prevention method for various diseases and ailments, such as rheumatism, joint inflammations, radiculitis, psoriasis.
200th Anniversary
In 2025, the Haapsalu seaside resort in Estonia will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the opening of its first curative mud clinic. As part of the festivities and celebrations, further promoting of mud therapy both in Estonia and internationally, is planned. The international angle would be peaking by co-hosting along with the Estonian Spa Association (ESPAL) the international European Spas Association (ESPA) Congress on October 8-10 in Haapsalu.
Estonian Spa Association
Estonian Spa Association (ESPAL) headquartered in Haapsalu stands for a high level of service and quality having currently 18 members. Estonia’s beautiful sandy beaches, high-quality hotels and spas, renowned mud therapy centres and water parks have been attracting and welcoming thousands of tourists for many years, while Estonia’s spa traditions date back for almost 230 years – allegedely the first bathing facilities providing services being opened in 1790-ies.
