Suuremõisa manor park

About

Suuremõisa Park (Estonian Suuremõisa 'Big Manor') is the largest park on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa. It is in the village of Suuremõisa, which itself surrounds Suuremõisa Manor. The park covers 45 hectares (110 acres).

The manor and park are Estonian cultural heritage monument number 23623. The park was founded by Countess Ebba Margareta von Stenbock (1704–1775) (née De la Gardie) during the construction of Suuremõisa manor in 1755. The park was originally planned to be in the Baroque style, and the portions closest to the castle (terraces, roads, and ponds) reflect this design.

Later portions of the park were built in the English style. The oldest portions of the park, to the east behind the main building, are surrounded by a 2 metres (6.6 ft) high wall topped with red roof tiles. Little remains of the walls to the west of the main building.

The main portion of the park is in front (west) of the manor. The park is mostly level with the exception being a hill found between the two ponds. This hill was once topped by a small cottage known as “Babylon”.

The name came from the locals mispronouncing the name of the adjacent “pavilion”. The ponds are spring fed and separate the park...