Hiiumaa lighthouses drew nearly 30,000 visitors last year

Nearly 30,000 people visited the lighthouses of Hiiumaa last year, accounting for almost one third of all lighthouse visits in Estonia, ERR reported.

Estonia currently has 14 lighthouses open to visitors, including three on Hiiumaa: Ristna, Tahkuna and Kõpu. The country has 55 lighthouses in total.

Ristna Lighthouse was recently reopened after renovation. Andres Unn, the Transport Administration’s state asset manager, said historical sources claim that its metal structure came from the Eiffel factory.

Kristel Peikel, head of the Hiiumaa tourism cluster, said the island’s year of lighthouses was launched because Kõpu Lighthouse is turning 495 this year. She said Kõpu was, to her knowledge, the oldest continuously operating lighthouse whose work had never been interrupted. Two other lighthouses in that category are located outside Estonia.

Tens of thousands of visitors also climb the stairs to the top of Kõpu Lighthouse each year. Its operator, Ene Reidma, estimated that 95 percent of visitors go up the tower, and that 95 percent of those also visit the café, at least for coffee.

The latest reconstruction of Ristna Lighthouse cost 160,000 euros, Unn said. Antti Leigri, deputy chairman of the Hiiumaa municipal council, thanked lighthouse visitors, saying ticket revenue was directed back into maintaining the towers. The municipality also plans to continue work on Kõpu Lighthouse.