Räpina Paper Factory (originally a paper mill) was completed in 1734, making it the oldest Estonian industrial company to still be in operation. It is also one of the most unique examples of industrial architecture in Europe. The first paper machine arrived in Räpina from Germany in 1873, which was when the mill became a factory. It produced a variety of paper for writing and printing. Three more machines were later introduced to the factory, one of which is still in use - if a little rejigged - today.As a company that cares about the environment, the factory aims to combine contemporary and environmentally friendly production technology with 300 years of production experience.
The first prayer house of Old Believers in Estonia is located in Kükita. The Kükita Prayer House was consecrated on September 14, 1740. During the war of 1812, the Cossack Old Believers donated a chandelier to the Prayer House. There were a total of 397 Old Believers in the list of parishioners of the Kükita congregation by 1833. The current Prayer House was built in 1948 in place of the one destroyed in World War II.Old Believers have services every Sunday and on all holidays (Christmas, Pascha and Epiphany).
The Tartu Song Celebration Museum is located in a 19th-century classicist building, where the organizer of the first Estonian Song Festival and founder of the national theater, the Vanemuine Society, operated. The first Estonian-language play, written by Lydia Koidula, premiered here. Koidula was a prominent female poet of the Estonian National Awakening, who thereby laid the foundation for the Estonian national theater. The museum offers an introduction to the Song Celebration tradition as well as the 150-year history and heritage of the Vanemuine Theater. Visitors can take part in interactive exhibitions, virtual reality experiences, workshops, and guided tours. The museum park is also open during opening hours.
SUP hikes are enjoyable from the very first moment as it requires no prior experience and is safe, meaning that they are suitable for everyone! Gather your friends and book a hike on the charming River Emajõgi or another body of water. Our instructor will provide basic training or a thorough training course, where you will learn a few tricks!We also organise planned trips (15 euros per person), which can be booked here.When the weather gets colder, you can go to a hot sauna at the end of the hike.
Enjoy rural romance, wide-open spaces, and Estonian wines at the Järiste Wine Farm in Tartu County! We will guide you around the vineyards, discuss Nordic viticulture, and visit the wine kitchen. The tasting will take place on our pleasant terrace, decorated with 26-year-old vines, and will include an Estonian cheese selection. You will have the opportunity to taste five delicious products from Järiste Winery, all made with great care and love on the premises. We offer pizza and wine packages for groups.
The 7-kilometre-long Rebäse landscape trail is located in the Karula National Park. The trail runs through old farm landscapes, passing the oldest farmstead in the area and the Linnamägi hill with traces of settlement from the Early Iron Age. Hikers can climb up the local "Mount Ararat", see Lake Raudjärv with its ice-cold water, and admire one of the largest gullies of Karula upland.You may need sturdy boots to pass the trail because in rainy weather the trail might be muddy and the boardwalk slippery. The trail also passes pastures, so you might encounter curious but generally friendly cows. Be careful around farm fences, they may be electric!
The Rõuge primeval valley, which is 10km long and 52m deep, contains seven lakes: Kahrila Lake, Tõugjärv, Ratasjärv, Kaussjärv, Rõuge Suurjärv, Liinjärv, and Valgjärv. The lakes are connected by the Rõuge or Ajo River, which starts from the Tindi valley. The side valleys of the Rõuge primeval valley are Tindi, Külm, Mõhk, Ööbikuorg, Tinopeetri, Hinni, Sikasoo, and Järveotsa valleys. The most famous of these is Ööbikuorg, which borders the ancient hillfort from the north. In spring, during the blossoming of bird cherry trees, the valley resonates with the song of nightingales – hence the name of the valley. Several hiking trails run through Rõuge, including the popular Ööbikuorg hiking trail, which takes visitors through the primeval valley, past lakes and springs. The trail is suitable for families with children and is partially accessible by bicycle. In summer, you can swim and paddle in the lakes, while in winter, the same trails are enjoyed by skiers and sledders. In the Rõuge settlement, there is also Estonia's deepest lake – Rõuge Suurjärv (38m) – and the largest Nature Clock in Estonia, whose hands mark the passage of time in nature's rhythm.Good to know: At the edge of Ööbikuorg, there is a visitor center and the Pesapuu observation tower, which offers a view of the entire valley.
A smoke sauna is a traditional Estonian sauna that doesn't have a chimney. The fire heats the stones, and the smoke fills the surrounding room. After the sauna is heated, the smoke is let out through the door before the sauna-goers enter. At Ööbikuoru Villa's smoke sauna, you can take your time and cleanse your body and soul while enjoying peace and quiet. The sauna steam room can accommodate up to six people, and some visitors can enjoy the hot tub at the same time. If you wish to stay overnight, you can stay in the romantically furnished rooms at Ööbikuoru Villa.