Palusalu Garden

When walking around the Räpina School of Horticulture, you will find an exciting planting area for perennials, and you can enjoy various summer and perennial flowers in the collection garden. In the collection garden, you can admire 50 different varieties of park roses by Rein Joost, lilies of Mart Heering, about 30 varieties of lilacs by Adolf Vaigla, and 20 varieties of vines by Jaan Kivistik.There are more than 600 different species of trees and shrubs throughout the park and the school (dendrological plant material), with herbaceous plants that include perennials, roses, lianas, natural herbaceous plants, and summer plants – a total of almost 1,200 plants.It is possible to book excursions both in the park and in the collection garden.

Luua Arboretum exhibits about 500 species and forms of trees and bushes. The arboretum was founded based on the principles of botanical geography with the departments for plants from Europe, Siberia, Central Asia, the Far East and North America.

Mõniste Manor was first mentioned in 1542. The last owners of the manor were the von Wulff family, but the manor was destroyed in the Estonian War of Independence. The 14.6 ha park at Mõniste was founded in 1840 and is one of the oldest in Võru County. The Mõniste Reservoir plays an important role in the design of the park. The site of the former Manor House is now a large meadow. Spruce, oak, linden, silver birch and larch are indigenous to the park. Some of the more rare species include common spindle, Manchurian walnut and Douglas fir. A sculpture depicting bears is located near the park on the Võru-Valga highway - a reminder of the highway decorations that were in fashion during the Soviet occupation.

Pühajärv, with its picturesque winding shoreline and four islands, is the largest lake in Otepää Nature Park. At the northern tip of Pühajärv, there is a beach area with a beach house, ball courts, a children's playground, recreation areas, a café, and a boat harbor. At the southern tip is the Kooliranna recreation area, and from there begins the Väike Emajõgi, which meanders through Valgamaa. Pühajärve Park is the starting point for the Murrumetsa hiking trail, and around the lake runs the 12 km long Pühajärve hiking trail, which passes by the lake's most famous spring, the Armuallikas. In winter, when weather conditions are suitable, an ice trail is created on the lake for hiking, and a winter swimming area is open at Pühajärve Beach.Pühajärv has provided plenty of inspiration for writers and artists. For example, Fridebert Tuglas and Eino Leino have vacationed here. Information about Konrad Mägi's Pühajärv paintings can be found on an info board by the lakeshore near the GMP Pühajärve restaurant. In 1991, the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, visited Otepää and blessed the lake, an event commemorated by a wooden sculpture on the shore of Pühajärve Park.

Räpina Manor Park is located on a picturesque peninsula surrounded by the Võhandu River, with Sillapää Castle in the middle. The mixed-style park consists of English, French and forest park parts. The manor house is surrounded by the manor park, which is rich in species (nearly 800 species of trees and shrubs, as well as roses, lianas, rhododendrons, grapevines, etc.). The manor park can be visited at any time. In the northern part of the park, on the bank of Võhandu River, in the shade of the primeval trees, there is an open pavilion-rotunda with a round domed roof and white columns.There are paved paths in the park, which are well suited for strollers.

In the city centre of Tartu, around the new Tartu Environmental Education Centre, there is a large park covering 10,000 m² and containing a large number of species. Old and ancient trees meet newly designed park trails offering learning and recreational possibilities in the hilly park. The park is home to over 80 species of trees and shrubs and over 200 species of herbaceous plants.A visitor can find peat, butterfly, and vegetable beds in the park; there is also a man-made beaver nest, a sun dial, a fountain, an observation tower, and a study trail about rocks. The old orchard has also been preserved. Children can have fun at the otter slide, a three-sand sandbox, and a carousel. Park facilities and plants are introduced by several information boards.

Luunja Manor Park was established in the 18th century as a Baroque park by Count B.C. von Münnich and redesigned as an irregular landscape park at the end of the 19th century.There is a rose garden near the park that is a great place for cultural events, picnics, and walks in the summer. In addition to the park, there are also several historical monuments in the exhibition areas of the manor. These include the alleys of the manor, the walls surrounding the park and the garden, the old distillery and smithy, the gardener's house, and a cattle-barn complex.

Toomemäe Park, a natural hill with a rich history, is one of the favorite places for Tartu residents to enjoy greenery without leaving the city. In the cathedral located here, you can visit the University of Tartu Museum, which provides an overview of the university's history and scientific research, and enjoy the views from the towers' observation platforms. While walking in the romantic English-style park, don't miss the beautiful Angel Bridge with its twin Devil's Bridge, statues, outdoor exhibitions, and university buildings, such as the observatory and the old anatomical museum. The park is accessible with a stroller, there is a playground for toddlers and a sports park for more active visitors.