Estonian Travel Guide

Discover Estonia 1

Fun at Every Turn

Discover Estonia

www.visitestonia.com

Discover Estonia2 Discover Estonia 3

DISCOVER ESTONIAEstonia lies on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, south of Finland, bordering Russia to the east and Latvia to the south. It is a country of many facets with a rich history and diverse culture, rooted in centuries of tradition, much of which is still in evi-dence today.

Despite its compact size each region of Estonia has its own distinctive character. Visitors will find fens and forests, virgin bogs, over 1,400 lakes, 3,794 kilometres of coastline marked by bays and straits. The country has around 1,500 islands and islets, numerous rivers and streams and an unspoilt landscape characterised by colourful cities, historic villages and towns, dotted with manor houses, castles and traditional thatched dwellings.

Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, is also Europe’s oldest cap-ital and its Old Town is one of Europe’s best-pre-served walled medieval cities. The northern coast-line, on which Tallinn is located, is characterised by high limestone cliffs, spouting numerous waterfalls, and white sandy beaches nestled in dense pine for-ests.

Tartu is the country’s second city, a university town located in southern Estonia. It is a pleasant place to visit, tranquil and with a unique spirit, bisected by a river, with leafy parks and streets lined with 19th century wooden houses. The countryside sur-rounding Tartu has distinctive rounded hills, undu-lating green countryside, river valleys, lakes, nature reserves, old manors and stately castles.

Estonian’s eastern border is mainly marked by the vast shoreline of Lake Peipus (Europe’s fifth largest lake), studded with a string of villages known for their smoked fish, cucumbers and the best onions in the country.

To the west is the juniper-clad coastline and the numerous islands of Estonia’s archipelago, char-acterised by wooden windmills and traditional log buildings with thatched roofs that practically brush the ground.

Estonia’s best known seaside resort is its “summer capital” Pärnu on the southwest coast, popular for its beautiful sandy beach, vibrant nightlife and cura-tive health spas.

This guide is your passport to finding out about what to see and where to go in Estonia and is planned to offer you two, three and five day tours, to optimise your stay and enjoy the many attrac-tions in the different regions of Estonia. Welcome!

New and old Tallinn

Estonia in briefOfficial name: Republic of Estonia (Eesti Vabariik in Estonian)

Area 45,227 km2

Inhabitants 1.36 million

Capital Tallinn (405,000 inhabitants)

Official language Estonian

Form of government: parliamentary democracy

National holiday 24 February (Independence Day)

National bird: barn swallow

National flower: cornflower

The Republic of Estonia is a member of the European Union; Schengen area and NATO.

Estonia is in the East European time zone (GMT/BST +02:00).

Estonia’s country code is +372. To place an International call start by dialling 00.

KARKSI-NUIA

LIHULA

ABJA-PALUOJA

ANTSLA

PÜSSI

MUSTVEE

VÕHMA

SUURE-JAANI

MÕISAKÜLA

KALLASTE

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KEILA

KIVIÕLI

TAPA

PÕLVA

PALDISKI

TÜRI JÕGEVA

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RAPLA

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SINDI

NARVA-JÕESUU

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TAMSALU

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SILLAMÄE

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KURESSAARE

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Palamuse

Kihelkonna

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on j pn the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, To the west is the juniper-clad coaaststliline and the


called Tall Hermann and flies Estonia’s blue black and white national flag.

Opposite Toompea Castle are the characteristic onion domes of the beautiful St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral, Tallinn’s largest and grandest orthodox cupola cathedral, built in 1900.

A short distance away from the cathedral is the central Lutheran cathedral, known as the Dome Church, the onetime residence of Tallinn’s bishops and the country’s highest clergymen.

Toompea is also the site of the Patkuli and Kohtuot-sa viewing platforms which offer magnificent views of the Old Town and the Gulf of Finland behind.

Tallinn’s enclosing city wall originally had a length of 2.35 kilometres and comprised 46 wall and gate towers. Large sections of it still stand today includ-ing 26 of the defensive towers, each with its own name. The ancient city walls can be seen in their most authentic form along the narrow and well-shaded Müürivahe Street, where traditional lamb’s wool handicrafts can also be found.

Between the Old Town and the port is the Roter-mann Quarter, which has attracted much attention for its contemporary architecture. This is an area of formerly industrial buildings right in the heart of Tallinn, now rebuilt along sleek modern lines. The Quarter houses shops, boutiques, restaurants, of-

TALLINN AND NORTHERN ESTONIA

Tallinn Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, is the oldest capital in northern Europe and the European Capital of Cul-ture in 2011. The city was first recorded by the Arab cartographer al-Idrisi back in 1154. Tallinn’s subsequent 800 years of history has created a city of colourful buildings, slender spires, ancient hostel-ries and pleasant squares.

Tallinn’s Old Town is one of Europe’s best preserved medieval cities and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Town Hall Square provides a good start-ing point for any tour of Tallinn and is headed up by late gothic Town Hall which dates back to the early 13th century. The building has 64-metre high octagonal spire, topped by the landmark ‘Vana Toomas’ (‘Old Thomas’) weathervane. In summer visitors can climb to the top of the spire for a com-manding view of the city. Old Thomas, with his big moustache, is also a symbol of Tallinn city.

Just off Town Hall Square is the Town Hall Phar-

macy (‘Raeapteek’), one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe, which sells modern medicines alongside those created from medieval recipes.

The most significant churches in Tallinn’s Old Town are also the largest. St. Nicholas Church has the old-est known decorative portal in Tallinn. The church currently serves as a museum and concert hall and its biggest attraction is a work by one of the best-known artists of the Middle Ages, Bernt Notke.

St. Olaf’s Church is the highest house of worship in Estonia and between 1549 and 1625 was the tallest building in the world, its spire rising to 123.7 metres. Not surprisingly the viewing platform offers the best view of virtually the entire city.

Toompea Hill is another of Tallinn’s important landmarks and also the seat of Estonia’s govern-ment buildings, including Stenbock House, where the prime minister’s offices are located. The hill’s Toompea Castle now houses the Estonian Parlia-ment. The castle’s 45-metre high corner tower is Town Hall Square

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fices and apartments and a colourful farmer’s mar-ket where locals and tourists can buy fresh produce from Estonia’s farms and gardens.

The baroque Kadriorg Palace with its beautiful landscaped park, built by the Russian Tsar Peter the Great in the 18th century, is the most out-standing landscaped park in Estonia and is a short walk (around 2.5 kilometres) from the Rotermann Quarter. On display in the palace are examples of Western European and Russian art from the 16-20th centuries.

Tallinn panorama

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Day 1 and 2

Day 2 - Cliff and LahemaaLeave Tallinn’s towers and spires behind a second day touring the north coastline provides a pleasant contrast with the city

The first must-see stop along the coast is the 31-metre high Türisalu cliff, a promontory into the Gulf of Finland that provides an incomparable view of the sea. Its limestone cliffs were sculpted by the ancient Neva River that is thought to have flowed millions of years ago through what it is now the Gulf of Finland This stretch of coast is highly char-acteristic of northern Estonia.

The road follows the cliff for some distance on its way to Keila-Joa, named after a six-metre high waterfall on the Keila River. The falls are among Estonia’s most imposing and can be up to 70 me-tres wide during high water in spring and autumn. Upstream from the waterfall are two pedestrian bridges where Russian newlyweds fasten padlocks engraved with their names then throw the key into the river as a symbol of their everlasting matrimo-ny.

Military enthusiasts will enjoy the former military garrison town of Paldiski with its classic Soviet

architecture, which had its glory days during the post-war Soviet era. Nature’s attractions include the Pakri limestone bank, soon to be the site of one of Estonia’s biggest wind farms. A short hop over the sea are the Pakri islands accessible in a day trip by boat and offering pleasant walks and hikes.

Continuing along the coast are the fortified stone ruins of Padise Monastery, originally established in the 14th century and the only one of its kind in the Nordic countries.

From the monks to Estonia’s biggest and oldest brewery at Saku. The old brewing facility houses a museum featuring antique equipment used for making beer. Samples of the company’s beers are available for tasting.

Tuhala, Estonia’s largest area of karst, is the next stop, with its world famous "Tuhala Witch’s Well", one of the most unique natural phenomenons in Europe. When underground rivers fill after heavy rain the 2.4-metre deep Witch’s Well starts “boiling”, spouting a gusher of water above ground at 100 litres/second. Legend says that it happens when the witches down in the well are flailing themselves with branches.

En-route to Lahemaa, Estonia’s largest national park, are Estonia’s oldest stone barrows, part of a burial site thought to date back to the 8th or 7th century BC and now on the shoulder of the busy highway. The route also passes close to Estonia’s

Eestimaa reisijuht6 Eestimaa reisijuht 7

Close by is Tallinn’s striking new KUMU Art Mu-seum, the largest multifunctional art centre in Scan-dinavia and the Baltic’s. Its permanent exhibition traces the history of Estonian art since the 18th century, while temporary exhibits comprise of both foreign and Estonian modern and contemporary art.

From Kadriorg Park it’s a short walk to the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds where the Estonian Song Festival, is held every five years. Up to 25,000 singers gather to sing beneath the modern Tallinn Song Stage, built in 1959. The venue recently

hosted over 70,000 Madonna fans and has also provided a stage for Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Tina Turner etc.

From the Song Festival Grounds it’s a pleasant stroll to the seafront to visit the ruins of the original Pirita Convent, first consecrated in the 15th cen-tury and situated next to a modern convent build-ing, opened in 2001. The view back from the Pirita road towards the Old Town, harbour and modern Tallinn is spectacular.

Pirita is also the site of Estonia’s largest ma-rina, which hosted the yachting competitions for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and Pirita beach is Tallinn’s premier sunbathing paradise. Practically the entire north coast of Estonia is endowed with similar sandy strips of beach bordered with pines.

Tallinn is an ideal place for museum connoisseurs the city is full of them. Besides the KUMU, the pride of Kadriorg, Estonia’s past is showcased at the History Museum and the Museum of Occupa-tions. The city also has Natural History Museum, Maritime Museum and Health Museum etc.

Tallinn’s Open Air Museum, located in the Rocca al Mare area, takes a trip back in time into recon-structed homes of Estonian peasants from the 17th to the 20th century. The Tallinn Zoo, noted interna-tionally for its mountain goats and bighorn sheep, is home over 2,000 animals around five hundred species. Jägala FallsKUMU Art Museum

Song Festival Grounds during the Song Festival The “Witch’s Well” in Tuhala


Day 3 - Kõrvemaa and VirumaaFrom Estonia’s coast, to one of its many natural bogs, the Kakerdaja bog in the forests of Kõrvemaa, far from major roads and settlements. The Kaker-daja bog track is one of Estonia’s most famous bog trails and one of its oldest and has been recently renewed to provide a 3,2 km walk on a boardwalk over the bog to arrive at a lake.

Kõrvemaa is the birthplace of one of Estonia’s best-known writers, Anton Hansen Tammsaare. His former home includes an exhibit of the writer’s life and work and displays how life was during the events described in his „Truth and Justice“, one of the most important Estonian literary works. The property comprises of the original house, a granary, traditional barn, cowshed and smaller outbuildings. It hosts cultural events and open-air theatre per-formances throughout the summer months.

From the forests of Kõrvemaa, the route continues northeast to another medieval fortress. The 700 year old Rakvere Castle now houses a weaponry exhibit, a medieval chamber of horrors and archery range. Adjacent to the fort is a 7-metre long, 4-me-tre high bronze of an aurach, the largest animal sculpture in the Baltics.

Further to the east is the striking white walled, red-roofed Purtse castle, built in the middle of the 16th century as a fortified home with walls over two metres thick, which inside the castle produces a fascinating echo chamber effect.

The route from Purtse traverses into Estonia’s larg-est industrial region, Ida-Viru County. Here oil shale

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highest natural waterfall, Jägala Falls. More than 50 metres across, the water drops eight metres into a limestone ‘bowl’, eroded over thousands of years.

Mid way between Tallinn and Narva are the seaside ruins of Toolse castle. Estonia’s northernmost me-dieval fort was established in 1417 to protect the

local port from pirates. Also at Toolse is the Toolse Ostrich Farm, with guided tours of the farm to see the ostriches, rabbits and reindeer.

Lahemaa National Park (‘land of bays’), established in 1971, is made up of four peninsulas and numer-ous islets, jutting into the Gulf of Finland. Lahemaa’s forests, marshlands and coastal areas are home to around 200 bird species and approximately 900 different plants.

A number of interesting and historic manor houses can also be found in this region. 500 years after it was first founded Vihula Manor re-opened as Vi-hula Manor Country Club & Spa. Sagadi Manor has both a manor house and forest museum and the 18th Century Palmse Manor offers tours through the restored mansion. Visitors can also enjoy its wooded park, swan lake and garden.

The Lahemaa area also features idyllic fishing vil-lages. One of these, Altja village, is a typically tradi-tional coastal settlement. Another local attraction, Käsmu, the “captains’ village”, was once the site of a nautical school and is now home to a maritime museum. The traditional fishing village of Viinistu has its own Art Museum, housed in a former fish processing plant, with a permanent exhibition of classical and modern Estonian art.

Vihula Manor

Altja fisherman village The Tarvas staue in Rakvere

Day 3 - Kõrvemaa and Virumaa


Day 4 - Narva and Eastern-EstoniaThe delightful Toila Park surrounds the Estonian president’s former summer residence. The palace itself was destroyed in World War II. Today numer-ous summer concerts are held in the park.

Ida-Viru County has the greatest concentration of lakes in Estonia at Kurtna. About 40 larger or small-er bodies of water are nestled in the gently rolling pine-clad terrain. The water is warmer than average in Estonia, tempting summer bathers.

A short drive away from Kurtna is Pühtitsa Con-vent, Estonia’s only Orthodox convent, open to both tourists and pilgrims. A small Orthodox Chris-tian church was built in Pühtitsa in the 16th cen-tury and the convent was founded in 1891. It now houses six churches. The site is claimed to be where a shepherdess witnessed a divine revelation near a spring of water. This water is claimed to have heal-ing powers, it can be bottled and taken away.

Back to the north, to the town of Sillamäe, which during the Soviet regime in Estonia was closed to the public because of its chemical factory which produced nuclear materials for Soviet nuclear pow-er plants and weapon facilities. Now Sillamäe offers a classic example of Stalinist city planning, its grand boulevard leading from the central square to the sea offers an atmospheric trip back to the 1950s.

Continuing east, the next coastal town of Narva-Jõesuu is located alongside Estonia’s longest bath-ing beach, backed by dunes and pines. This former spa town, frequented at one time by Russian nobil-ity is now increasingly popular with summer tour-ists. Narva-Jõesuu is the north-eastern end of the E9 European Coastal Path, which runs for 5,000 km (3,125 miles) from Cabo de São Vicente in Por-tugal.

The city of Narva, the third largest city in Estonia, is located on the eastern extreme point of the coun-try, right by the Russian border, on the Narva River. Once known as the baroque pearl of the Baltic Sea, Narva was practically reduced to rubble in 1944 by Soviet bombing raids. However, what remains of Narva’s Old Town make a pleasant stroll. On the banks of the Narva River is the Hermann fortress which tower offers a glimpse of Russia and the im-posing Ivangorod fortress on the Russian side of the river.

Several kilometres upstream alongside a double tier waterfall is the famous Kreenholm Textile Factory, the largest factory in the Russian Empire in 19th century. The vast Romanesque style Narva Alexan-der cathedral, built for Kreenholm’s Lutheran em-ployees makes up a part of the factory complex. It

suffered serious damage in World War II, but has since been restored and today has an active con-gregation.

mines and giant ash hills, a symbol of the region, rub shoulders with unspoiled nature. Just outside the town of Kiviõli is the site of two of the largest artificial hills in the Baltics. The older, grassier hill is open to the public and offers skiing in the winter.

The Kohtla mining park and museum in Ida-Viru offers a chance to discover the underground world of the miner and visit its mine shafts and passage-ways. Visitors can ride in the railway cars used to transport oil shale out of the earth, try out mining tools and eat a miner’s lunch.

A short distance past the Kohtla-Järve ash hills is the Ontika Landscape Reserve with its virtually un-interrupted 20-kilometre stretch of limestone cliff on the Gulf of Finland, rising up to 56 metres above the waves.

At 30 metres high, Valaste Falls are Estonia’s high-est, and are located between the settlements of Saka and Toila. To marvel at it more comfortably, a viewing platform has been erected. It offers a cross-section view of 470-570 million years of geology. The site is most impressive in winter when the fro-zen water creates impressive ice sculptures.

Hermanni fortress in NarvaNorthern Estonia's Limestone Cliffs

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seum on the outskirts of Tartu with its displays life-size helicopters, fighter aircraft and smaller planes.

Tartu’s 19th century wooden houses district of Supilinn (Soup Town) is a sight unto itself.

Day 1 - Tartu The youthful university city of Tartu in southern Estonia is also the birthplace of the national song festival tradition, which started in 1869. An impor-tant symbol of the town is a fountain with a statue of students kissing under an umbrella, located in Tartu’s Town Hall Square. On one side of the his-torical late 18th century square stands a building that has been called Estonia’s leaning tower of Pisa, built partly on the city wall, partly on wooden piles

that collapsed, now the site of an art museum.

The city’s most important structures are close by, the main building of the University of Tartu, found-ed in 1632, and the recently restored St. John’s Church, which contains over 1,000 well-preserved terracotta sculptures.

A key geographical feature of the city is Toomemä-gi, the site of an ancient citadel. It is now an Eng-lish-style park and a popular place for students who congregate near its Angel’s and Devil’s Bridge.

The University of Tartu

TARTU AND SOUTHERN ESTONIA

Pedestrian paths follow the crest of the hill to the red brick ruins of the Dome Church, once the larg-est cathedral and brick structure in Eastern Europe, now housing Tartu’s Museum of History in the renovated part of the church.

Bisecting the city is the river Emajõgi, a navigable waterway with a functioning replica of a traditional trading vessel, a Hanseatic lodi, that sailed Estonia’s inland waters long ago.

Tartu’s Antonius Courtyard is a handicraft and art centre where visitors can watch craftsmen work-ing with leather, glass, porcelain, fabric and other materials.

Tartu is also a city of museums. The Toy Museum displays the different kinds of toys Estonian children have played with over two centuries. The Estonian National Museum displays historical and ethnologi-cal artefacts connected to Estonian folk culture.

The University of Tartu Botanical Gardens has over 6,500 plant species from all of the world’s climatic zones of the world. The Gardens’ greenhouse is the biggest in the Baltics.

Tartu’s other sites of interest include the former KGB cells near the city centre and the Aviation Mu-

The Kissing sculpture at Tartu Town Hall Square

SET

VILJANDI

TARTU

Nõo

Võnnu

Misso

Paikuse

TihemetsaHalliste

Õisu

KõpuRamsi

Viiratsi

Helme

Hummuli

TsirguliinaSõmerpalu

Õru Sangaste

Puka

Rannu

Rõngu

KurekülaTõravere

PuhjaUlila

Ilmatsalu

Tõrvandi

Kõrveküla

Luunja

Roiu

AhjaVastse-Kuuste

Kambja

Mooste

Kose

Varstu

Vastseliina

Tori

Kanepi

VäimelaParksepa

Ülenurme

Mehiko

Mustla

Vana-Antsla

Vana-Võidu

Päri

Suislepa

Kaagjärve

Lasva

MammasteKrootuse

Melliste

Osula

Vastemõisa

SürgavereLaeva

Tilsi

Himmaste

Tsooru

Linna

PõlgastePeri

Sihva

Saarde Karksi

Keeni

Saverna

Puiatu

Heimtali

Paistu

Haanja

Reola

HarglaMõniste

Surju

Tali

Leevaku

Saarepeedi

Holstre

Ruusmäe

Lüllemäe

Koikküla

Ala

Taali

Leevi

Jõesuu

Riidaja

KamaraKärstna

Soe

Tänassilma

NõuniPalupera

Maaritsa

Aakre

Saru

Nursi Puiga

Kavastu

Ruu

Kuldre

Vana-Kuuste

Tammistu

Valgjärve

MetskülaKarula

Patküla

Hellenurme

Sooru Tagula

KääpaNavi

Tännas-silma

Lapetukme

Konguta

MeeriNõgiaru

Rämsi

Vorbuse Vahi

Silla

Kaarlijärve

Loodi

SultsiPorsa

Pikasilla

Tootsi

MeTatra

Kääriku

Laanemetsa

Vastse-Roosa

Kanaküla

KäreverePraaga

Naha

Rasina

Koorküla

Taagepera

Jäärja

assiaru

Sänna

Krabi

Otsa

Kooraste

Lalsi

Luutsniku

ksaare

Valma

Veelikse

Väluste

Valguta

Oiu

Sangla

Tuhalaane

TsolgoVidrike

Kivilõppe

LoosiKape

Vana-Koiola

Lääniste

Taevaskoja

Sulbi

Meerapalu

V

Kuutsi

Urvaste

PokaVäike-Rakke

Jämejala

H I I U M A A

Võrts järv

KARKSI-NUIA

ABJA-PALUOJA

ANTSLA

SET

MÕISAKÜLA

SA

A R E M A A

PÕLVA

ELVA

SINDI

TÕRVA

RÄ

KILINGI-NÕMME

VÕRUVALGA

H I I U M A A

CELE

AŽIALU VOLMARI

RUHJAVÄIKE-SALATSI

ALOJA

MAZSALACA

VALMIERA

VALKA

APE

ALŪKSN

HOPA

RŪJIENA

STRENÈI

Võrts järvVõrts järv


A T V I A

OTEPÄÄ

TARTU

Pühajärv

UrvasteSangaste

Big Egg HillÄhijärv

Taagepera

Forest bothers farm

Barclay de Tolly mausoleum

Rõuge

Karula National Park

368 km~6 h 50 min

Day 1 and 2

RTU AESTO

TARSSOUTHERN E


Less than two kilometres from the Latvian border is a farm, formerly owned by members of the re-nowned freedom fighters known as the ‘Forest Brothers’, a group of Estonian, Latvian, and Lithua-nian guerrillas who waged warfare against Soviet rule during and after World War II. The farm offers a look at how they lived in hidden bunkers and of-fers the option to spend a night underground

Day 3 - Setos and Old BelieversIn the south easternmost corner of Estonia, a small fragment of people known as the Setos have clung to their own customs, traditional costumes and lan-guage to this day. The Setos are also known for their singing traditions. Their songs, following a thousand year old tradition, are called leelos.

TARTU

Võnnu

õmerpalu

di

Torma

AlatskiviKolkja

Varnja

Kõrveküla

Luunja

Roiu

AhjaVastse-Kuuste

a

Mooste

Veriora

Kose

Võõpsu

muse

Vastseliina

Kanepi

VäimelaParksepa

Ülenurme

Mehikoorma

Rõuge

Kasepää

Lasva

MammasteKrootuse

Melliste

Osula

VaraKoosa

Tilsi

Himmaste

ru

PõlgastePeri

Saverna

Meremäe

Orava

ola

u

Kääpa

Pala

Leevaku

Maarja-Magdaleena

Obinitsa

Leevi

Maaritsa

Nursi Puiga

Kavastu

oore

Ruusa

Vana-Kuuste

Tammistu

Linte

Valgjärve

Vedu

KääpaNavi

Tännas-silma

Ristipalo

Mikitamäe

Vasula

Vahi

Treski

Niitsiku

Tootsi

Piusa

Võmmorski

Lüübnitsa

Meeksi

Piiri

Tatra

Omedu

Võtikvere

Kodavere

Nina

Praaga

Rasina

Saatse

Sänna

Otsa

oraste

Pataste

Lümati

Tsolgo

LoosiKapera

Vana-Koiola

Kudina

Lääniste

Sulbi

TooniMeerapalu

te

Poka

Vana-Vastseliina

Piirissaar

H I I U M A A

LA

MUSTVEE

KALLASTE

SA

A R E M A A

PÄÄ

RÄPINA

VÕRU

TARTU

H I I U M A A

PETSERI

GDOVOUDOV

ak

e

Pe

ip

us

L ak

e

Obinitsa

Ilumetsa

VärskaPÕLVA

Taevaskoja

Kasepää

AlatskiviKolkja

Raja

242 km~4 h 30 min

The most scenic valley in the Haanja area is Öö-bikuorg (‘Nightingale Valley’). In the spring this nat-ural echo chamber comes to life with the incessant calls of nightingales.

The same county is the site of Estonia’s deepest lake, Rõuge Suurjärv. Small in size, but with a depth of 38 metres.

Estonia’s biggest tree, the Tamme-Lauri oak, grows in Urvaste. Estimated to be 680 years old, the gi-ant’s trunk measures about 8.5 metres in circum-ference. It takes six adults to join hands around the tree.

The beautiful late 19th century castle of Sangaste is considered one of Estonia’s most elegant manors and is similar in style to Britain’s Windsor Castle. The majestic mansion consists of 1.5 million locally made bricks and now houses a hotel. In the same county is found the mausoleum of military leader Barclay de Tolly, a famous figure from the Napo-leonic Wars, which emanates an atmosphere of royalty, and Taagepera castle, Estonia’s most out-standing piece of Art Nouveau architecture

Back to South to Karula National Park, Estonia’s smallest national park. It’s a region of fens, lakes, bogs, meadows, flora and fauna, offering a choice of hiking trails. Information can be found at the Ahijärv visitor centre.

Day 2 - Otepää, Võru-maa and ValgamaaSouthern Estonia’s idyllic hilly landscape, the area around Haanja, Otepää and Karula, features rounded hills and river valleys in the country’s most extensive upland region, alternating with blue lakes and dotted with castles, manor houses and ancient villages.

Estonia’s ‘winter capital’ is the small town of Otepää, 44 kilometres south of Tartu, home to the Estonian Winter Olympic gold medallists Kristina Šmigun and Andrus Veerpalu. Winter activities in-clude cross-country skiing on marked trails and in the summer the area is popular for hiking, biking and swimming.

For a fun couple of hours the Otepää Adventure Park, located at Tehvandi sports centre has five routes of varying height and difficulty comprising of suspended log walks, rope ladders, tightropes and suspension bridges. A stone’s throw from Otepää is Pühajärv lake, which many consider to be Esto-nia’s most beautiful, notably for its charming small wooded islands.

Big Egg Hill (Suur Munamägi), rising 318 metres above sea level, is the highest point in the Baltics. On the world scale, it is not very high, but by Esto-nian standards it’s almost a mountain! The 30-me-tre high observation tower at the top has an amaz-ing view stretching 50 kilometres in all directions.

Southern Estonia’s idyllic hilly landscape

The World Cup of cross-country skiing near Otepää

Day 3 - Setos and Old Believers

Seto women in their traditional clothing


Day 4 - Viljandi and SoomaaTurning inland from Lake Peipsi is a region called Vooremaa with its very distinct landscape forma-tion created by glacial accumulation and erosion. Long hills, (‘drumlins’), running north-south give the terrain a striped effect, resembling a field ploughed by giants. Long finger lakes in the valleys add even more beauty to the Vooremaa countryside.

25 kilometres from Tartu in Vooremaa is Elistvere Animal Park. It was originally an animal sanctuary for injured animals. Here practically all species of wild animals native to Estonia can be seen, includ-ing elk, brown bear, wild deer, fallow deer, wild boar, lynx, fox, raccoon dog, pine marten, mink, pheasant and squirrel.

The town of Viljandi is ancient town in southern Estonia situated on hills above a picturesque lake. The town’s many church spires and its famous Wa-ter Tower, with its viewing platform, are reflected in the lake, adding to the beauty of Viljandi’s natu-ral setting. Beside the lake is a hiking path, tennis courts, diving tower, playgrounds, boat hire and catamaran trips. The most famous legends of the region, celebrated in local song, surround the Vil-jandi boatman who rows the lake and longs for his beautiful-eyed girl.

The ruins of the 13th century Viljandi castle are another must see stop, including a stroll across the deep moat on another one of the city’s symbols, the suspension bridge. Besides the Kondas Centre

for Naïve Art with its exhibitions and workshops, the Traditional Music Centre barn is a special treat for all devotees of folk music.

From Viljandi County to the expansive Estonian wetland area, the Soomaa National Park, with over 537 known species of bog plants, 185 kinds of birds and 43 mammals. This is a tranquil place of primal beauty with ancient forests and boardwalk hikes through the virgin bogs. Way-marked routes include a walk on the beaver trail that starts by the national park visitor centre.

TARTU

Nõo

Võnn

Tabivere

OisuEidapere

ga

Paikuse

KõpuRamsi

Viiratsi

K k lTõravere

PuhjaUlila

Ilmatsalu

Tõrvandi

Kolga-Jaani

Olustvere

Adavere

Kamari Puurmani

Siimusti

Kuremaa

Alatskivi

Kõrveküla

Luunja

Roiu

Lähte

Palamuse

Tori

Ülenurme

RVAKANDI

TOOTSI

VÄNDRAUPI

ImavereKabala

Vana-Võidu

PäriMelliste

Vastemõisa

Sürgavere

Äksi VaraKoosa

LaevaSelja

Esku

Võisiku

Pisisaare

Lustivere

Väike-KamariKõo

Kaisma

Puiatu

Heimtali

Paistu

Reola

Kääpa

PalaLuua

Maarja-Magdaleena

Saarepeedi

l

Taali

Suigu

Jõesuu

Vihtra

Suurejõe

Tänassilma

KaarepereSaduküla

Kava

VooreLaupa

KoksverePärnjõe

Vana Kuuste

Tammistu

Kergu

Vedu

Kahala

Retla

Reegoldi

Tääksi

MetskülaKarula

MeeriNõgiaru

Rämsi

Vasula

Vorbuse Vahi

Pikknurme

Painküla

Silla

Kaarlijärve

Pajusi

Kaansoo

Tatra

Kärevere

Lalsi

Valma

Väluste

Pataste

Lüma

Kalana

Oiu

Sangla

Kurgja

Kudina

PokaVäike-Rakke

Jämejala

H I I U M A A

Võrts järv

VÕHMA

SUURE-JAANI

SA

A R E M A A

TÜRI JÕGEVA

PÕLTSAMAA

SINDI TARTU

H I I U M A A

Võrts järvVõrts järvVILJANDI


Elistvere Animal Park

149 km~2 h 50 min

The Seto Farm Museum, with its re-created 19th-century farmhouse complex, and the Obinitsa museum provide an opportunity to discover the traditional Seto way of life, handicrafts and every-day items used by this Slavic-influenced people. In Seto Tsäimaja is a restaurant where Seto cuisine is served.

The town of Värska is known for its picturesque stone church, its curative mud and its mineral rich water which is sold all over Estonia. Visitors can also bathe in the mineral water at the spa a couple kilometres down the road.

Estonia is the most meteorite-cratered place on earth. One of the six known areas of meteorite craters in the county can be seen near Ilumetsa. Estimated to have landed about 6,600 years ago, the asteroid created a total of five craters here. The largest and best-known is the 80-metre wide, 12-metre deep Põrguhaud (Hell's grave). A cou-ple of hundred metres away are two other craters.

According to legend, these “graves” are a direct route to hell.

Southern Estonia is known for its orangey/red Devonian sandstone outcrops, such as in the pic-turesque Ahja river valley. At Taevaskoda on the river Ahja the sandstone cliffs rise to a height of 24 metres above the river.

Just a couple of kilometres before the shore of Lake Peipus in Tartu County is the fairy-tale Alat-skivi castle. Built between 1880 and 1885 is it the most beautiful neo-Gothic style building in the Bal-tics with its snow-white towers. The mansion was modelled after Balmoral in Scotland

The route alongside the Shore of Peipsi Lake fol-lows the old Russian tradition of having only one street, which means villages blend organically with each other. Here can be found some of the world’s few villages still populated by the ‘Old Believers’. These are the descendents of a highly religious, ethnic Russian minority who came across the lake in the 17th and 18th centuries to seek sanctuary from persecution after they resisted reforms in the Orthodox Church. The area is known for smoked and dried fish, cucumbers, golden onions and pick-les sold by the local villagers.

A feel for the strictly religious community, where electricity is disallowed, can be found in Raja villa church, lit only by beeswax candles.

Alatskivi Castle

Day 4 - Viljandi and Soomaa


Piusa sandstone caves


dress in folk costume every day and the unique handicrafts of the oldest generation are still prac-ticed. Local women express these traditions most vividly; they still wear skirts with striped folk pat-terns – even when riding motorcycles. The island-ers’ way of life is so unique and traditional that the Kihnu culture today has UNESCO World Heritage status.

For children, the biggest magnets are the water centre, the Mini zoo, noted for its reptile and am-phibian collection and Pärnu’s beautiful beach with its many attractions.

Pärnu is also the setting for Estonia’s most stylish and perfectly preserved Art Nouveau villa, the Am-mende Villa, built in 1904 by a wealthy German merchant for his daughter’s wedding reception now the site of a hotel and restaurant.

Outside Pärnu is the Hell of Tori, an 8.5-metre deep cave eroded into the sandstone by natural springs, which has been linked to the devil and the underworld. Also nearby is the Kurgja Farmstead Museum, the former home and work of Estonian Carl Robert Jakobson, a farmer, politician and leading figure in the Estonian national movement. The farm was created as a model farm and today the farming and rearing of animals, including Estonian breeds of cattle, is managed just as it was a century ago.

Day 2 - KihnuDue to its relative isolation, the island of Kihnu in is a place where local culture and centuries old tra-ditions are practised to this day. Local people still

Day 1 - Pärnu Pärnu, Estonia’s ‘summer capital’, is a highly ac-claimed holiday destination and resort on the south-west coast of Estonia. Shadowy parks, attractive white sandy beaches and quality restaurants, spas and nightlife are a draw for summer visitors. And if the main beach gets too busy, the white sands and warm waters of Valgeranna, Kabli or Lemme beach are a nearby alternative.

Various cultural festivals, numerous art galleries, exhibitions, a contemporary art museum, the Endla Theatre and the Pärnu Concert Hall offer year-round entertainment. As with most large cities in Estonia, Pärnu has a pleasant Old Town.

WESTERN ESTONIA AND ISLANDS

Eidapere

Audru Sauga

Are

Paikuse

Võiste

Häädemeeste

Tihemetsa

Kõpu

Tori

Tõstamaa

JÄRVAKANDI

TOOTSI

VÄNDRA

PÄRNU-JAAGUPI

LAVASSAARE

Libatse

Uulu

Jõõpre

Selja

Papsaare

Saarde

Kivi-VigalaKirblaKaisma

Surju

Tali

Taali

Suigu

Jõesuu

VihtraSuurejõe

Reiu

Kamara

Pärnjõe

Lõpe

Kergu

Lindi

Ahaste

M

Lemmetsa

Silla

Koonga

iste

Pootsi

Manija

küla

Liu

Kalli

Mihkli

PäärduLaiküla

Kaansoo

Kanaküla

Jäärja

ema

Lao

Lemsi Laiksaare

Kõima

Ojaäärse

Kõima

Tahkuranna

Seliste

Tõhela

Tõnumaa

usi

H I I U M A A

Manilaid

HULA

P

SUJ

MÕISAKÜLA

SA

A R E M A A

SINDI

KILINGI-NÕMME

H I I U M A A

Manilaid

P ä r n uB a y

Soomaa Nationa

PÄRNU

Tori

Kihnu

Kurgja

Ammende Villa in Pärnu

Girls in Kihnu wedding

Day 1 and 2

158 km~2 h 40 min

Pärnu beach

ESTOISLA

WWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEESSSSSTTEERN EAND I


visitor centre, with a meteorite and limestone mu-seum.

Saaremaa’s famous windmills can be seen at Ang-la. There are four typical wooden windmills and a slightly taller Dutch-style windmill.

The capital, Kuressaare, with its beautiful, well-pre-served old town, is the only town on the island. The town’s most important site is the 14th century cita-del, the best-preserved medieval fort in the Baltics. It exhibits provide an overview of the history of the island as well as that of Estonia. In summer handi-craft shops, events, concerts and song festivals take place in the courtyard.

On the north coast of Saaremaa the Panga cliffs rise up to 21 metres in height, giving fantastic views over the Baltic Sea. An ancient sacrificial site is lo-cated at the highest point.

Mihkli farm museum on Saaremaa’s west coast is worth a short detour to learn more about histori-cal farms and everyday items hand-crafted over the centuries. Almost all of the items on display have been made by the six generations of the family who lived here.

The entire Vilsandi Island, a naturalist’s paradise, is located within a national park. The island’s distinct and unspoiled environment is a water bird protec-tion site of international significance.

Day 4 - Hiiumaa and VormsiThe second largest island in Estonia, Hiiumaa, creates a landscape of swampy thickets and juni-per shrubbery, coastal meadows and dunes, peat moors and bogs. On arrival on the island, visitors are greeted by the sculpture of a woman standing in the sea, locally known as Ranna-Ella (Beach-Ella).

Day 3 - Muhu and Saaremaa islandsMuhu Island is Estonia’s third largest island and one of few locations in the country where traditional windmills can still be found in full working order. The island’s St. Catherine’s church, one of the old-est in Estonia is notable for its historical frescoes and trapezium-shaped tombstones with pagan symbols. The most intricate tombstone depicts the pagan Tree of Life.

At the southernmost tip of Muhu is Pädaste manor, a luxurious hotel, spa and restaurant which has re-ceived international acclaim.

Koguva village is the best preserved 19th century village in Estonia. All of the buildings are architec-tural landmarks, most date from the 19th century though some from the 18th century can be found in the middle of the village.

Saaremaa, a land of nature, tradition and windmills, is Estonia’s largest island and is only accessible by ferry. The first stop on the itinerary is the nearly 800-year-old Valjala church, the oldest stone church on Estonian soil.

As said before, Estonia has more crater sites than anywhere in the world. The best known site is the Kaali meteorite crater on Saaremaa, measuring 110 metres across. Less than 3,000 years old, it is con-sidered the most recent meteorite crater in Europe, although the ancients considered it to be the tomb of the son of Apollo. Near the crater is the Kaali

Angla windmills in SaaremaaP

Risti

Käina

OrissaareLeisi

S l

AsteKärla

ParalepaTaebla

Palivere

Turba

Riisipere

AudruValjala

Kihelkonna Tõstamaa

Kõrgessaare

LAVASSAARE

MÄRJAKoluvere

Linnamäe

Pap

Kudjape

Vana-Vigala

Emmaste

Mustjala

Lümanda

Kõljala

Liiva

Kivi-ViKirbla

Martna

Sip

Nigula

Pürksi

Suuremõisa

Nasva

Vatla

Lauka

Männamaa

PaladeTubala

PärsamaKarja

Tuudi

Laukna

Lõpe

Liivi

Ellamaa

Kõmsi

Lindi

Piirsalu

Kullamaa

Ahaste

Lehetu

Lem

Koonga

Lehtma

Reigi

Hellamaa

Heltermaa

Salinõmme

Orjaku

Sõru

KõpuKalana

Triigi

Võhma

KüdemaVeere

Tagaranna

Kaarma

Muratsi

Turja

Kõiguste

Laimjala

TornimäePöideKõrkvere

Kuivastu

Paatsalu

Varbla

Vaiste

Pootsi

Manija

Liu

Kalli

Mihkli

PäLaiküla

Puise

Saastna

Riguldi

Dirhami

Kuijõe

Sviby

Jausa

Lõmala

Pühalepa

HanilaKaruse

Nõmmküla

Rõude

Variku

TeenuseKassari

Metsküla

Eikla

Sauvere

Sandla

Tagavere

Sutlepa

Oidrema

Lao

Kõima

PähklaTahula

Sakla

Metsküla

Kõima

T

Seliste

Üdruma

Tõhela

Matsi

Nurste

Harju

Nõmba

Tõnumaa

Kailuka

Papisaare

Matsalu

HellamaaPiiri

Pihtla

Kaisvere

Helmküla

Kirna

Suure-Rootsi

Panga

Tõusi

Nootamaa

Vohilaid

HeinlaidTauksi

VORMSI

HH I I U M A A

Manilaid

Vilsandi

V Ä I N A ME R

I

LIHULA

SA

A R E M A A

P

HeinlaidTauksi

M U H U

H I I U M A A

Manilaid

Vilsandi

Kassari

Tagamõisa

Noarootsi

P

V Ä I N A ME R

I

BA

LT

IC

Vilsandi National Park

KURESSAARE

Virtsu

Vilsandi

Ristna

Koguva

PädasteAngla

Valjala

Panga

KaaliMihkli

farm museum

KÄRDLA

Heltermaa

Sääre tirp

Kõpu

Tahkuna

Rohuküla

HulloSaxby

HAAPSALU

Noarootsi peninsula

Penijõe


Kuressaare Castle Days Kõpu lighthouse in Hiiumaa

Day 3, 4 and 5

802 km~16 h 20 min


On Kassari peninsula a statue of the island’s ancient hero Leiger extends his own welcome. Legend has it that the long and narrow piece of land jutting out at the tip of the island was formed when Leiger be-gan building a road across the water to Saaremaa. It is customary for every visitor to leave a stone at the tip of the peninsula to finish the task.

Hiiumaa is the island of lighthouses. On the north coast of Hiiumaa is the Tahkuna peninsula light-house. At 43 metres it is the tallest cast-iron tower in Estonia. The 36-metre high Kõpu lighthouse is the third oldest operating lighthouse in the world, having been in continuous use since its completion in 1531. Visitors may climb up the stairs for spec-tacular views.

9 kilometres west of Kõpu is a third lighthouse at Ristna, built in 1874 on a peninsula that is consid-ered to have the best waves in Estonia, attracting surfers, sailboats and windsurfers.

The way through the island’s capital Kärdla passes right by Ristimägi. The story of this dense thicket of crosses is attributed to a number of legends. Sup-posedly two wedding processions collided here, re-sulting in the death of the bride in one party and the bridegroom in the other. The survivors married and the first cross was erected to remember the other “couple”.

VormsiThe island of Vormsi, Estonia’s fourth largest, has been inhabited since the 13th century and is one of a number of places settled by Swedish immigrants, hence the use of Estonian and Swedish for place names. St. Olaf’s Church in Hullo, the central set-tlement, is the primary historical and cultural monu-ment on the island. The Vormsi cemetery is one of the most unusual in Estonia due to its circular solar crosses. A tour of the island’s villages can be com-bined with a swim, especially in the warm water of the bay of Hullo and Saxby beach.

Day 5 - Haapsalu and MatsaluKnown as the ‘Venice of the North’, Haapsalu is a wonderful seaside spa town on the west coast of Estonia with warm waters and an abundance of curative mud. The first Haapsalu mud spa opened its doors in 1825 and Russian aristocracy were among the first guests.

The town’s narrow streets, miniature town hall and romantic wooden dwelling houses line routes that seem to always take visitors back to the sea. One of the most beautiful wooden buildings in Estonia, the Kuursaal, stands on the seaside promenade and now houses a fine restaurant.

The Dome Church of Haapsalu is the biggest sin-gle-naved church in the Baltic States and the most important historical and cultural monument of the town. In the baptistery window of the church Es-tonia’s most famous ghost, the White Lady, is said to appear each August when there’s a full moon. Legend says that she is the ghost of an Estonian girl, the illicit lover of a Canon, who was entombed in the wall.

A small yellow house in Linda Street is the child-hood home of Ilon Wikland, who later illustrated children’s books by the world famous Swedish writ-er Astrid Lindgren. Ilon’s Wonderland has original copies of her drawings on display.

Along Haapsalu’s seafront promenade can be found the Tchaikovsky bench where visitors can

stop and enjoy the composer’s music. The world-famous Russian composer stayed in Haapsalu in 1867 and the first notes of his famous VI Sym-phony (adapted from the Estonian folk song, ‘Dear Mary’) are carved into the stone bench.

During the tsarist era, Haapsalu was the western terminus of the St. Petersburg line. Even though trains don’t stop in here anymore, the city still has a tsarist era railway station, now a railway museum. At over 200-metres long, the covered platform is the longest of its kind in Europe and was built to be the same length as the train so that the Tsar could leave the train on rainy days without getting wet.

A detour out of Haapsalu takes the Noarootsi pe-ninsula, an early settlement for Estonian Swedes and still bearing bilingual place names. Naorootsi has a beautiful sandy beach, pine forests and is considered one of the best places for bird watching in Estonia.

Matsalu National Park is the biggest and most bio diverse migratory bird stop and nesting area in the Baltic Sea region and is a wetland of interna-tional note. Observation towers for bird watching are located at Keemu, Suitsu, Penijõe, Kloostri and Haeska. The national park visitor centre at Penijõe offers an overview of the natural treasures and park history.


The Dome Church of Haapsalu

Vormsi circular solar cross

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Documents

Estonian Travel Guide