Explore Vihula through Vihula Manor, which is located in the protected Lahemaa National Park. The manor brings together manor history, waterside scenery and a variety of activities. This offers several ways to plan your trip: marked trails, historical collections, regional cuisine or hands-on activities. You can choose what to focus on during your stay according to your interests.
Landscape, trails and cycling
The Mustoja flows through the park among old, stately trees and lush greenery. It then widens into a pond with water lilies, small islands and romantic arched bridges. The river and pond give the park landscape a distinct waterside character. Two marked hiking trails at Vihula Manor are 1.5 and 3 kilometres long. The trails are also suitable for cycling.
A day pass includes bicycle rental for one hour, intended for exploring the surrounding area. It also includes a visit to the historic watermill. These offer different points of reference for planning: the hiking trails are defined by their distances, while bicycle rental is defined by its duration. If the bike or the mill is a deciding factor for your visit, check the relevant day-pass offer before travelling.
The manor and its collections
The first written record of Vihula Manor dates from 1501. The present manor house was built between 1820 and 1880, during the von Schubert era. These dates mark different periods: the earliest written record predates the construction of the present building by a considerable margin. The local industrial history includes the first reports of vodka production, dating from the mid-18th century.
The Vodka Museum at Vihula Manor comprises four collections covering different subjects. The Oldtimer Museum offers a different kind of exhibition, showcasing legendary and very rare vehicles, including the Volga, Pobeda, Chaika and historic Opel P4. History enthusiasts will find several themes here, from the manor and the history of production to vehicles.
Hands-on activities, games and wildlife watching
The chocolate workshop focuses on creating your own treats. Participants learn about the history and art of chocolate-making, make sweets and truffles using three different types of chocolate, and decorate a box. Vihula's mini-golf course offers a different activity: it has 18 holes and is considered the first and largest of its kind in the Baltics. The holes represent well-known sights in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Kaval-Ants Forest offers children adventurous opportunities to play and relax. In summer, there is an additional nature-focused activity: visitors can observe animals at the Vihula Manor eco-farm. These activities vary clearly by interest and season, from a creative workshop and mini golf to wildlife watching in summer.
Estonian cuisine and regional ingredients
The food also reflects the history and surroundings of the manor. The menus at the Vihula Manor restaurant focus mainly on Estonian cuisine; several recipes come from the manor's old cookbook. Much of the restaurant's natural, locally sourced food comes from the manor's own garden and neighbouring farms. If you want to combine culture, landscape and cuisine on your trip, you can make the restaurant's cuisine a focus alongside the museums and activities.
Discover more destinations: Altja, Haljala, Vergi, Ohepalu, Jäneda, Mõedaka, Rakvere, Triigi.
For the broader travel overview: Lääne-Viru.
