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Põlva
19. august 2003
Põlva, the birth place of Estonian song festivals
The town of Polva began to grow around the church built at the junction of several trade routes in the 15th century. This scenic town, with around 7,000 inhabitants, sits in the middle of the Ora River valley.
Põlva County, where nearly 3/4 of the population lives in the countryside, is a picturesque and beautiful region located in the southeastern corner of Estonia. Its varied landscape stretches from the rolling hills of the uplands in the west to the churning shores of lakes in the east. In several places the unique and stunning reddish sandstone cliffs can be seen in the river valleys. The county includes three nature protection areas and the wetlands.
The Intsikurmu festival ground and surrounding forest is a breathtaking park that has preserved its natural pristine environment. This area known throughout Estonia and neighboring countries is famous for its traditional song festivals. The first Estonian song festivals took place at Intsikurmu in 1855 and 1857.
Go back in time in the Polva Peasant Museum
This museum is located in a scenic area along the old Tartu - Voru road in the village of Karilatsi. The museum consists of dwellings on 18,5 ha built at the end of the 19th century typical of an Estonian parish centre. Dwellings include a court of law, schoolhouse, town hall with outbuildings, a smithery with homestead and a Dutch mill. Exhibits include farm machinery and vehicles used at the turn of the century.
The beautiful sandstone cliffs.
The sandstone cliff of Small Taevaskoja is nearly 190 meters long and 13 meters high. The rushing spring water flows out from the edge of the cliff upstream. This rushing spring water has carved out a large legendary cave called Neitsikoobas (Maiden''s Cave) which has given rise to numerous stories and myths.
Big Taevaskoja is the highest sandstone cliff on the Ahja River with a height of 24 meters. This awesome sight is known throughout Estonia and year after year Estonians flock to Taevaskoja to witness nature`s masterpiece. Many legends and myths abound around this once sacred placed used for sacrifices. The large boulder right before the churning rapids is known as Noiakivi (Sorcerer''s Stone) or also Salakuulaja (Spy''s Stone). This place leaves all visitors in awe of nature`s beauty and is a must trip for all visitors to Põlva County.
Meenikunno Bog- the wonders of nature`s work
Meenikunno is a relatively young wetland and therefore has numerous islands, the largest being Kamarusmagi, Hundipalu and Pikksaar. This is a very important resting place for cranes as they come back to this area year after year. The most interesting site in the bog is the Valgejarv and Mustjarv Lakes. These two lakes next to each other form a picture of contrasts. Valgejarv Lake has the cleanest water in all of Estonia and during the summer time the lakes transparency is up to 8 meters. The waters of the adjacent Mustjarv Lake are among the darkest in all of Estonia. Again we can see the wonders of nature`s work in Põlva County.
Piusa Glass Sand Caves
These eight caves are depleted sand mines dug into the Devonian sandstone hills near the Piusa railway station. The sand is highly suitable for making glass. The caves consist of two interconnecting tunnels whose ceilings are supported by thick sandstone columns.
Numerous bats have adopted these caves as their homes and hibernate in them during the wintertime. They currently make up the largest bat colony throughout the entire Baltics.
Sillapea Manor
This landscaped manor was completed in 1842 with several renovations through the years. The imaculate park grounds include more than 300 species of trees and bushes. With its superbly designed park, man- made lake and gardens, it is truly one of the most beautiful manor and grounds in Estonia.
Kanepi
The first known parish school in Estonia was founded in Kanepi in 1804. Three very important Estonian cultural figures, A. Weitzenberg, J. Weitzenberg and H. Treffner studied at that school. Kanepi was also the first place that peasants were given names. In 1868 a music society was founded in Kanepi and is still in existence today. Their musical society clubhouse built in 1887 is one of the oldest in Estonia.
Värska
Värska is a small harbor lake town that is the cultural center for the unique and fascinating Setu peoples. It is known for its health resort which provides mud cures and its fresh mineral water sold throughout Estonia.
Sing and dance with Setu people
The southeastern corner of Põlva County is also the homeland of the Setus. They are a unique Balto-Finnic people who have preserved their colorful culture, traditions, customes and language despite years of Czarist Russian influence and control. One of the cultural highlights during the summer for all Estonians is attending a Setu national song and dance festival.
Russian Old Believers
Another interesting ethnic people in Põlva County are the Russian Old Believers who fled Russia during the time of many changes in the Russian Orthodox Church. They mostly settled along the shores of Pihkva Lake. Their village way of life and architecture is very different from those of Estonian villages. Visitors can usually find village men fishing on small boats in the lake, fish drying under the eaves and onions growing in the fields instead of potatoes.
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