Valga County – the Southern Gate of Estonia GENUINE SOUTH ESTONIA
Valga County – the Southern Gate of Estonia
The variable Valga County has started to attract more and more people from urbanized Estonia and Europe. Increasing numbers of tourists discover the charms of this region.
Valga County is located in Southern Estonia between Lake Võrtsjärv and the Latvian border. It is one of the youngest and smallest counties of Estonia. Its population is about 40,000. Valga, the administrative centre of the county, is a rapidly developing border town where one can visit one’s Latvian neighbours even on foot. The most attractive sights of the Valga County are the Otepää Upland with its nature park and Lake Pühajärv which is one of the most beautiful lakes in Estonia.
Many natural and historical sights — the ruins of the Helme Order Castle and Helme Caves, beautiful manor houses of Taagepera, Hummuli, and Holdre, the mausoleum of the famous Russian army leader Barclay de Tolly, etc. — are located in the western part of Valga County around the town of Tõrva. People attracted by nature should go hiking in the forests of the Karula Natural Park or along the picturesque banks of the Koiva River. The rare hilly countryside with its 200 lakes is impressive in all seasons.
Rich in greenery
Nearly two thirds of Valga County are covered by forest. Walking along forest paths was natural for ancient Estonians. Knowledge obtained thus of the ways of the forest, of trees, animals, and herbs was handed over from generation to generation. Those paths, often bearing a name that the local people gave to them, were like study trails for people living here long ago.
Although forest has been the main source of means for living for our predecessors for a long time, Estonians have also been good farmers during the recent centuries, having dark rye bread always on his table as favourite food. Not only peasants, however, should be praised for adding picturesque fields to the patchwork of nature. The master of the Sangaste manor count Friedrich Magnus von Berg was a careful farmer who 130 years ago bred a tall and winter-proof species of rye, which at present is the oldest winter sort of rye in Estonia.
To become friendly with nature one must take time and forget one’s urban worries for a while. One can find tourist farms offering variable ways of accommodation and service. One can ride a horse, hike by bike or take canoe trips, ski or simply wander around enjoying the rural way of life. Long centuries of life in close neighbourhood with nature have left a heritage of valuable landscapes, which have generously inspired Estonian poets, writers, and artists. Lake Pßhajärv with its mysterious waters is the most often painted lake of Estonia.
Come, Look, and Win!
Valga County is a county of cultural and sporting tradition. Its variable landscape and favourable weather seem to have been created for sports. Friends of sports of all ages can find here a suitable opportunity for sports from golf to extreme sports, from pole walk to high level championships.
The world cup series competitions in skiing and snowboarding as well as the Worldloppet series Tartu Marathon make Valga County well known all over the world. Cross窶田ountry motorcycle races and car rallies also take place in the county. Various summer festivities invite people in great numbers, too. At the Leigo lake music concerts the classical music is blended with the magnificent landscape and mysticism of open fire.
One town, two states
Valga, the border town of Estonia and Latvia is located on the banks of the primeval valley of the Pedeli River. The site of the present town was an important crossroads at the beginning of the previous millennium. The town was first mentioned as Walco in 1286. Valga is best characterized by its being devided in two by the state border: the neighbouring Latvian town of Valka can be reached after a short walk.
On the central square of Valga one can see the St. John’s church with its rare oval ground plan and the historicist wooden town– hall. The centre of the town is also characterised by the now restored building of the Säde Society that houses the county museum. The Valga people have always been very communicative: the place was a site of meeting and counselling since the Middle Ages. Valga and its sister town Valka communicate well and are connected through common activities.
Talking Stones
In the middle of the picturesque South Estonian landscape stands the parish of Helme. Its roundabouts with its natural beauty have been attractive to many people and have brought past close to us. The ruins of the old order castle, the cave area in the hillside of sandstone — the Helme Hell, the sacrificial spring and the Slave’s Stone bear the memories of bygone times and have been a rich source of Estonian folklore.
European history is reflected at Hummuli, a famous battle–site of the Great Northern War, and in the Barclay de Tolly mausoleum at Jõgeveste. At Helme one can find one of the biggest medieval two– nave churches. Unfortunately this magnificent church did not survive the autumn battles of World War II in 1944. The German Baltic nobility has built beautiful manor ensembles around Helme for several centuries: the most notable among them is the Taagepera manor, a castle inspired by the sublime heroism of the Scandinavian sagas.
The centre of the Tõrva–Helme tourist area is the homely town of Tõrva. Less than 200 years ago here, at the crossroads of Valga–Pärnu–Tartu among great forests, only a few farms and a long stone roadhouse stood. In the nearby forest, the local people made tar. As Tõrva means ‘tar’ in Estonian, the small town got its name from this activity. At the beginning of the previous century, the settlement started to grow and develop quickly. Today this green country town good for summer vacation with its location, lake beaches and pine forests has become a comfortable place for recreation.
Otepää – Winter Capital of Estonia
Otepää, a town of long and eventful past history is located at 152 metres from the sea level: this makes it the ‘highest’ town in Estonia. Winters rich in snow and warm summers offer wonderful opportunities of active recreation for everybody.
Otepää has become famous as a sports and skiing paradise. Nature plays an important role here, where the landscape consists of innumerable hills and hillocks. Still bigger, however, is the role of the enterprising and hospitable Otepää people, who have well managed to make use of the natural beauty and its potential. From the winter solstice till the beginning of spring Otepää bears the name of the Estonian winter capital. All that skiing fans seek from the Mid–European skiing centres is to be found here in somewhat milder and more miniature scale.
Naturally, Otepää can also offer opportunities for sports in summer: great sports events take place here but one can also set personal records on the numerous hiking and health paths. “Saku Suverull” is a summer-time sports event where the top skiers of the world on roller–skis participate . Otepää has a long history as a spot of summer recreation. Its beautiful nature and Lake Pühajärv attract visitors from close and afar. The Pühajärve beach earned the environment friendly all-European prize, the Blue Flag as the first beach in Estonia in 2000.
Sights 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Taagepera Church Taagepera Castle Helme Order Castle ruins Barclay de Tolly Mausoleum Hummuli Manor Paju Battle Memorial Sangaste Castle Lake Pühajärv Pühajärve Manor Park Otepää St. Mary’s Church Hellenurme Watermill
12. Karula Manor 13. Karula Church 14. Hargla Church 1. 2. 3.
Otepää Nature Park Koiva Meadow Karula National Park
Text by: Ruta Rannu Translation by: Kersti Unt Design by: OÜ Disain ja Trükk Photos by: Jaak Nilson, Nils Rebane, Maris Saar, Malev Toom, Toomas Uibo, Tiina Viirelaid Printed by: AS Triip 2006
This publication is supported by the European Union
Valgamaa
Border Riigipiir Parish Valla border piir Railway Raudtee Manor Mõis Church Kirik Museum Muuseum Architectural memorial Arhitektuurimälestis Archaeological memorial Arheoloogiamälestis Memorial Mälestusmärk Park, feature Park,natural loodusmälestis Scenic view Ilus vaade Tourist information Turismiinfo Customs Tollipunkt
Valga Tourist Information Centre Kesk 11, Valga 68203 +372 766 1699 valga@visitestonia.com www.visitestonia.com Otepää Tourist Information Centre Tartu 1, Otepää 67404 +372 766 1200 otepaa@visitestonia.com; turism@otepaa.ee www.visitestonia.com; www.otepaa.ee Tõrva Tourist Information Valga 1, Tõrva 68605 +372 766 3300 info@torva.ee www.torva.ee
www.valgamaa.ee