Otepää is the winter capital of Estonia. Panorama of Otepää. Virtual tour of Otepää. Sights, map, photo, video Sights of Otepaa Estonia

Helpful information for tourists about Otepää in Estonia - geographical position, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.

Otepää is a region and town located in the hills of southern Estonia. The city got its name from the resemblance of the hill on which the castle stands to a bear's head. The city's name means "bear's head" in Estonian. The city was first mentioned in written sources in 1116, when the Russian prince Mstislav captured the settlement mentioned in the Novgorod chronicles under the name “Bear's Head”.

Otepää is a kind of winter capital of Estonia, the city is the center of winter games in the Baltic states. Winter holidays in this Estonian town are varied. Thanks to the climatic conditions of the region, you can take part in winter activities even in early April. You can participate in winter public events. There are hills here that will definitely appeal to ski lovers and snowboarders. A great opportunity to get acquainted with the picturesque natural landscapes of Otepää is, of course, winter hiking.

Other winter activities, such as ATV riding and motor sleigh rides, are also becoming increasingly popular. You can also take part in a night safari or sleigh ride if you wish.

In order to truly experience and love the city, you must definitely go on a hike, watch the animals living here, explore the diversity flora, capture unique moments and picturesque landscapes with your camera. Hiking enthusiasts are offered nature trails of varying lengths and difficulty. Walking and hiking can be done on foot or by bicycle. You can rent boats, canoes, and catamarans for trips along rivers and lakes in the city and surrounding areas.

IN summer time Roller skiing competitions are held in Otepää. The competition also provides entertainment for spectators. Roller skating tracks are also available for amateur athletes.

The city has an excellent golf course, which is unique both in the shape of its surface and in the diversity of its natural environment. The adventure park has all sorts of attractions; lovers of extreme sensations will definitely remember flying on a catapult to a height of up to 20 meters.

The most beautiful lake in Estonia is Pyhajärve, whose maximum length is 3.5 km, width – 1.6 km, and depth – 8.5 km. The lake is fed by numerous coastal springs, of which the most famous is the Armuallikas spring in the coastal bend near the Poslovitsa farm. There are five islands in the lake. According to one legend, the lake arose from the tears of a grieving mother who mourned her 5 sons killed in the war. According to legend, their burial mounds are today the 5 islands of Pyhajärve.

Sangaste Castle, built in 1874-81, is located 25 km from Otepää. The castle is an exact copy of the English Windsor Castle. Currently, Sangaste houses a hotel, a function hall and a conference hall. Next to the castle there is an ancient oak tree, which, according to legend, was planted by Peter I.

In the eastern part of the city there are the ruins of a 13th century bishop's castle. The castle was built by Bishop Herman in 1224. In the 13th century, a settlement arose in the vicinity of the castle, mainly inhabited by merchants and artisans.

Otepää is recognized by psychics as a region that gives energy. You can draw it both during active recreation and under the crowns of the ancient oak trees of Mäe Street, which are marked by the Energy Pillar.

The peculiarity and advantage of Otepää is that you can relax here both in winter and summer. In winter, until the beginning of April, this is a great place for people interested in skiing and snowboarding, and in summer there are all kinds of hikes on foot, by bike or by boat. Also in the summer there are marathons in roller skiing and running. Equipped a large number of trails for runners and cyclists.

Otepää fortification, ruins of a 12th-century bishop's castle

On Linnamägi Hill there was an ancient Estonian settlement, which, due to its good location, was easy to defend. Exact time The origin of the fort is not known, but already a thousand years ago it was the most important fortification in the ancient Estonian land of Ugala. The southern side of the hill was used for settlement. It can be assumed that the settlement was surrounded by a water barrier, as evidenced by the existence of a now swampy meadow and the overgrown Lake Alevijärv near Linnamägi. Now you can see and touch on the city hill the ruins of a stone fort built in 1224 by Bishop Herman. In 1937, a metal map of the ancient settlements was installed on the hill.

Otepää St. Mary Lutheran Church

Otepää is one of the oldest parishes in Southern Estonia. In 1224, on the initiative of Tartu Bishop Herman, a fortified church was erected near the bishop's castle. The distrust of the Germans and Estonians necessitated the construction of a new church for the Estonians outside the walls of the fortress. In Swedish times, in 1671, another church was built again. If the first (built in 1608?) church was located at the highest tip of Linnamägi hill, then the second was apparently located east of Linnamägi on a hill shaped like a heart, which is now marked by a stone cross. In 1850, the church was renovated from the inside and a balcony was built for the choir. The organ was created in the workshop of Tartu organ maker Kessler in 1852 and was generally the first organ in Otepää Church. The church tower in its current form was built in 1860. In 1890 the church was rebuilt. The altar painting dates back to 1880. The bell of Otepää Church was donated by H. Billinghausen and S. Taube. The church received a new bell as a gift from the Vihti parish in 1992. The church was built in the neo-Gothic style and has a tower 51 m high. Electricity was installed in the church in 1938. Under the left choir is a flagstone tombstone erected in 1806 for General Rennenkamp. It is also worth paying attention to the lock of the first door, which dates back to 1772.

• On June 4, 1884, in the hall of Otepää Church Manor, the blue-black-white flag of the Estonian Student Society was consecrated, which later became the national flag and in 1992 the state flag. The bas-reliefs of the flag, created by the sculptor Waldemar Mellick, were unveiled on the wall of the church in 1934 (on the anniversary of the 50th anniversary of the national flag). The bas-reliefs were destroyed in 1950, but were restored and reopened on July 15, 1989. The sculptor is Mati Varik.
• On May 20, 1997, the presidents of the three Baltic states planted oak trees in the church garden.

Winter Church

In winter, they use a warmer and more comfortable church, the so-called. WINTER CHURCH, which was erected from an auxiliary building of the old church estate. It was consecrated on December 6, 1992, on Finnish Independence Day, because this winter church was built thanks to the help of the Finns. The consecrated name of the winter church is the Chapel of the Widow and Orphan. It is dedicated to widows because Soviet time It was they who, scraping from their meager salaries, kept the church alive. The Winter Church also hosts some concerts as part of the traditional winter music festival.

• In front of the Winter Church there is a granite monument to JACOB HURTH. The monument was consecrated on November 2, 1989. JAKOB HURT was the first pastor of Estonian nationality who worked in Otepää in the years 1872-1880. He gained popularity among the people as a folklorist and linguist. He was a prominent figure in the period of the Estonian national movement and had the largest collection of folklore in Europe.

Monument to the soldiers who died in the liberation war

The monument is erected on the hill in front of Otepää Church. On November 2, 1922, the council of the Otepää Church obliged its board to begin negotiations on the erection of a monument to the soldiers who died in the War of Independence. The sketches of the monument were made by Waldemar Melnik, the sculptor was P. Weeber. The grand opening of the monument took place on June 10, 1928. In June 1950, the monument disappeared from the face of the earth. On the initiative of the Otepää Popular Front and the Otepää Society for the Preservation of Ancient Monuments, as well as with the organization and leadership of Karl Ojaver, restoration of the monument began in the summer of 1988. On August 3, 1988, in a solemn ceremony, the upper part of the monument with the inscription “GLORY TO THE FALLEN” was pulled to the surface of the earth. However, the granite block with full list fallen warriors. Only 22 names survive. On March 14, 1989, they began preparing the foundation for the monument in a new location (the previous location remains on the territory of the plant). Works on artistic metal processing were carried out by Yuri Oyaver. The cornerstone laying ceremony took place on April 22, 1989.

Museum of the Estonian Flag

The museum was opened on December 23, 1996 in Otepää Church Manor. The author of the idea and the initiator of its implementation was the pastor of the Otepää Mariinsky parish of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Yuri Stepanov. The general construction work was carried out by AS Aunapuu Ehitus, the compiler and designer of the museum's exhibitions were employees of the Estonian Folk Museum Piret Õunapuu and Kaie Kukk, as well as the representative of the Estonian Student Society Tõnis Mäldre. The opening of the museum is connected with the history of the Estonian national flag. In the early spring of 1884, Dr. Karl August Hermann's wife Paula Hermann, with the help of Emilia Beermann and Miina Hermann (Härma), made a large silk blue-black-white flag for the Estonian Student Society. Since it was forbidden to display this flag in Tartu in 1884, it was consecrated in Otepää on June 4. 16 students and 6 graduates took part in the consecration ceremony; they rode to Otepää in an eight-horse carriage. When the church came into view, they released the banner from under the canopy, and it began to flutter in the headwind. The flag was consecrated and blessed by Rudolf Callas. From this ceremony come the historical words uttered by Heinrich Rosenthal: “If Estonia were full of devils, they would not be able to defeat our flag.”

Lake Pyhajärve

From Pyhajärve, the most beautiful lake in Estonia, there are many legends associated. There are many oak groves in the vicinity of Lake Pyhajärv. One of them was called the sacred oak forest. There was no lake then. One day it came with a great roar and stopped in the heavenly heights, almost above the sacred oak grove. People looked at it and said: “It makes noise in the sky, like our sacred grove on earth.” Immediately the lake fell to the ground with a great noise next to the oak grove. The fallen lake began to be called Pyhajärv. Pyhajärv is the largest lake in the Otepää Upland, its length is 3.5 km, maximum width 1.6 km, maximum depth 8.5 m, area 292.6 hectares, coastline length 16.4 km. The shores of the lake abound in springs, of which the most famous is the Armuallikas spring in the coastal bend near the Poslovitsa farm. The Väike-Emajõgi River originates at the southern end of Lake Pyhajärv. There are 5 islands in the lake: in the northern part of Sysarsaared, in the central part of Kloostrisaar, from south coast The islands of Suur and Väike Lepasaar are located. Another legend about Pyhajärv is also associated with the islands. According to legend, the lake arose from the tears of a grieving mother who mourned her five sons killed in the war. Their burial mounds are the current lake islands. Lake Pyhajärv is suitable for fishing and enjoying beach pleasures. Pyhajärve beach is seeking Blue Flag status, which is awarded to clean sea and lake beaches.

Pyhajärve Park

The park belonged to the Pyhajärve Manor park and was laid out as a forest with walking paths in the 19th century. The park is predominantly a forest of natural origin. The singing stage located in Pyhajärve Park was reconstructed in 1994. Among the events held in the park, the most popular is the Pyhajärve Beach Party, which was founded in 1993. In the summer of 1999, the SIGHT WHEEL was reopened in the park.

Monument to the visit of the Dalai Lama

The historical visit is marked by a wooden sculpture on the shore of Lake Pyhajärv on the park side. The High Priest of the Lamaist Church in Tibet and the leader of the Tibetan people, His Eminence the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gwatso (born in the year of the wooden Boar in 1935), visited Estonia and Otepää on October 3, 1991 and consecrated Pühajärv on the same day at 10.45.

Pyhajärve War Oak

The diameter of the century-old oak with a huge spherical crown is 1.3 m, height 210 cm, girth of the tree 6.6 m, age about 380 years. This century-old tree is called the Oak of War as a witness to the events of the last century. In the autumn of 1841, the peasants of Pyhajärve Manor refused to perform corvee duties. The rebellious peasants were executed on December 16 near the Oak of War. In 2001 it will be 160 years since the historical event.

Khobustemägi Hill

An oblong mountain, resembling a narrow ridge, the height of which is more than 100 m above lake level. According to legend, the mountain was born in memory of a horse that carried its exhausted owner home on its back.

Spring Armuallikas

Armuallikas or Verilyate is located in the Poslovitsa bend on the shore of Lake Pyhajärv. According to popular legend, the spring got its name from the miraculous water: whoever drinks from a silver glass of spring water on Midsummer night will find great and eternal love. In addition, spring water supposedly soothes pain and cures diseases.

House-museum of the poet Gustav Wulf-Õys

Gustav Wulf was born on January 1, 1865 in the Juuza farm of Vastse-Otepää parish. He began his schooling career at an Orthodox parish school, then continued his education in Tartu at the school at the Yuri Church. In 1880 he entered the Tartu Russian Teachers' Seminary, from which he graduated in 1884 with honors. Wulf-Yis began working as a teacher at Puhja parish school. After numerous conflicts, he went to work in Vana-Otepää as a volost clerk, where he worked until 1937. He spent the last years of his life on the Lykhmus farm on the shores of Lake Nyupli. The song "Tender Nightingale", the author of the lyrics is Gustav Wulf-Yis, has become a kind of Otepää anthem. Nowadays, the Wulf-Õysa Museum is opened on the Lõhmus farm, the owner of which is the granddaughter of the poet Marie-Anne Karupä.

Mount Väike Munamägi

The effort put into reaching the top of the mountain will pay off in a big way. The visibility from here reaches more than 50 kilometers. Absolute altitude Malaya or Otepää Munamägi reaches 207.5 m (relative height more than 80 m). On the north-eastern slope of the mountain (in the Otepää direction) there is a spring, which has long been considered the source of the Väike-Emajõgi River. From here the stream flows down the ravine, then disappears and reappears on the surface below in the meadow, replenishing the stream flowing there with its waters, which flows into Lake Pyhajärv from the south-eastern side of the park. The boulder located on the edge of the first plain is the largest in the entire area and weighs 25,000 kg. In 1971, an observation tower 12.3 m high was built on the mountain, which broke in 1996.

Apteekrimyagi Hill

The peculiar name of the hill (“pharmacist’s mountain”) dates back to 1882. Then, as a result of a general search, people found here the unexpectedly missing Otepää pharmacist, pharmacist Jurvetson. He poisoned himself under one big tree because of an unhappy marriage. In 1934, a 26 m high triangulation tower was built here. In the same year, for the ski days of the Tartu County Defense League, a ski jump was built from which it was possible to make jumps up to 25 meters long.

Tehvandi Sports Center

With funding from the council of the Dynamo sports society, a ski jump was built on Mount Tehvandi, from which the first jumps were made in 1965. To date, the springboard has been reconstructed three times. In 1995, the mountain received the most modern this moment artificial turf. The springboard belongs to the Põhyakotkas club and is leased to the Tehvandi Education and Training Center for 25 years. In 1977, the Olympic training base of the USSR Committee of Physical Culture and Sports "Otepää", now the Tehvandi sports center, was built. Since 1993 - Estonian Olympic training center "Tehvandi". People, however, know it better under the name “Pentagon”. Apparently, the athletes training here began to call it that from the very beginning because of its arched appearance.

Energy Pillar

The monument, erected to indicate the presence of positive energy fields in Otepää, was unveiled on October 1, 1992 on Mäe Street. Along the entire length of the field on the mountainside there are benches, the location of which, as well as the location of the pillar, was chosen by psychics. The first sacrifice to the “Energy Pillar” was made by blacksmiths on World Blacksmiths Day on July 3, 1993. The energy forged into iron was accumulated in the form of a competitive work of 12 blacksmiths in the shape of a bear's head. The energy pillar is also a symbol and reminder in a rapidly changing world. A symbol of the fact that man is a part of nature, where the basis of all foundations are the laws of nature, where balance and interdependence prevail. A reminder not to stray too far from nature and to reconnect with the earth. How to get energy?

• 1. Choose yourself appropriate place between two oaks. Try to imagine yourself as one particle of nature (for example, a small oak tree). Close your eyes and try to absorb the energy. You feel relieved and your palms become warm (even in cold weather).
• 2. Place your hands on a wooden post, oak tree, or the surface of the ground. Make yourself more comfortable. Try to imagine that you are absorbing energy through your palms. You are permeated by a pleasant feeling that covers your whole body. Try to free yourself from bad thoughts. Take up meditation. Imagine yourself as a particle of the Universe.
• 3. Choose a suitable bench for sitting. Sitting or lying on a bench, point your palms down, trying to draw energy into yourself. Concentrate your thoughts on what you are trying to free yourself from with the help of the energy entering you.

Märdi mill dam

It is located in the village of Märdi, on a fairly large road when driving from Otepää to Valga through the village of Sikhva. The Väike Emajõgi River is dammed and the water flowing under the road falls down in the form of a waterfall. The dam is built in such a way that you can stand behind the water curtain and listen to the sound of the water. Although the surrounding area is not yet developed, the waterfall will give you real pleasure at any time. Next to the former mill there are cork oak trees, which are under state protection.

In January-February 2015, unbridled winter fun is expected in Otepää with major international competitions and a sauna marathon. Our material contains a list of what will attract a real winter traveler in this modest Estonian town.

The town of Otepää is located in the southern part Estonia, and its name is literally translated from the local language as “bear’s head”. It's all about the hilly terrain - one of the largest hills exactly resembles this very bear's head. The permanent population here is only a little more than 2 thousand people, and the main local activity, of course, is tourism. In the summer people also relax here, for example, on the beach of the main Estonian lake Pyhajärve, but still the largest influx of tourists occurs in January-February. Unofficially, Otepää is considered the winter capital of the country.

In January-February 2015, the cultural program in Otepää will be extremely eventful. The big biathlon has finally reached the town, joining the already familiar cross-country skiing. The importance of Otepää for skiers is gradually increasing, as is the importance of the resort in tourist map Europe.

The program of big holidays in Otepää in 2015 will be opened by two ski races on January 17 and 18 - these are intermediate competitions between the famous Tour de Ski and the World Ski Championships, which this year will be held in Falun, Sweden.

The ski races will smoothly flow into World Snow Day - a holiday that has been held by the International Ski Federation since 2012. In 2015 it fell on January 18th. the main objective This event is to attract as many people as possible to winter sports, so on this day mass competitions are held in alpine and cross-country skiing, ice skating and snowboarding.

After a short ten-day respite, the town will host the European Biathlon Championships. Otepää often hosted training camps for biathlon teams and not the most important stages of biathlon cups, but such a large-scale event will be held for the first time. The European Championships will last a whole week and will include 9 big races: men and women will run in the individual race, sprint, pursuit and relay, and on February 2 there will also be a mixed relay.

At the end of February, the most original competition from the 2015 sports program will take place - the European Bath Marathon. The essence of the competition is to visit as many local baths as possible, and you need to spend at least three minutes in each steam room. To take part in the marathon, you need to pre-register, and you can compete both as an individual and as a team. To add spice to the competition, the organizers have come up with a number of additional competitions, for participation in which additional points are awarded to the overall standings. The most severe of them is swimming in ice holes.

Holding large-scale competitions forces the town to remember old ones and come up with new attractions so that tourists have something to do in their free time. In the local museum you can trace the history of the development of biathlon and cross-country skiing and other winter species sports, look at the very first wooden skis with fancy mounts and explore large collection awards from various competitions.

Local residents are trying to introduce Estonian culture to visitors, and one of the best places for this purpose - the Estonian Flag Room. It was in Otepää in 1884 that the modern blue, black and white flag of Estonia was consecrated and blessed. A special room dedicated to the history of the flag is located in the Otepán church.

In Otepää you can recharge yourself with positive energy. In 1992, a monument called the “Energy Pillar” was unveiled in the town. Local residents claim that it is in this place that there are positive energy fields found by a group of psychics. To get a boost of energy, you just need to sit on one of the many benches around this marvelous structure.

In the vicinity of Otepää, on Linnamägi Hill, there is a 13th-century bishop's castle, or rather its ruins. The guides will tell you a lot of interesting things about its centuries-old fascinating history, but there is not much to see here, especially in winter. But there is something to see in the Sangaste estate, 25 km from Otepää, where there is a huge castle built in 1874 with 149 rooms.

It is interesting that Otepää has traces of eastern cultures. In 1991, the Dalai Lama himself visited here and consecrated Lake Pyhajärve. In honor of this significant event, a wooden sculpture was installed on the shore.

But if we talk about winter recreation, then, naturally, the main place here is occupied by the Tehvandi sports center, where there is a huge number of ski slopes, including those with FIS certificates, six ski jumps, a ski stadium, biathlon shooting ranges for 17 and 30 places, alpine room and a lot of other sports facilities.

Estonia is a fairly small Baltic country bordering Russia. Remembering this country, numerous cultural monuments, attractions, medieval architecture, and amazing nature immediately come to mind. Estonia combines all this. But few people know that this European country can also boast of its ski resorts. There are not very many of them in Estonia, but their quality is not inferior to many large well-known winter resorts in Europe. And the prices will pleasantly surprise you, unlike popular analogues. So, what are they ski resorts is there in Estonia?

Otepää - the winter center of Estonia

A town like Otepää is located in the south of Estonia. There are only two thousand indigenous people here. But Otepää cannot be called a calm and quiet place. The people of Estonia and frequent visitors to this country know that this is the most popular place winter holiday, winter sports. Entertainment here is presented in a wide range, it will be interesting for everyone, both adults and children.

Interestingly, Otepää is translated as “bear’s head.” The thing is that in 1224 one monk saw a hill that very much resembled the head of a bear. It was on this hill that he built the first castle. From that moment it all began. Modern Otepää is famous not only as a ski resort, but also as a spa center. A wide range of services are offered for tourists - from massage to body wraps.

In addition to an active ski holiday, you can spend time usefully by visiting the main attractions of the area:

• Medieval castle;
• Ski Museum in Estonia;
• Museum of the National Flag of Estonia;
• Cart Museum.

The adventure park, equipped with a large observation deck. It is designed for hiking in the snow-capped mountains, and there is also a climbing wall. There is an opportunity to visit one more natural Park, in which tourists observe the life of the local fauna. As surprising as it may sound, this ski resort has a beautiful beach.

It has become a pleasant tradition to equip golf centers on the territory of a winter resort. Otepää in Estonia is no exception. The golf center here is quite large and offers 18 high-quality golf courses. The resort has a huge number of playrooms, gardens and ski schools for children. After all, Otepää is often great for family vacation. You can while away winter evenings in one of the restaurants.

As for hotels, in this part of Estonia there is a hotel for every taste and financial opportunity. Of course, the main thing at a ski resort is the slopes. There are about seven trails here (1 red, 3 blue, 3 green) of varying difficulty. The length of the longest route is about 500 meters. One of the tracks in the Tehvandi sports center is very popular among professionals. Its length is as much as 5.5 kilometers. The “old” route, with a similar length, is also publicly accessible.

Kuutsemäe

Another winter resort in Estonia, which has a large number of spa centers, is Kuutsemäe. It is located next to Otepää, just 14 kilometers away. Therefore, some guidebooks describe them as one ski resort in Estonia. There are some differences between these two resorts. Thus, Kuutsemäe has a large number of houses and holiday homes. Great for a vacation with the family.

You can also team up in pairs and rent a house for the weekend. This will help you save a lot. Many trails are suitable for both beginners and professionals. Here you can also rent all the necessary equipment. All the tracks are illuminated, so in the evening you get the feeling winter's tale. Otepää can be reached by bus, which runs every hour. The main beauty and pride of Kuutsemäe is its amazing natural landscape. The resort combines amazingly mountain ranges and forests. You could even say that here a mountain is located on a mountain. The local view is simply mesmerizing.

A stunning sight awaits all Estonian tourists from Mount Harimägi. Its height is 200 meters, and it has a large, spacious observation deck. There are others active entertainment. Thus, Kuutsemäe brings to your attention the famous JK luge center. On a motorized sleigh you can see everything tourist routes resort, and just have an interesting and fun time.

There are special trails for children that are protected with everything necessary. Your kids will be treated by real professionals in their field. You can go down the slopes not only on skis, but also on a snowboard. The resort can provide any services for a comfortable and carefree holiday. Hotels and holiday homes offer a catering service. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the resort.

The ski resort also operates in summer. It is on these hills and mountains that there are numerous hiking trails. So, you can saturate your life with wonderful emotions, as well as improve your health. All paths are concentrated around the purest beautiful mountain lake. If you find it difficult to endure the entire hike on your feet, you can rent a bicycle.

Another, smaller resort in Estonia is Kutiorg. There are only two descent routes here, but this does not make it any less attractive for tourists. Kutiorg is considered real entertainment complex Estonia. Here you can visit the ancient ruins of the castle and visit some caves. Accommodation of tourists takes place on the territory of the resort in houses. The mountain slopes are equipped with automatic lifts.

Otepää is a small town located in the southern part of Estonia and inhabited by only two thousand inhabitants, which cannot be called quiet and calm. provincial town. This is the most famous winter sports center in the Baltics, proudly bearing the status of the winter capital of Estonia.

Once upon a time, Bishop Herman built the Stone Fort, the first castle in Estonia, on one of the hills, shaped like a bear’s head. It was from this castle that the history of the city of Otepää began in 1224, the name of which, translated from Estonian, means “bear’s head”. But according to archaeological research, settlement in this area arose much earlier. Since the second half of the first millennium, there was a stronghold of the Estonians, the ancient ancestors of the Estonians.

Modern Otepää is part of Valga County and lies 42 km south of Tartu on a hill where the hillsides are covered with coniferous forests, and the lowlands are covered with meadows and swamps. It would seem that there is nothing remarkable in this corner of Estonia, of which there are many. But this only seems at first glance.

Picturesque landscapes from the hilltops, pearl lakes, one of which is Lake Pyhajärv, crystal fresh air, ideal conditions, created for lovers of snow and winter sports, ancient monuments that reveal interesting pages of history - all this attracts tourists to this glorious little town, and not only local residents, but also foreigners.

Otepää is called by many “Estonian Switzerland”, because in summer you can relax in campsites on lakes, and in winter months engage in skiing.

How to get there

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, neither railway, there is no airport here, so you can only get here by bus or private car. If it is important for you to fly by plane, then you can land in Tartu and then take a bus to the city of Otepää; fortunately, they run constantly.

If you use the railway, then on the Tartu - Valga line, 15 km from the city there is a Palupere railway station.

Weather

The temperate continental climate with frosty winters and cool summers guarantees tourists the opportunity to engage in active sports all year round in Otepää. In winter it is comfortable here: the average air temperature during the day is about +2...+8 degrees, and at night there are slight negative temperatures. Therefore, the skiing season lasts from December to early March, in general, as long as it is possible to shoot snow from snow cannons.

Summer is warm, usually the thermometer during the daytime rises to +19...+21 degrees, dropping to + 14...+16 degrees at night. Not very warm nights do not at all prevent tourists from spending time in campsites on the lake shore.

Accommodation

Otepää is a small town, but tourist season Thousands of travelers come here. For their convenient accommodation, boarding houses and hotels, inns and recreation centers are open, houses, cottages, apartments and apartments are available for rent. Depending on personal preferences and capabilities, you can book a room in a business or economy class hotel for 25-45 euros per day with a standard set of services and small rooms of various types. Young people mostly prefer to stay in hostels for 14-16 euros, where they are usually provided with only sleeping area in a shared room. The city has a developed network of inexpensive mini-hotels, which can accommodate from 10 to 40 guests at a time, paying 20 to 40 euros for a room.

However, Otepää would not be called a climatic resort if it did not have hotels providing SPA services to its visitors. One of them is a “SPA hotel” on the shore of Lake Pyhajärve, equipped with massage rooms, salt chambers, Jacuzzis and swimming pools, steam, Finnish, and infrared baths. Or the luxurious 4-star Hotel Villa Saskia, where accommodation costs €500 per night.

Beach holiday

If you decide to get acquainted with the “winter resort” of Otepää in the summer, then believe me, you will not regret it. The pride of the city is Lake Pyhajärve, popularly called the Holy Lake, whose beach received the international Blue Flag award for the purity of its water. The lake is characterized by a winding coastline with an abundance of springs, five islands and an excellent beach with a boat station. Lovers active rest here they can not only play sports, but also simply travel around the surrounding area, fish or sail on the lake. By the way, anyone who believes in the supernatural should definitely visit the “energy pillar” in the city. They say that if you touch it, you will receive a colossal boost of health and energy.”

Leisure

In the winter season, the town turns into a ski resort, where there are:

• ski and roller slopes;
• snowboard trails;
• ski slopes;
• snowmobiling, sledding and ice skating;

To a greater extent, Ottepa is popular among those who love active recreation. Unlike many ski resorts in Poland or Latvia, here it is possible to combine alpine and cross-country skiing. The peculiarity of Ottepya as a sports resort is that there are several racing and walking trails, all of which correspond to a high European level and different categories of difficulty. At the Tehvandi Sports Center, national teams from many countries train all year round, and the cross-country skiing World Cup is held in the center of Keiriku. The opportunity to use the roller ski track in winter will cost only 6 euros/day or 25 euros/week.

IN ski center Kuutsmae you can ride on alpine skiing. Here you will find 7 prepared trails of different difficulty levels with lifts with a total length of 2 kilometers. Prices for ski rentals and Skype passes, however, are quite European. For 3 hours of using the lifts you will have to pay 15 euros and the same amount will have to be paid for rent ski set(skis, helmet, poles).

An Adventure Park was built especially for lovers of active recreation in Tehvandi, which has hiking trails, a climbing wall, a catapult and an observation platform, which is part of a ski jump. And 12 km from the resort there is another sports center - Kääriku with a ski stadium and an athletics stadium, a sports hall, grounds for ball games, saunas on the lake, ski slopes and hiking trails.

What to visit

Tourists who are not interested in sports will also find something to do in the city. After all, near the city there are the ruins of an ancient bishop's castle. Of particular interest is Otepää Nature Park, the second largest nature reserve in Estonia with a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Or you can visit the Sangaste estate, notable for its luxurious ancient castle with 149 rooms open to visitors.

If you get hungry, you will be offered food and drinks in restaurants, cafes or pubs. In local restaurants you should order soup with dumplings and blueberries, meat stewed with barley and sauerkraut, smoked trout, various desserts and other delicious dishes of national cuisine.

In memory of have a wonderful holiday In this unique corner of Estonia you can find items made of wood or amber, clothes made of fur, leather, cotton or linen, various souvenirs and even antiques.

Otepää is an ideal place for active young people interested in sports. Families with children can relax here, however, it is better to go with kids in the summer, since not every child can be taken to the mountains. But in the summer there will be real freedom for them here.