The Estonian ski resorts of Otepää and Kuutsemäe are a great place to relax! Ski resorts in Estonia Otepaa Estonia

Estonia is a small Baltic country bordering Russia, at the mention of which we first of all remember numerous architectural monuments of the Middle Ages and unique nature.

But, nevertheless, Estonia may also appeal to fans of alpine skiing, because it is here that such famous resorts are located, such as, for example, Otepää and Kuutsemäe.

Otepää

Otepää is a small town in the southern part of the country, which, in addition to its ski slopes, is famous for its SPA centers.

The easiest way to get to Otepää is Baltic Shuttle buses, which offers the opportunity to get to this town directly from just one stop.

But if you prefer planes, you can also get to Otepää by bus from Tallinn.

One of the main attractions of Otepää is considered medieval castle located in the eastern part of the city.

Tourists may also be interested in the Ski Museum, the Estonian National Flag Museum and the Cart Museum. Tickets cost only a few euros.

In addition to the attractions in Otepe, there are other places that can help a tourist relax. In particular, this famous SPA centers with a wide variety of procedures.

It is also worth paying attention to adventure park with observation deck, hiking trails and climbing wall.

It may be no less interesting another natural park, where you can spend time observing the local fauna.

In due time, beach lovers will also be able to find entertainment to their liking here thanks to the well-equipped beach.

Separately worth mentioning Oteyap Golf Center, which offers as many as 18 equipped golf courses, as well as all the necessary infrastructure with playrooms for children and a restaurant.

In Otepää you can also find hotels to suit every taste, such as Villa Saskia or Hotel Karupesa who can offer high quality service at a relatively low cost.

If you are looking for budget options, then also It’s worth taking a closer look at the three-star Murakas Hotel and Bernhard Spa Hotel.

Otepää offers several trails that are suitable for both beginners and professionals. One of the most popular options is track located in the Tehvandi sports center, almost six kilometers long.

Also widely known is the so-called “old track” of almost the same length, which is popular among professionals and amateurs.

Trip to Otepää, Estonia

Kuutsemäe

Kuutsemäe is another skiing center in Estonia, which is attractive primarily by the large number of trails and holiday homes, thanks to which you can have a great vacation for little money.

Kuutsemäe is located 14 kilometers from Otepää, so the most convenient way to get there is by bus. As mentioned above, Otepää itself can be reached directly by bus from St. Petersburg or.

The main attraction of Kuutsemäe is unique natural landscape. A large number of mountains and hills make this place amazingly beautiful.

In particular, Mount Harimägi is more than 200 meters high offers visitors an observation deck from which visitors can enjoy an incredible spectacle.

In addition, do not forget that 14 kilometers from here is Otepää with all its unique cultural monuments.

Kuutsemäe offers a large number of affordable entertainment options. The most popular of them is JK Luge Center, where you can have a wonderful time driving along famous tourist routes on motor sleighs.

In summer, tourists may be interested in a large number of hiking trails several kilometers long each, stretching into the mountains and around the lake.

Moreover, the same routes can be ridden by bicycle, which can also be rented in Kuutsemäe for a few euros.

Kuutsemäe Ski Center offers a large number of holiday homes and hotels where you can stay for a relatively small amount.

In particular, it is popular upscale holiday home called Lili, the cost of accommodation is 200 euros per night.

A budget tourist can turn his attention to Arula holiday house, where you can spend a night for just 25 euros.

The most attractive part of Kuutsemäe is the ski slopes. Here is located 7 illuminated and equipped slides of various levels, which will appeal to both professionals and beginner ski lovers.

There is also a special protected children's slide and a snowboarding park. In addition, the Kuutsemäe ski holiday center offers all amenities including meals and free Wi-Fi. Equipment and instructors are also included.

Thus, Estonia has a lot to offer ski lovers.

A large number of attractions, the highest level of service, trails for a wide range of tastes, parks for snowboarding and hiking - all this makes this country an excellent place for your next holiday.

This is interesting:

Subscribe to our interesting VKontakte group:

In contact with

Otepää (Estonian Otepää, formerly Estonian Nuustaku; until 1917 - Odenpe, German Odenpäh) is a city without municipal status in Estonia, in Valga County, the center and integral part of the Otepaa parish. Known as an international center for winter sports and tourism, where qualifying rounds of the European Championships and World Cup stages take place. Otepää has the unofficial title of the winter capital of Estonia (in contrast to Pärnu, the “summer” capital of the country).

In the eastern part of the city, on Linnamägi Hill (Estonian Linnamägi, City Hill), there are the ruins of the 13th century Odenpe Castle. The wooden castle was originally built in 1215 by the Bishop of Leal (from 1224 - of Dorpat) Herman Buxhoeveden on the site of an Estonian settlement, which was first mentioned in Russian chronicles in 1116 under the name Bear's Head. Later it was destroyed by the Slavs and then restored by the Germans, but in 1223 it was destroyed a second time by the Slavs, followed by the rebel Estonians. The first owner of the castle after its restoration in stone in 1224 was the bishop's son-in-law, Engelbert Tiesenhausen. Thus, Odenpe is the first documented fief in Livonia. Scientists believe that a human site on Linnamägi existed already 2000 years ago, and archaeological finds at the site date back to the second half of the first millennium AD. e. The original name of the settlement is unknown, but scientists are inclined to believe that the name was associated with the head of a bear. The Germans did not translate the name of the settlement in their chronicles, and until the 20th century, as the name of the castle, and later the village, they used the German transcription of Odenpe (German Odenpäh), an ancient Estonian name of the place that has not reached us. Denmark and Sweden sought to take these lands from Livonia. The Great Northern War devastated the region. In 1841, a peasant uprising broke out in Odenpa, known as the Pyhajärv War. Odenpe is the birthplace of the Estonian national movement. On September 20, 1876, the Dorpat Estonian Agricultural Society held the first Estonian agricultural exhibition on the church estate. A student society was founded here, whose members consecrated the first blue-black-white Estonian flag in the Odenpe church on June 4, 1884. Therefore, the church has an “Estonian Flag Room” and a memorial plaque about this event. In addition, pastors who actively participated in the national movement also served here - these were Adrian Virginius and Jacob Hurt (1839-1907). Not far from the church there is a monument to Jacob Hurt, who is also known as an Estonian folklorist and linguist. Public education in Otepää has a rich history: the first public school was opened in Odenpää in 1686. In the period from 1872 to 1880, when Jakob Hurt was the pastor in the village, a significant increase in the level of education and the economic condition of educational institutions was noted. While working at Odenpe, Jakob Hurt also headed the General Committee for the Founding of the Estonian School named after Alexander II at the Estonian Literary Society. In 1906 Odenpeskoye was founded...

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 ski resorts are 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 guests of this country know that this is the most popular place for winter recreation and 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, will help you have a fun holiday. It is designed for hiking in the snow-capped mountains, and there is also a climbing wall. There is also the opportunity to visit another natural park, where 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 a family holiday. 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 trails are illuminated, so in the evening you get the feeling of a winter fairy 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 has a surprising combination of mountains 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 other active entertainments. Thus, Kuutsemäe brings to your attention the famous JK luge center. On a motorized sleigh you can explore all the tourist routes of the 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 have 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 trails are concentrated around a clean, 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 a real entertainment complex in 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.

Useful information for tourists about Otepää in Estonia - geographical location, 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 need to go on a hike, watch the animals living here, explore the diversity of the flora, and 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 the summer, 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. There are 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. The exact time of the formation 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 in Soviet times it was they who kept the church alive by scraping from their meager salaries. 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, a granite block with a complete list of fallen soldiers remained missing. 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

Many legends are associated with Pyhajärv, the most beautiful lake in Estonia. There are many oak groves in the vicinity of Lake Pühajärv. 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 the southern shore there are the islands of Suur and Väike Lepasaar. 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. The absolute height of 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 artificial surface at the moment. 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 a suitable place between two oak trees. 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.