Suur Munamägi observation tower

The bird observation tower on the Linnutee hiking trail is located in Kärevere Nature Reserve, which is one of the most visited places among bird enthusiasts. There are over 200 bird species here!The six-meter observation tower is perfect for admiring birds, their migration, and nesting, as well as the spring floods, and the diverse rivers, meadows, and forests. The purpose of this area is to protect rare species of birds, animals, and plants, as well as their habitats, forest and meadow communities, and inland water bodies. The local protected species include the black stork, the lesser spotted eagle, the white-tailed eagle, several bat species, the asp, the European bullhead, and others.

Tõrva's Vanamõisa Lake is a popular summer destination for both locals and visitors from afar. The lake is located on the outskirts of the city, near Tõrva Veemõnula Water and Sauna Center. At the edge of Vanamõisa Lake stands the Baltics' highest diving tower, Tõrva Lion Tower. It was built in place of the legendary Tõrva Vanamõisa diving tower, offering visitors a safe and exciting opportunity for summer water fun. The tower has five floors, each with a diving platform into the lake. The height of the last platform above the water surface is 11 meters, and the total height of the tower, including light masts, reaches 14 meters. In addition to the long sandy shore, the beach features a boardwalk and ball game courts. During the summer season, lifeguards are on duty at the beach from 11 AM to 7 PM. Visitors can rent volleyball, badminton sets, and spikeball sets from the lifeguard. Changing rooms and toilets are available. Good to know: you can park your car at the Tõrva Gymnasium parking lot, and from there, it's a short walk to the lake. Come and enjoy the summer and water fun in Southern Estonia!

Põltsamaa Castle has been an important site throughout the centuries and carries a distinguished history – founded in 1272 on the riverbank, it was the residence of Magnus, the King of Livonia, and later evolved into a magnificent Rococo palace. Wars and fires left the castle in ruins, but now it has come back to life and is waiting for you to visit! Today, the castle offers visitors plenty of excitement. First and foremost, it is worth climbing to the viewing platform of the seven-story castle tower, where a captivating view of the city unfolds in every season. The tower is crowned by a restored historical dome, which is unique in all of Estonia. The church, located within the complex, is built directly into the castle's fortification walls and tower, and is open daily during the summer. The convent and gatehouse feature a modern exhibition that tells the colorful story of the castle and the town of Põltsamaa. In the castle courtyard, craft workshops await, where you can watch the work of masters or purchase something interesting yourself. Culinary experiences are offered by the restaurant Oberpahlen, where history and excellent food come together. Discover Põltsamaa Castle – a place where history comes to life!

The study trail is well-suited for getting acquainted with the development and vegetation of bogs and for observing pine cultures. A 1.8 km long circular study trail revolves around the Valgesoo bog. On the she study trail you can explore the bog vegetation, old pine plantation ("Baron's pine forest"), and a forest edge rich of Scottish wood ants. The whole trail is accessible by a wheelchair or stroller. To facilitate movement on the track, there is a track map and colour markings on the trees. There is an observation tower and a campfire site at the start of the study trail.Valgesoo bog is one of the 21 places worth discovering in Southern Estonia, which is suggested to be visited for those who are interested in nature.

Tõrva Lion Tower in Lake Vanamõisa in Southern Estonia is the highest diving tower in the Baltic States. It was built to replace the legendary Tõrva Vanamõisa diving tower, offering visitors a safe and exciting opportunity for summer water fun. The tower has four floors, each with a diving platform from which you can dive into the lake. The height of the last platform from the water surface is 11 meters, and the total height of the tower with light masts reaches 14 meters. The name is inspired by Shroomwell's lion's mane soft drink, Focus State. Lake Vanamõisa is a popular summer destination for both locals and visitors from afar. The lake is located on the edge of the town of Tõrva. In addition to the diving tower, the beach has a boardwalk and athletic courts. During the summer season, the beach is supervised by lifeguards from 11 AM to 7 PM. Lifeguards offer volleyball, badminton, and spikeball rentals. There are changing cabins and toilets available. The tower also serves as a viewing platform for the lake and its beautiful surroundings.

The Meremäe Viewing Tower is located between Meremäe village and Vastseliina Castle on Meremäe Hill (204 m). Based on its name, one might think that the sea might be visible from the tower. However, the sea, as we know it today, is about 250 km from here, though Lake Pskov – which is not visible on the opposite side, and which was probably also called a sea in the old days – is just 40 km away. In fine weather, the domes of the churches of the Pskov-Caves Monastery in Pechory can be seen from the tower. The wide view of Setomaa's fields and forests is amazingly beautiful in every season, regardless of the weather. Fifteen people can climb the viewing tower at a time.

Tellingumäe's 25-meter-high observation tower offers a beautiful view of the winding Mustjõgi gorges and the hilly landscape typical of South Estonia. Latvia can be seen in the distance, as nearby the Mustjõe River joins the Koiva (Gauja) River on the Estonian-Latvian border. Tellingumäe observation tower is a great place to observe nature and birds. Several rare bird species can be found here. The tower has an RMK campfire site and marked cycling and hiking trails of different lengths, like the Estonian-Latvian joint cultural heritage trail and the Koiva Cycling Trail.

Climbing to the top of Munamägi Hill is worth the effort – the view covers more than 50 km. The absolute height of Väike or Otepää Munamägi Hill is 207.5 m (relative height exceeds 80 m). There is a spring on the north-eastern slope of Väike Munamägi (in the direction of Otepää) that has been considered the start of the Väike Emajõgi River for a long time. The boulder on the edge of the first plain is the biggest in the area – 250,000 kg. Take a look at the aerial panorama (picture by Joel Tammet).