Page 119 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

EASTERN EST ONIA  117

artist Tauno Kangro (b.1966), to explore than the larger the Järvamaa Museum offers
stands on top of Vallimägi Hill national parks. One of the a much broa der look at the
and is a new symbol for the six hiking trails, the stunning nature and history of the area.
town. Rakvere’s inhabitants are Männi kjärve Trail, stretches for The Town Hall Square is the
proud of the fact that the 1 km (half a mile) over a long focal point of the well-kept
renowned composer Arvo Pärt plank platform. To the east of town centre and offers a small
(see p27) went to school and the reserve, Emumägi Hill is variety of decent restaurants
began his music studies here. the area’s highest point. Its and cafés.
observation tower offers a
+ Rakvere Castle superb view of the countryside. E Järvamaa Museum
Vallimägi. Tel 322 5500. Open May– Lembitu 5. Tel 385 1867.
Sep: 11am–7pm daily; Oct–Apr: Open Apr–Oct: 11am–6pm Tue–Sat;
10am–4pm Wed–Sun. & @ svm.ee Nov–Mar: 10am–5pm Tue–Sat. &
∑ jarvamaamuuseum.ee
9 Väike-Maarja
w Põltsamaa
Road Map D1. * 5,000.
@ from Rakvere. n Pikk 3, 326 1625. Road Map D2. * 5,000. @ from
∑ v-maarja.ee Tallinn, Tartu. n Lossi 1, 775 1390.
∑ poltsamaa.ee
A typical parochial Estonian
town, Väike-Maarja is steeped The idyllic town of Põltsamaa is
in history and has a number set amid the ruins of Põlts amaa
of quirky sights of interest. Castle. Once the centre of power
Housing the local tourism for Duke Magnus, the king of
information centre, the Väike- The medieval octagonal tower Livonia in the 16th century, the
Maarja Museum offers an amid castle ruins, Paide castle stronghold is an amazingly
eclectic and detailed overview eclectic jigsaw of archtectural
of the town’s history, includ ing q Paide styles. The exquisite Rococo
exhibits showing how the Road Map D1. * 9,000. @ from palace was built in the 18th
Forest Brothers (see p122) used Tallinn. n Keskväljak 8, 385 0400. century on the site of an old
to live. It is also possible to ∑ paide.ee convent, while the elegant
have a “Forest Brothers’ picnic” Lutheran St Nicholas’s Church
in a reconstructed bunker. Located in the centre of Estonia, dates from 1633 and was re-
Other interesting sights Paide makes the ideal base from constructed in 1952. Located in
include a Soviet missile base, which to explore the heartland an old storehouse in the castle
the Vao Stronghold Tower of the country. To emphasize its yard, the Põltsamaa Museum
Museum and the 14th-century central loca tion, the town has boasts some fine exhibits.
town church. adopted a heart shape as its
official logo. Paide’s biggest R St Nicholas’s Church
R Väike-Maarja Museum tourist draw is the beautifully Lossi 3. Tel 776 9915. Open Jun–Aug:
Pikk 3. Tel 326 1625. Open May–Sep: restored 13th-century 10am–3pm daily. 5 11am Sun. &
10am–5pm Tue–Sat; Oct–Apr: octagonal castle tower and E Põltsamaa Museum
10am–5pm Mon–Fri. surrounding ruins. The tower Loss tänav 1. Tel 775 1390.
houses a museum focusing on Open May–Sep: 10am–6pm daily;
0 Endla Nature the town’s early history, while Oct–Apr: 10am–4pm Mon–Sat. &
Reserve
Endla Looduskaitseala
Road Map D1. @ from Tartu.
n Reserve Headquarters, Tooma,
70 km (43 miles) NW of Tartu, 676
7999. 8 call in advance.
∑ keskkonnaamet.ee
A scenic maze of peat bogs,
rivers, swamp forests and lakes,
the Endla Nature Reserve is
considered to be one of the
most important freshwater
systems in the country.
Although the reserve straddles
three counties, its relatively
small size makes it much easier Well-maintained church inside the castle grounds at Põltsamaa

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