Kuusiku – Manor History and Agricultural Park

• The Kuusiku Agricultural Park covers five hectares and features gardens and demonstration plots.
• Founded in 2004, the park is unique in Estonia and focuses on rural life, agricultural history, current environmental measures in agriculture, and agricultural science and education.
• Kuusiku Manor Park is protected and listed as an immovable cultural monument under registration number 15330. It covers 18.8 hectares of land and 0.7 hectares of inland water.
• The manor house dates from the 18th century; the stable and coach house is a listed building from the first half of the 19th century.
• The Kuusiku stables offer riding lessons for beginners and advanced riders.
• Nearby is Rapla grass airfield in Iira, a centre for recreational aviation.

Across five hectares, the Kuusiku Agricultural Park offers a variety of insights into crop cultivation: a collection garden for field crops, a vegetable and ornamental plant garden, an orchard and berry garden, and demonstration plots. The different areas give the park a broader focus than a single garden: field crops, cultivated plants and ornamental plants sit alongside fruit, berries and trial plots.

Founded in 2004, the park aims to showcase rural life and the history of agriculture, as well as environmental measures in modern agriculture. It also covers agricultural science and education. Its focus thus ranges from rural life and its past to issues facing agriculture today. Travellers interested in cultural history or agriculture can therefore explore Kuusiku through more than one lens.

Kuusiku Manor Park has two forms of protected status: it is designated as a protected park and listed as an immovable cultural monument. Its registration number is 15330. The site comprises 18.8 hectares of land, plus 0.7 hectares of inland water. The water area is therefore not included in the stated land area.

The manor’s main building was constructed in the 18th century as the manor house of the estate complex and is an immovable monument. In 1924, a state agricultural experimental station was established there. The stable and coach house is a listed building from the first half of the 19th century. The experimental station links the manor house to later agricultural research, while the stable and coach house offer another perspective on the estate’s architectural history.

The ponds and canals in the manor park are becoming overgrown; there is no designated bathing area there. The river and reservoir need to be cleaned and maintained. If having a designated bathing area is important for your trip, bear this limitation in mind when choosing your destination.

The Kuusiku stables offer riding lessons for beginners and advanced riders. If you plan to make riding a fixed part of your itinerary, it is advisable to arrange your preferred lesson in advance.

Near Kuusiku, in the village of Iira in Raplamaa, is Rapla grass airfield, with the ICAO code EERA. It is located a few kilometres from Rapla, in the direction of Märjamaa, and was historically also known colloquially as Kuusiku airfield. The location name Iira is useful when searching for this airfield: it is in Iira, not in the Kuusiku locality.

The airfield is considered Estonia’s largest centre for recreational aviation. Activities there include skydiving, gliding, powered flying, paragliding and powered paragliding, as well as model aircraft flying. This is a distinct attraction near Kuusiku, separate from the area’s manor and agricultural themes.

Discover more destinations: Käru, Kastna, Saunaküla, Märjamaa, Rappel, Kõrbja.

What topics does the agricultural park cover?

It showcases rural life and agricultural history, environmental measures in modern agriculture, and agricultural science and education. Its features include various gardens and demonstration plots.

Is there a designated bathing area in the manor park?

No. The ponds and canals are becoming overgrown; the river and reservoir need to be cleaned and maintained.

Who can take riding lessons at the Kuusiku stables?

The stables offer riding lessons for beginners and advanced riders.

Back to the main travel guide: Rapla.