Page 128 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

126  EST ONIA REGION B Y REGION

Sweeping view of Lake Põlva with the spire of St Mary’s Church in the background
d Põlva includes sandcliffs. The water- most beautiful. Close to the
mill is the largest red brick Small Taevaskoja is the Maiden’s
Road Map E2. * 6,500. @ from
Tartu. n Kooli 1, 799 5001. structure of its kind in the Baltic Cave, which was carved by the
_ Town Days (first weekend in June). region. There are many hiking spring water flowing out of the
∑ polva.ee trails that start at Kiidjärve Devonian sandstone and is also
village. Horse-riding, cycling a source of num erous legends
The town is set around the and canoeing are also popular and myths. Nearby is the Big
artificial Lake Põlva, whose ways to see the area. The Taevaskoja, a striking sandstone
sandy shores are crowded with famous Akste Anthills, some wall, widely regarded as a
sunbathers in summer. Legend of which stand 2 m (7 ft) high, national symbol.
has it that a girl was immured are among the area’s most
in a kneeling position in fascinating sights.
St Mary’s Church to keep the
devil away. This is reputedly g Taevaskoja
how Põlva, meaning “knee”
in Estonian, got its name. Sandstone Cliffs
The town was developed Road Map E2. @ from Põlva.
around St Mary’s Church, £ from Tartu. 8 Taevaskoja Tourism
which lay in ruins for a long & Holiday Centre, 5373 6406.
period until it was rebuilt after ∑ taevaskoja.ee
the Northern War (see p37).
Nearby, the Cultural Centre, Taevaskoja, meaning “Heaven’s
an award-winning building, Hall”, is famous for its sand stone
houses an art gallery, concert cliffs and natural beauty. The Big
hall and café, and offers and Small Taevaskoja cliffs are
panoramic views of the town among the main attractions in
from its terraced roof. Põlva is the Põlva area. They run along
also famous for the Intsikurmu the striking Ahja river, which is Sandstone cliffs at Taevaskoja, along the
Song Festival Grounds. Set in a regarded as one of Estonia’s Ahja river
small forested area on the west
side of the town, it regularly
hosts concerts. The Russian Old Believers
Opposing the sweeping reforms brought about by Patriarch Nikon
f Kiidjärve (1605–81), the Old Believers split from the Russian Orthodox
Church in the 17th century. Due
Watermill to persecution, many moved to
southeast Estonia, especially near
Road Map E2. @ from Põlva. Lake Peipsi where they have adhered
n Kiidjärve village, 799 2122. to their traditional way of life ever
8 ∑ visitestonia.com since. Today, there are 11 congrega-
tions of Old Believers in Estonia, com-
Built in 1914, the Kiidjärve prising about 15,000 members. They
Watermill is situated in are known for their love of onions,
the Kiidjärve-Taevaskoja which they grow in abundance. It
Recreational Area, a 32-sq-km is a local belief that onions ward off
(12-sq-mile) pocket of stunning Congregation of Old Believers various ills if eaten in large amounts.
natural beauty that also
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp298–9 and pp318–19

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