Discover Iide: Nature, History and Culture

The 206.7-hectare Siplase Nature Reserve is located in the village of Iide. Nearby is the tip of the Sõrve Cape at the southern end of the Sõrve Peninsula; it is suitable for birdwatching. Another prominent landmark is the 52-metre-high Sõrve Lighthouse, considered the tallest lighthouse on the Baltic Sea. Iide is also home to the Carl Osvald Bulla Museum.

The Viieristi Educational Trail focuses on the protected Viieristi Nature Reserve on the Sõrve upland. The route leads over wooded dunes and through old natural forest to the Kõrgema Spring. It also passes the Viieristi Hills, Lake Koltse and an old railway embankment. The trail therefore showcases several different landscape features rather than focusing on just one viewpoint or a single natural area.

The walking time for the route is approximately 30 to 50 minutes. This approximate figure is useful for gauging the excursion, but should not be understood as an exact duration. In the Siplase Nature Reserve, Gymnadenia conopsea is among the species intended to be protected. Anyone interested in nature and birdwatching can therefore combine the trail with a visit to the tip of the Sõrve Cape near Iide, without treating the two places as the same excursion destination.

The Carl Osvald Bulla Museum is housed in a manor house built in 1910, complete with a tower. It displays copies of photographs that are more than a hundred years old. The subjects also include scenes from life at the Tsar’s court. The museum’s namesake, Carl Osvald Bulla, worked as a photographer in Saint Petersburg at the beginning of the 20th century. The museum is therefore not merely an exhibition venue, but also conveys a specific historical connection between photography, the Russian Empire and a figure from the region’s collective memory.

Another historic monument is Torgu Cemetery in Iide. It is a state-protected historic monument under registration number 4170. The Torgu Apostle John Church in Iide was a cross-shaped limestone church with five towers and five domes, and was consecrated on 1 September 1873 in honour of the Apostle John. It was destroyed in the fighting of 1944. These different historical layers make the site interesting for travellers who want to understand not only preserved buildings, but also how a place has changed over time.

In 2026, the Carl Osvald Bulla Museum is open from 10 June to 12 September. It is open from Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 17:00. A visit can therefore only be planned within this period and on these days of the week. For Sõrve Lighthouse, a longer daily opening period is listed for 2026: from 18 May to 6 September, the lighthouse is open daily from 10:00 to 19:00.

The lighthouse was opened to visitors in 2018. Along with its height, it offers a different way of experiencing the surrounding area than the museum or the Viieristi Educational Trail. When choosing your accommodation in Iide, you can therefore decide whether you mainly want to include cultural and historical attractions, a short nature trail or destinations near the tip of the Sõrve Cape in your trip.

How long does the Viieristi Educational Trail take?

The walking time is approximately 30 to 50 minutes. The duration should therefore be understood as an approximate guide.

When is the Carl Osvald Bulla Museum open in 2026?

The museum is open from 10 June 2026, Wednesday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 17:00.

When can Sõrve Lighthouse be visited in 2026?

Sõrve Lighthouse is open daily from 10:00 to 19:00 from 18 May 2026 to 6 September 2026. The lighthouse was opened to visitors in 2018.

Which historic sites are associated with Iide?

Historic destinations include the state-protected Torgu Cemetery with registration number 4170, the Carl Osvald Bulla Museum in a manor house from 1910, and the history of Torgu Apostle John Church, which was consecrated on 1 September 1873 and destroyed in 1944.

For the higher-level travel overview: Torgu Parish.