Testimonies of military events in Setoma – the land of Seti
Day 1.
20 km
Verska (Fräska)–Saatse
Practical info
Excursions and educational programs must be booked in advance and a specific time must be reserved.
- Start : Varska.
- Finish : Saatse.
- Duration : 4 – 5 hours
- Additional options : Verska Visitor Center program “Walk in the Northern Camp” , Northern Camp hiking trail with audio guide in the vicinity of the Rēgi House, Sātse Museum programs: “Border and Culture Tour” , “Role Playing” , Sātse Museum hiking trail.
Sights
War of Independence Monument for Petserimaa
This monument in Värska was constructed in accordance with the designs and photos of sculptor Roman Haavamäe in 1938 and is unique among the restored War of Independence monuments in Estonia. Originally the monument was to be unveiled in Freedom Park in Petseri, but the Soviet occupation prevented this twice, in 1940 and 1944. It was completed 80 years later and unveiled in a new location in Värska, the new administrative centre of the Setomaa region. It is adorned with the coat of arms of the town of Petseri, as the monument was originally funded by the townspeople. It is dedicated to the many who were killed – some estimates suggest around 350 died in the battles fought in Petseri County. The monument stands five metres high and is crowned with a statue of a man wielding a sword and a shield depicting three leopards.
Värska Visitor Centre and Northern Camp
The restored Art Nouveau summer home of General Nikolai Reek is situated on the shore of Lake Õrsava in Värska, surrounded by scenic nature.
Värska Visitor Centre opened here in 2020, showcasing the unique heritage of the region. The exhibition provides an overview of the Northern Camp of Petseri established here in the 1920s, the events of the War of Independence and the use of therapeutic mud and mineral water at local resorts.
Saatse Museum
The Saatse Museum is located in a remote corner of South-Eastern Estonia, near the border control line between Estonia and the Russian Federation. The new permanent exhibition "Everything has a border (s)" in the Saatse Museum introduces the development of cultures in border areas against the background of political and military history, so that the visitor is inspired to think further about the topic "borders around and inside us". The exhibition focuses on the peculiarities of the Saatse region with aspects of unique ethnic and cultural heritage of Setomaa.
Places to eat
Cool Resto, https://spavarska.ee/supply/?lang=en
Seto Tsäimaja, https://www.setomuuseum.ee/et/seto-tsaimaja