The town, located at the Livonia Bay, has territory of about 15 sq. km and a population of about 16,000.
Kuressaare that obtained the freedom of a town in 1563 has been called with different names throughout its existence. Its historic German-like name used to be Arensburg that was replaced by Kuressaare in 1917. During the Soviet period, in 1952-1988 it was called Kingissepa after the bolshevik Viktor Kingissepp who was born here.
Kuressaare was the first town in Estonia where the self-governing status was restored in October 1990. Today, Kuressaare is a safe and healthy town, open for international cooperation and communication and having eight twin-towns.
Twin Towns
Ekenäs, Finland since 21 November 1988
Rønne, Denmark since 3 October 1991
Mariehamn, Finland since 24 October 1991
Skövde, Sweden since 23 June 1993
Vammala, Finland since 30 June 1994
Turku, Finland since 30 May 1996
Talsi, Latvia since 27 May 1998
Kuurne, Belgium since 9 August 1998