Iide: Discover Nature, Photography and History

Iide primarily appeals to travellers who want to combine experiencing nature with documented cultural history. The Viieristi Educational Trail leads over wooded dunes and through old natural forest. Its points of interest include the Viieristi Hills, Lake Koltse, an old railway embankment and the Kõrgema Spring. The walking time is approximately 30 to 50 minutes.

Nature Between Protected Areas and the Sõrve Cape

The Siplase Nature Reserve is located in the village of Iide and covers 206.7 hectares. The species whose protection is provided for there include Gymnadenia conopsea. The Viieristi Educational Trail also introduces the protected Viieristi Nature Reserve on the Sõrve Upland. Along the trail, waypoints and protected areas are the main focus, while birdwatching takes centre stage at the tip of the Sõrve Cape.

Near Iide lies the tip of the Sõrve Cape at the southern end of the Sõrve Peninsula. It is suitable for birdwatching. Another prominent landmark is the Sõrve Lighthouse: It is 52 metres high and considered the tallest lighthouse on the Baltic Sea. In 2026, its daily opening hours were from 10:00 to 19:00, from 18 May to 6 September. The Sõrve Lighthouse was opened to visitors in 2018.

Photography at the Carl Osvald Bulla Museum

The Carl Osvald Bulla Museum is located in Iide. It is housed in a manor built in 1910 with a tower. On display are copies of photographs that are more than one hundred years old, including scenes from life at the Tsar's court. At the beginning of the 20th century, Carl Osvald Bulla worked as a photographer in Saint Petersburg. The museum thus connects a specific place with photographs and a biography that extends beyond local history.

In 2026, the Carl Osvald Bulla Museum is open from 10 June to 12 September, Wednesday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 17:00. The opening days differ between the two destinations: The museum is open from Wednesday to Saturday, while the lighthouse is open daily.

Historical Landmarks in Iide

The Torgu Cemetery in Iide is a state-protected historical monument with registration number 4170. The history of the area also includes the Torgu Apostle John Church, described as an Orthodox church in Iide. It was a cruciform limestone church with five towers and five domes. The limestone church was consecrated in honour of the Apostle John on 1 September 1873 and destroyed in the fighting of 1944. In Iide, both the protected Torgu Cemetery and the destroyed Torgu Apostle John Church are therefore part of the area's history.

If you are looking for accommodation in Iide, you can already distinguish between the focuses of nature, photography and local history based on these documented destinations. For further orientation within the same overarching destination area, you can also visit Kargi (Kargi), Ohessaare (Ohessaare), Lõupõllu (Lõupõllu) and Laadla (Laadla).

For the overview of the wider travel area: Torgu Vald.