The Karula Uplands are home to 60 lakes, 40 of which lie within Karula National Park. It is Estonia’s smallest national park and was established on December 8, 1993. These figures illustrate two scales of this landscape: the uplands and the protected area within their boundaries.
Lakes, Trails, and Seasonal Activities
Pühajärv is the largest lake in Otepää Nature Park and has four islands. During the summer season, Pühajärve Harbour rents out rowboats, canoes, pedal boats, SUP boards, surf bikes, and RayFoils for trips on the lake. This wide selection of watercraft is explicitly seasonal. In summer, Pühajärve Beach offers clean sand, a bathing jetty, and a full-sized outdoor swimming pool.
If you prefer exploring on foot, you can take the Pühajärv hiking trail, a 14-kilometre circular route for pedestrians. Armuallikas is one of the natural features near the trail. At Pühajärv, different ways of exploring the area are available side by side: seasonal trips on the water and a clearly measured walking loop.
Kuutsemäe also brings together activities that vary by season. The Puhkekeskus has eight downhill slopes for snowboarding and alpine skiing. They vary in difficulty and are between 214 and 473 metres long. In summer, there is a disc golf park with four courses of varying difficulty, as well as hiking and cycling trails. From ski slopes to disc golf and trails, there is a range of activities, though not all of them are tied to the same season.
Viewpoints with Distinctive Vistas
The 25-metre-high Tellingumäe observation tower offers views of the winding gorges of the Mustjõgi River and the hilly landscape typical of southern Estonia. The tower is also used for nature and birdwatching. In Tõrva, the highest platform of Lõvitorn stands 11 metres above the water; including the lighting masts, the tower reaches a total height of 14 metres. These figures refer to different heights: the platform above the water and the tower’s total height.
At the Tehvandi ski jump, there is a 34-metre-high observation point. From there, visitors can watch ski jumpers training or competing and enjoy the view. By contrast, the focus at Tellingumäe is on the landscape and birdwatching, while the Tehvandi viewpoint also offers a look at ski jumping.
Traces of Castles, Churches, and History
The ruins of Helme Order Castle probably date from the first half of the 14th century. Sections of the walls, with their distinctive window openings, still stand today. In 1658, the Order Castle was destroyed by Swedish forces. North of the ruins, the Helme Caves expose about three metres of white sandstone from the Burtnieki Formation. The caves once consisted of seven interconnected chambers; the largest was called Moses’ Church. Helme brings together architectural remains, a documented history of destruction, and a geological exposure.
The hillfort of Otepää is home to the ruins of a stone castle founded by Bishop Hermann in 1224. A different story links Otepää’s Evangelical Lutheran St. Mary’s Church with the Estonian national flag: on June 4, 1884, the blue-black-white flag that later became the national flag was consecrated in the church’s parish house. The church also has the Neo-Gothic altarpiece “Christ on the Cross,” dating from 1880. The dates 1224 and 1884 mark different historical traces: the founding of a castle and the consecration of the future national flag.
Sangaste Castle and its park were designed after the famous Windsor Castle in England. The estate includes stables, a dairy, a barn, a water tower, and an arboretum. The former horse stable of the Sangaste manor has been converted into a visitor centre and houses the exhibition “Rukkikrahv ja Ilmaimed” (“The Rye Count and the Wonders of the World”). It explores the scientific wonders of the 19th century as well as Count Berg, the owner of Sangaste Castle. If you are planning to visit the visitor centre or a particular exhibition, check the current offering in advance.
The Valga Museum adds a broad perspective on the town and county to this history of places and buildings. Its permanent exhibition presents the natural, historical, and cultural heritage of Valga County and the town, from prehistoric times to the present day. The museum also runs educational programmes, museum sessions, and creative workshops. If you would like to attend a specific programme, check the current schedule in advance.
Discover more destinations: Sangaste, Valga, Meegaste, Tõrva, Taagepera, Sihva, Tõlliste, Kääriku, Otepää Parish, Taheva, Helme, Sangaste, Hummuli, Puka, Karula, Põdrala, Palupera.
For the broader travel overview: Estonia.
