Kärdla - on Estonia's oldest major industry, Hiiu island and Hiiu people!

Taking a stroll through the green, peaceful and picturesque town of Kärdla, it may be hard to believe that the idyllic settlement began as a colony for a major factory. Greedy barons expelled the Estonian Swedes and exploited their own labourers to give the factory its start. But there is another side to this story - the Kärdla Broadcloth Factory (Kalevivabrik) can be considered Estonia’s oldest major industry, signaling the beginning of the industrial revolution on our land and leading the transition from feudalism to the modern era. On this tour we’ll explore the legacy of the former great factory and the formation of the town of Kärdla. Moreso, we’ll take a journey through the history of Hiiumaa island and talk about island life with a good amount of Hiiu humor.