Page 124 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

122  EST ONIA REGION B Y REGION

r Lake Võrtsjärv
Road Map D2. @ from Viljandi,
Otepää. n Visitor Centre, Rannu,
527 5630. Open May–Sep: 10am–
6pm daily; Oct: 11am–5pm daily;
Nov–Apr: by arrangement. 8
∑ vortsjarv.ee
Straddling the counties of
Viljandi, Tartu and Valga, Lake
Võrtsjärv is the second-largest
lake in Estonia after Lake Peipsi
(see p127). The northern part of
the lake has some beautiful
sandy beaches, while the
southern part is swampier. Magnificent view of Otepää, set amid lush landscape
The Visitor Centre is a great
place to gather information surrounding landscape. A y Otepää
before your visit, and you can crucial staging post on the Road: Map E2. * 2,300. @ from
also rent a canoe or boat from Hanseatic trade route (see p36), Tartu, Võru, Tallinn. n Tartu mnt 1,
here. There are several attractions Viljandi emerged as one of 766 1200. _ Tartu Marathon (Feb).
scattered around the lake. Estonia’s leading strongholds in ∑ otepaa.ee
The mausoleum of Barclay de the 16th century. By the end
Tolly (1757–1818), the Russian of the 19th century, the local Situated amid the beautiful
general credited with helping area had become one of the rolling hills of southeast
to defeat Napoleon, is in wealthiest in Estonia. Estonia, Otepää is equally
Jõgeveste, south of the lake. Viljandi is notable for its well- popular as a summer and
The bagpipe farm in Riidaja, at preserved historic buildings, winter holiday retreat. The
the southwest corner of the with an abundance of pretty town also holds a special
lake, is one of the area’s more timber cottages and early place in Estonian history. In
unusual sights. A popular 20th-century brick houses. 1884 the national flag was
summer activity is to take a tour In the small plaza, at the consecrated in the parish
of the lake aboard a kalepur- junction of Lossi and Tartu, is a church, which now houses
jekas, a traditional sailboat. statue that pays homage to Carl the Flag Museum. The totemic
Robert Jakobson (1841–82). This Energy Column at Mäe Street
zealous 19th-century Estonian is an intriguing reminder of
nationalist helped get the how strongly pagan beliefs
National Awakening underway prevail in Estonia.
by foun ding the Estonian- Lake Pühajärv, 3 km
language newspaper Sakala in (2 miles) south of Otepää, has
Viljandi in 1878. The statue is the some splendid beaches and
main focal point for the town. dining spots from which to
Viljandi is also a major centre enjoy the magnificent scenery.
for folk art and music, with
a large music academy and a E Flag Museum
popular yearly festival. Tel 765 5075. Open 11am-4pm Tue-Sat.
The Forest Brothers
After the Soviet Union reoccupied Estonia
A section of the medieval castle on Castle in 1944, thousands of men fled to the
Hill, Viljandi woods to take up arms. They became
known as the Forest Brothers and
t Viljandi fought a guerrilla-style campaign
Road Map D2. * 20,000. £ from against the Soviet system, most
Tallinn. @ from Tartu. n Vabaduse 6, prominently in Viljandi and Tartu,
433 0442. _ Viljandi Folk Festival (late with strong support from locals.
Jul). ∑ viljandi.ee However, the NKVD units ruthlessly
targeted the partisans’ families and
The pleasant town of Viljandi is by 1949 their support network had
centred on the medieval castle largely been broken. By 1953, only a
ruins sitting atop Castle Hill, few of the Forest Brothers were left. An underground bunker used
which afford spectacular views The last active member died in 1980. by Forest Brothers
of the nearby lake and
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp298–9 and pp318–19

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