| Name | Kihnu |
| Country | Estonia |
| Geography | The island of Kihnu was mentioned for the first time in 1386 (as Kyne). |
| Description | Sights:
In addition to the small islets at the NW coast of the island (Sangelaiud) several objects are under nature protection. Among others two boulders:
Kassikivi (“the cat’s stone”) with a perimeter of 4.5 m,
Kihnu Liiva-aa Suur Kivi (“the big stone in the sand garden of Kihnu”) with a perimeter of 12 m;and four very old trees:
an old oak on the territory of Koksi farmhouse, with a perimeter of 3.1 m and a height of 26 m,
three large lime trees on the territory of the one-time manor house of Kihnu, with perimeters of 3.2 m; 2.5 m; 2.3 m and heights of 17 m, 17 m, 16 m.
The old church was situated in the northern part of the island on a high sandy coast. According to a legend it was destroyed by a fire during the Nordic War (ca 1700–1710). The archeologists have discovered at the same place a burial ground dating back to the same area. The Lutheran church reform reached the island in the 1530s during the reign of Sweden. A new chapel was built in the middle of the island, almost at the location of the present church. In 1624 a subordinate church was established at the same place. During the movement of conversion that began in 1840 most of the islanders accepted Orthodox religion. Following an ukase from the Russian czar the subordinate church built of stone was given to the Orthodox congregation and the church was slightly rebuilt according to the traditions of Orthodox religion. The fence surrounding the church and the gate were built only at the beginning of this century.
The cemetery is for local people a place as sacred as the church. One should move there silently and should never go there after the sunset as not to disturb the dead. In the cemetery one can find crosses that date back to the end of the last century. The grave of the famous captain Enn Uuetoa, often known as Kihnu Jõnn, is situated near the main gate of the cemetery. His remains were brought to the island from Denmark in 1992. The grave of the carpenter of the captain’s last ship, called Rock City is next to him. The memorial stone of Kihnu Jõnn has been erected in the village of Rootsi at the birthplace of the legendary captain.
The museum of Kihnu was established in 1974 into the old schoolhouse. Expositions are divided between four rooms. Two of them are dedicated to the everyday life of the island through centuries: tools, clothes, handicrafts, furniture. The other two are dedicated to the local representatives of naïve art and to other famous men from Kihnu: Theodor Saar, a researcher in the studies of local lore; Enn Uuetoa, a captain and Peeter Rooslaid, a silversmith. All in all the funds of the museum include 700 items.
The first information about the local school comes from 1777. From 1863 children were taught in a church school that belonged to the Orthodox Church and consisted in four forms. In 1876 a subordinate school was established for girls and in 1921 an elementary school of six forms.
Two more forms were added to the school after World War II. Until 1972 the school was situated in the present-day museum, constructed of timber which was obtained from the dismantling of the old manor house. The new school was built in 1972 and restored in 1997/98.
There are 69 pupils and eight teachers in the school. In addition to the national curriculum the girls are taught the skills of local national handicrafts.
The civic center was built in the form of a bee in the years from 1947 to 1959. From that time on vocal ensembles, folk-dance groups, drama societies and folklore groups have worked in the civic center at different times. For many years the folklore group Kihnumua has tried to preserve and restore the ancient singing and dancing tradition of Kihnu.
Since 1887 Kihnu has had a public library which at the present moment is situated in the civic center.
The lighthouse of Kihnu is situated at the southernmost top of the island. The lighthouse was |
