South of Estonia

25-27 of August, 2017.

It is funny how one travels quite a lot, yet has never been to Setumaa or was last at Võru 10 years ago, which are situated in "the very far" end of my tiny homeland.

Võru

Lüübinitsa, annual fish and garlic fair.

Setumaa

Lunch at Tsäimaja. Also, start of our Bismark tournaments. 

Värska

Piusa

Piusa Caves were created in 1922 as a quarry of quartz sand that was used to make glass. Piusa caves have evolved into a popular site for hibernating bats. It is the largest known hibernation colony in Eastern Europe. 

En route to Antsla parish

Spent the night at a countryside, somewhere in the woods in South-East Estonia. Proper smoky sauna followed by a jump to a pond, berry-eating at a garden, playing with kittens, eating curd donuts, discussing Estonian urban culture and politics and witnessing this beautiful sunset. 

Võru county, forest megaphones - the forest library.

an installation consisting of three giant wooden megaphones where the sounds of nature can be listened to in an amplified manner.

Rõuge watchtower "Pesapuu" at the Nightingale valley.

 The watchtower is 30 meters high and resembles a tree with two birdnests. Architect Karmo Tõra is the author of the idea.

Observation tower on top of Suur Munamägi (Great Egg Hill).

Suur Munamägi, 318 metres from the sea level, is the highest point of the Baltics. The observation tower on Suur Munamägi provides its visitors with a splendid 50 km range view of the Estonian nature. A person standing on top of the tower is standing 346.7 metres above the sea level.

The view really is great! 

When we found all our childhood favourite candies from a little local store.

The Tamme-Lauri oak (in the rural municipality of Urvaste) is Estonia's largest oak tree. It has a circumference of 8 m, height of 130 m and is approximately 800 years old. 

This is how tiny one looks next to the tree.

Lunch at Sangaste Rukkimaja (Rye house).

Sangaste castle.

Sangaste castle and park were fashioned after the famous Windsor castle in England. The magnificent halls, architecture and history of the castle make this a good place for weddings and all kinds of get-togethers.

PS: There are 21 Southern Estonian places worth discovering that are marked with a yellow National Geographic window!

Finished the trip in beautiful Viljandi. 

Theatre Ugala.