Kaarma Church, Kaarma Castle, the parsonage and the schoolhouse offer different ways to explore the history of the area: the church’s distinctive architectural details take centre stage, the castle connects a former river island with an event from the 13th century, and the architectural monuments have different dates. This lets you explore Kaarma through the themes that interest you: sacred architecture, historic landscapes or the dates of individual buildings.

Church: buttresses, windows and a wooden sculpture

Kaarma Church was the first church on Saaremaa to feature buttresses. Buttresses are masonry supports that project from the exterior of a building. This means the church is distinctive compared with other churches on Saaremaa. Another striking detail can be found on the east wall of the chancel: the church has a triple window that is rare in Estonia. The two features stand out in different ways—one in a regional comparison, the other in the broader Estonian context. A triple window is divided into three sections.

Kaarma Church also houses a polychrome wooden sculpture of Simon of Cyrene. Polychrome means multicoloured and describes the sculpture’s finish here. The church thus brings together several aspects: its buttress construction, distinctive window design and a colourful wooden sculpture depicting a named figure. Those interested in architecture can consider the architectural features separately from the sculpture; together, they provide a nuanced impression of church art in Kaarma.

Kaarma Castle: landscape and medieval history

Kaarma Castle was built on a former river island, at a point where the Põduste jõgi divided into two branches. The river island refers to an earlier landscape. For orientation, the castle is 100 metres northeast of Kaarma Church and at the sixth kilometre of the Laadjala-Kaarma-Karja road. These details locate the castle in relation to two different reference points: the church and a named road.

The castle’s recorded historical role is also clearly defined: during the uprising of 1260–1261, it was a gathering place for the warriors of Saaremaa. Thus, the castle combines a specific landscape setting with a particular historical event. Those interested in the history of Saaremaa will find a different focus here than at the church: the castle can be understood both through its former location by the river and its role during the uprising.

Parsonage and schoolhouse: different dates

Kaarma Parsonage comprises a main building and a granary, which have different dates. The main building is an architectural monument dated from the 13th to the 18th century; the granary is an architectural monument from the 18th century. Both buildings were designated architectural monuments under an official decision dated 27 October 1998. For comparison, distinguish the main building’s broad date range from the granary’s more precise century attribution.

Kaarma Schoolhouse is also an architectural monument, dated to 1863. Together with the details about the parsonage, this gives several different points of reference: a span from the 13th to the 18th century, the 18th century, and the date 1863. These contrasts help distinguish the buildings by their individual histories rather than grouping them into a single construction phase.

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