Valge Daam | Victoria Olt

Long ago, when the bishops of Saare-Lääne ruled Haapsalu, the canons of the cathedral lived under strict laws. No woman was ever to set foot inside the castle, and the clergy were expected to lead lives of restraint. But the heart does not bow to rules. One young canon fell deeply in love with a maiden, and she with him. Unable to bear their separation, he disguised her in boy’s clothing and brought her into the cathedral choir, where she lived as a chorister, her true identity hidden from all.

For a time, their secret remained safe. But nothing stays hidden forever. One day the deception became public, and the decision of the bishops' council was severe. The canon was cast into a dungeon to starve, while the maiden was given only a crust of bread and a cup of water before being walled alive into the unfinished baptismal chapel beside the cathedral.

Her body was sealed away, but her spirit did not rest. Since then, on nights of the August full moon, a pale woman appears in the central window of the chapel, her figure glowing white against the darkness. This is the Valge Daam - the White Lady of Haapsalu. She weeps for her lost love and bears witness to a bond stronger than death, reminding all who see her that love defies even the cruelty of stone walls and the passage of centuries.