Description:

Harju-Rätsepa Windmill was restored in 2001. It is a typical post windmill of the Hiiumaa island. Windmills have been an integral part of Hiiumaa’s landscape for centuries. They started to spread in the Western Europe in the 13th century and were in Estonia a couple of hundreds of years later. People say that in the old times there were so many windmills in Hiiumaa that there was not enough wind for all of them and some windmills had to be destroyed. Indeed, there were times when every other farm in Hiiumaa had a windmill and by the end of the 19th century the total number of windmills reached as high as 500. Only 30 of them are left and very few could be used for milling flour if necessary. There is no specific trail, but one can see the windmill, have a picnic or try swinging on the traditional swing. The area is mainly covered with grass. The parking lot is covered with asphalt and there is a special labelled parking space for people with disabilities as well.

How to get there: Coming from the port of Heltermaa head south on Heltermaa-Kärdla-Luidja road, then keep left towards Käina and drive 27 kilometers straight. The windmill is on your left. There is a sign on the road as well. The windmill is 32 kilometres from the port of Heltermaa.