Page 15 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

DISC OVERING EST ONIA , LA T VIA AND LITHU ANIA 13

Saaremaa’s magnificent wind-
swept southern tip, or visit the
intriguing Kaali Meteor Crater
(p98), 15 km (9 miles) to the
northeast of town.
Day 7 Pärnu
Return to the mainland via
Muhu Island and head for
Pärnu (pp102–103), Estonia’s
summer capital and most
popular seaside resort.
Attractions include a lovely
7 km (4 mile) sandy beach,
historic Old Town buildings
and several peaceful parks.
Boulders along the coastline of Käsmu peninsula in Lahemaa National Park
Day 8 Tartu
There’s plenty to see in Estonia’s picturesque Kiidjärve- constructed during the Soviet
vibrant college town, Tartu Taevaskoja Recreational Area era along with a uranium mine
(pp118–21), home to the is a wonderful spot for picnics (closed in 1991), for the Soviet
venerable Tartu University and hiking. It’s home to nuclear programme. Today its
and around 20,000 students. Kiidjärve Watermill (p126) and ornate Stalinist-era buildings are
The 14th-century St John’s the stunning Taevaskoja an intriguing sight.
Church has a fascinating interior Sandstone Cliffs (p126), which
containing terracotta figures and tower over the Ahja river. Day 13 Along the north coast
the Tartu Art Museum houses The limestone cliffs of the
a fine collec tion of Estonian art Day 10 Lake Võrtsjärv Ontika Coast (p115), just west
in a leaning building. The KGB For a day of boating, sun- of Sillamäe, are a magnificent
Cells Museum sheds a grim bathing and swimming, head sight and well worth visiting for
light on the activities of the west to Lake Võrtsjärv (p122), the views across the Gulf of
Soviet agency and the suffering Estonia’s second-largest lake. Finland alone. Spend the
of many Estonians under the Stop at the visitor centre in afternoon at the Kohtla
regime. Toomemägi (Cathedral Rannu to organize boat hire or Underground Mining
Hill) (pp120–21) features pretty book a tour of the lake aboard Museum (p115) for a fascinating
historic buildings amidst a historic wooden sailing guided tour deep within the oil-
parkland and a warren of boat (kalepurjekas). shale mine before continuing to
narrow streets. Palmse within Lahemaa
Day 11 North to Narva National Park (pp110–14).
From Tartu, travel north to the
historic border town of Narva Day 14 Lahemaa National
(p116), breaking the three-hour Park
journey on the shores of Lake The grand manor houses at
Peipsi (p127), which straddles Palmse (p112) and Sagadi
the border with Russia. At over (p113) both provide an intrigu-
3,500 sq km (1,350 sq miles), it’s ing glimpse of 18th-century
Europe’s fifth largest lake. Aim aristocratic life. From Palmse
for lakeshore villages Mustvee consider a trip to the tiny
and Raja (p127), where Old coastal village of Võsu (p112)
Believers still follow traditional or head to pretty Käsmu
ways of life. Mustvee’s small village (p112). If time allows
museum offers an illuminating visit the fishing village of Altja
glimpse into the history and (p113) to see its traditional
daily lives of the community. thatched-roof houses before
returning to Tallinn.
Day 12 Narva and Sillamäe
The renovated medieval cathedral, now a The sheer-sided castle, the To extend your trip…
library, in the Toomemägi area, Tartu museum in the castle’s tall white Spend a day hiking or hire a
tower and the neighbouring bicycle to tour the Käsmu
Day 9 Kiidjärve-Taevaskoja riverside park are the highlights peninsula (p114), explor ing
Recreational Area of the border city of Narva (see the striking outcrop of giant
In the Põlva region, 50 km p116), where 96 per cent of the boulders and historic
(31 miles) south of Tartu and population speaks Russian. Käsmu village (p112).
perfect for a day trip, the Nearby Sillamäe (p115) was