Saaremaa Museum is one of the oldest (founded in 1865) and biggest museums in Estonia, and is visited by 70-80 thousand people every year. Kuressaare Castle is a one-of-a-kind architectural monument in the world and one of the most important tourist attractions in Estonia.At the heart of the museum is an episcopal castle built during the 14th and 15th century which holds large permanent exhibitions of the nature of Saaremaa as well as of its earlier history and contemporary history. The episcopal castle also hosts various temporary exhibitions, concerts, plays, stylized bishop’s dinners and other events.The fortress that surrounds the castle took shape between the 14th and the 19th century and is a singular open-air museum of military architecture where one can get acquainted with the development of fortifications over time.During the summer period, guests can visit a permanent exhibition dedicated to the communist terror of 1941 in the Gunpowder Cellar located in the south bastion of the fortress and a display of historical weapons and several art exhibitions in the Cannon Cellar located in the north bastion. Chambers of handicrafts with a historical touch await visitors in the four cellars of the west bastion and historical cannon position has been restored on the lower flank of the north bastion.