Amidst the lovely junipers and wonderful quiet of Hiiumaa, we proudly announce that we have completed an impressive and unique experience centre called the Windtower. And we are not joking this time!
The island of Hiiumaa, that came with the wind, is an opportunity for each of our new and old friends to sense the magic. Be quiet, listen for a moment and notice: the winds of Hiiumaa will share their secrets with you. Our tower will speak to you in the real wind language, wishing to show you the best of Hiiumaa, all in one, and to send you on a journey to discover the island further.
Our tower is quite monumental and with a hot shape, so that its flashing beauty could be seen from far away by the Hiiumaa islanders as well as mainlanders. It is 29 metres high, as we have heard that important buildings must be visible from a distance.
Just as the island of Hiiumaa is quite versatile with its colourful nature, culture and maritime traditions, the Windtower, too, is partly a museum, somewhat a research centre and a bit of a play world. Here you will notice entirely novel opportunities for discovering our small and quiet island.
Here with us, hustle and bustle are not going to get you. Instead, you can take a moment for yourself to behold the mysterious underwater Hiiumaa and enjoy the flight through the inspiring nature of the island with all your senses. The guest should be prepared, though, as Hiiumaa jokes are no joke: you will certainly hear and experience some peculiar humour here.
And that is not all. The Windtower features the highest indoor climbing wall in the Baltic countries, with 11 tracks. Everyone who wants can conquer the (so to say) mountains of Hiiumaa and test their courage here.
In order to make you enjoy your stay in the Windtower, with family, friends or on your own, we made our tower spacious enough to accommodate seminars and conferences, receptions and birthdays. We have exciting programmes and options to see our exhibitions with a spirited guide. Children are encouraged to bring their parents to play in the Windtower, to prevent life from seeming too serious. You can sample the cuisine of Hiiumaa in the cafeteria and find lovely souvenirs in the gift shop that will help you to remember the Windtower experience back home.
You can come by ferry or by plane. Or on a surfboard or your own boat. We will be waiting here, as nothing can displace this island. Not even a tornado.
The sea is Hiiumaa islanders’ life and destiny, dining table and horizon, work and route of connection. The sea brings winds and storms, love and tragic. You will be able to see a lot under the waters of Hiiumaa. Walk on the muddy seabed and discover how Hiiumaa was created. Admire ancient wrecks of ships or stand face to face with a NATO submarine. You can also see how we net fish and how we relate to seals. The little guests can second crabs in a fencing duel and become acquainted with the fishes of Hiiumaa. There will be bottomless amounts of fresh experience.
Hiiumaa begins and ends with the sea. Come and walk on the UNESCO-recognised pebbled coast, feel the tugging force of the wind and discover Hiiumaa with all your senses. It is here that you will learn the smell of wild thyme, tarred rope and wild strawberries. You can touch sealskin and take a closer look at rocks that have been rounded by the autumn storms and winter winds in Ristna. Compare the life-sized plants in the herbarium with a Hiiumaa that will fit in the palm of your hand. There is plenty to discover here.
For little pirates, we have the Hiiu breakwater, where one can actually pull start a boat motor and put on a pair of wellingtons to almost literally walk in the shoes of a Hiiumaa fisherman.
Indeed! You will find our miraculous stories about island life unfolding here in front of your very eyes. These stories originate from the daily lives, from the kitchen, shop or even sauna. Whether the fine art of storytelling is inherited by the islanders or transmitted through the sea air, is not known.
Hiiumaa islanders love words and stories. It is part of the island’s mystery. Words can be honed and tossed up into the air, caught and knocked up. And of course, words can also be eaten, even though we usually prefer smoked fish. Here you can learn about the language of Hiiumaa and test your sense of humour. But beware, Hiiumaa jokes are no joke.
Take time out and give yourself some decent relaxation with the finest moments and views of Hiiumaa. What emotions are in fact caused by the wind, rain, sunshine, vastness, roar of the sea and quiet of the forest?
Look inside yourself but keep your ears open. You will hear then how the feel of Hiiumaa is described by our well-known composers, actors, athletes and other public figures.
Here you can lie in a hammock and meditate with a video slowly gliding over Hiiumaa’s charming nature. Every moment is full of poetry, and the walls are decorated with poems by Paul-Eerik Rummo, Ernst Enno, Ave Alavainu and other much-loved poets, inspired by Hiiumaa.
Rise up into the sky and experience Hiiumaa from a bird’s-eye view. You will need a bit of imagination and dreams. Sometimes, dreams can turn into clouds, scattered by winds and shaken by gusts of rain. Some unfulfilled dream, though, may plop down from the sky and unexpectedly come true.
Let us suppose that you have dreamed about jumping on the clouds. You can do it in real life here.
Children can put themselves to the test on a thrilling net wall that can even be used for climbing to the next floor. If that is not enough, there is a surprising Tahkuna lighthouse in our building, awaiting to be discovered.
Or, perhaps, you have dreamed about controlling the weather? Be our guest! Sitting behind our Hiiumaa weather control panel, you will be able to conjure up rain, storm, thunder or northern lights. It will not be possible, though, to directly verify the old local saying ‘thunder and lightning means Our Lord eating herring’. But from the interactive game about migratory birds you will learn what the common buzzard feeds on. Or whether the Pied avocet has its tail up or down. Or whether the black-headed gull, also known as the ‘laughing gull’ in Latin, laughs at the jokes of Hiiumaa islanders.
Come to embrace the wind! Up the spiral stairs to face the real breath of Hiiumaa. This island is not gone with the wind but it definitely came with the wind. Wind cleans the world. Wind gives birth to storms and makes ships move, breaks trees and wheels windmills.
Despite everything, you may start to like the wind in its waywardness – especially here, on the roof of our tower. It will sing you a genuine wind song, play in your hair and blow away any sadness. From this wuthering height, you can cast an eye at Käina bay and wave hello to the neighbouring Saaremaa islanders across the sea.
And when your eyes are finally adapted to looking at the distance, play a wind symphony with the wind chimes.
Who said Estonia is so flat that you cannot do mountain climbing here? Hiiumaa islanders lent a hand and built an indoor climbing wall of dimensions unexampled in the Baltic countries. Not to mention the neighboring island of Saaremaa.
Our climbing wall begins from the lower ground floor of the Windtower and stretches nearly 20 meters up. The indoor wall has 16 routes, which should be enough for even the most passionate adrenaline lover. Be a professional climber or just about to discover the fascination of climbing – under the direction of an instructor, you will be able to safely test your abilities in conquering new heights.
You can use the indoor climbing wall individually or in good company, celebrating a birthday or some other event here. School groups are cordially invited and we can also host corporate events. Training is available for all adults interested in developing their climbing skills.
Our experience shows that first-time visitors spend around 30min on our wall. Based on this, we also make reservations for 30min and for an hour. We also make exceptions for groups and experienced climbers.
We allow climbers on the wall from the age of 7. The age restriction comes from the difficulty of our routes, the nature of the service and the equipment we use.
When planning a visit, please note that we accept group reservations at least 24 hours in advance tuuletorn@hiiumaa.ee or +372 53 50 50 28. When planning a climb for smaller group or for person, please use our booking system.
Please read the Rules, Liability Sheet and Registration Form.
The newest leisure spot in Tuuletorn, opened at the end of 2023, is a cozy bowling alley with 4 lanes (up to 6 players are allowed on one lane). Here you can celebrate special occasions, spend time actively or engage in serious training. It’s a great way to spend time with friends and family while staying active.
Bowling is one of the oldest and most popular sports worldwide, offering entertainment and challenges for players of all ages.
Explore our services through the links below and choose a suitable time for yourself by booking conveniently HERE.
If your group is larger or you have other preferences, please write to us at tuuletorn@hiiumaa.ee or call +372 53 50 50 28.
NB! Packages must be ordered at least two days in advance! If you wish to get a package with shorter notice, please call first to check availability. You can pay for the package on-site. If you need to cancel the package, please do so at least 48 hours (2 days) before the event. If cancellation occurs within less than 48 hours, you will be charged 50% of the package cost.
We are open:
Thursday – Friday: 16:00 – 21:00
Saturday – Sunday: 13:00 – 21:00
Sports Center
The main pool in the swimming area has a length of 25 m and four lanes. There is also a small pool, equipped with underwater pressure jets. Separate saunas and steam rooms are available for both men and women. Swimming equipment can be purchased or rented.
Outside of regular opening hours, the swimming pool is open to groups (minimum of 10 people) by prior arrangement. Please email spordikeskus@hiiumaa.ee or call +372 5340 7161 for reservations.
Children aged 0-3 years old can enter the swimming pool for FREE when accompanied by a paying adult.
The 2-hour ticket is valid for the use of the swimming pool, gym, aerobics room and table tennis.
A boat is still a means of transportation, whose essence is an empty space, a cavity that water supports and carries on its surface as a vessel. A boat provides the opportunity to cross watery depths. Its reliability is crucial, as lives may depend on it.
The wind is moving air caused by temperature differences in the Earth’s atmosphere, where cooler air pushes warmer air. In Greek, it is “pneuma,” in Arabic “nuh,” and in Hebrew “ruach,” the divine breath brooding over the primal waters of creation. It is invisible, yet it affects us. The wind carries the scent of emerging spring and ripe autumn. It softly touches our cheeks or greets us with a handshake. A gentle breeze caresses, flowing within us as a soft breath. The wind howls, roars, and sighs.
We project unpredictability onto the wind, which guides and carries us, steering us onto the right course or forcing us to change it. The hero Odysseus received favorable winds as a gift to return home from Troy, but his sailors thoughtlessly released the bad winds trapped in a leather bag, forcing the captain to travel for 20 years. The wind fills our sails, and even the smallest breeze is better than nothing. A skilled and adept sailor knows which direction the wind blows, its speed, how to move with or against the wind, and how to keep the ship afloat.
Our senses help us navigate through winds and storms and move in a direction that is important to us. We dock or lose our docking places, sail against the wind or with favorable winds, face stormy winds, drift, move past hidden shoals, or… Is the ship seaworthy? Does it have an anchor, a strong pair of oars, or sturdy sails? Is its size proportionate to the vastness of the waters?
With gratitude: Eesti Kultuurkapital, Sirli Ehari, Ivari Maar
Anne Rudanovski (born 1964) is a sculptor and art instructor who received her education at the Estonian Academy of Arts. Since 2014, she has been a professor in the sculpture department at the Pallas University of Applied Sciences. She founded the Paper Museum in 2010 and the Estonian Origami Center SATORI in 2020. For 14 years, Rudanovski has dedicated herself to the design language of origami and its embedded aesthetic and philosophical dimensions, with key themes being human – paper – culture. Rudanovski’s works uniquely represent the compelling and meaningful form language originating from Japan and China. As an internationally recognized artist, she was an artist-in-residence in Peru in 2023 and participated in exhibitions in Estonia, Denmark, and China. In 2024, her works will be displayed in China, Hiiumaa, Denmark, Germany, and other locations.
The geometric objects presented in the exhibition’s pictographic language are based on techniques that date back to the invention of paper. All of this is possible thanks to the plant-based human-made material, which, due to its fibrous structure, allows for folding and bending while maintaining its shape. Unlike activities such as drawing and painting, folding requires the use of both hands simultaneously, emphasizing the all-encompassing focus of the process. During this process, “something” happens, which could be called contact with yet-to-be-conscious information.
“For folding, I am always in search of the right paper. I divide the paper by halving it into grids of 2-4-8-16 x 16 squares. To create the object, I use the miura fold and the ‘waterbomb’ base fold, forming a complex of folds that allow the folded plane to be bent into a sphere. The pre-folded grid with diagonal lines originating from the corners consists of 256 squares, utilizing two folding techniques and internal (aesthetic) considerations. Then the journey begins,” says the artist.
Come and organize a seminar, conference, meeting or motivational day, at the Tuuletorn Experience Centre on the paradise island of Hiiumaa. We offer locally produced food and different leisure opportunities. Bring your colleagues, business partners or customers and share some unique experiences.
Private and bright meeting room Roostik can accommodate 10 people. Suitable for smaller teams and remote working.
A more exciting experience can be organized in the underwater world, which can accommodate up to 50 people.
Large receptions and conferences can be comfortably held in the spacious and light-filled exhibition room on the second floor, which can accommodate 80 people.
To make things easier, we have prepared three sample packages for you:
To make the seminar more than just a seminar, we offer various experiences both from us and from our partners:
Additional information and booking: tuuletorn@hiiumaa.ee and (+372) 5305 3412
We are always happy to welcome large groups to our centre, which is why we offer a 10% discount on the Tuuletorn exhibition and climbing wall tickets for groups of 10 people or more.
Teachers accompanying the group (one adult for every 6 preschoolers and every 10 schoolchildren) can enter the centre free of charge during their visit. The school group discount does not apply to the climbing wall.
We also offer catering for groups. At Café Ruudi, you can choose between Group Menu 1 and Group Menu 2 or option for a quick Coffee Break.
Send us your group visit request here:
Birthdays offering discovery and educative content will be memorable. In the Windtower, birthday events can be organised for children or adults, with fun and discovery for all ages.
Further information and booking: tuuletorn@hiiumaa.ee.
There is a fun café in the new Tuuletorn experience centre. Our dishes are simple yet delicious, and a little mysterious, our ingredients are local, and our people are awesome. Very nice play area for children.
RUUDI is a truly lovely place to spend time at.
Opening hours You can find here and menu here:
Information and reservations:
E-mail: tuuletorn@hiiumaa.ee
Phone: +372 53 50 50 28
Follow us on Facebook and check the menu via our page Kohvik Ruudi
Would you like a memento of Hiiumaa or a special gift for someone? On Floor 1 there is a gift shop with an interesting selection of items, including local handicrafts and authentic tastes of Hiiumaa.
We serve breakfast from 10AM to 1PM
Address: Mäe 4, Käina, Hiiu maakond, Eesti
Phone: +372 53 50 50 28;
Cafe RUUDI: +372 58 70 00 19;
Group visits: +372 53 05 3412
E-mail: tuuletorn@hiiumaa.ee
Register code: 75039451
Swedbank (IBAN): EE412200221064452224
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