Suuremõisa mõisa peahoone

Unknown artist

Hiiu-Suuremõisa is the grandest baroque manor in Estonia. It is first mentioned in 1519 as a manor of the German Order. It belonged to the Swedish commander de la Gardie from 1624, the Stenbock family from the mid-1700's, and the Ungern-Sternberg family from 1796 until the disposession in 1919. The current complex was completed in two steps. In 1755-60, a fancy baroque palace replaced the single-storey manor house with vaulted cellars and wooden ceilings. In 1772, the wing buildings were added. In 1829, a broadcloth factory started in the second floor parlor, but was transferred to Kärdla the following year. After the disposession, the manor housed a school. Currently, a junior high school and a vocational school function on the premises. The manor is a two-storey stone building with stucco walls and a french roof, accompanied by single-storey wings with hipped roofs. The manor had its own quarry, lime kiln, brickmaker, locksmith and blacksmith. The facade rhythm and structure is defined by stone frame windows in pairs and triplets. Four stout chimneys sit on the roof ridge. The oaken main entrance door in the middle of the facade is embellished with unique baroque carvings. A large, festive staircase fills the marble-floored lobby on the first floor. The second floor houses a large parlour with stucco ceilings and an enfilade of drawing rooms.