ESTONIA

Just a photo or…? A piece of art…? A plot of land in Northern Europe?

Estonia with its 1,5 million inhabitants have not destroyed the untouched nature. There are are no tall mountains, but more than half of Estonia is covered with forests, swamps and bogs, offering the

opportunity to enjoy pristine beauty on hiking trails and listen to the sounds of nature…

Modern art or sporty shoes?

Folk culture is still a potent Force in Estonia. Estonian school child usually knows traditional nursery rhymes, a heap of national songs and has a folk costume at home. Children have a song and dance festival every

five years and it`s huge , just like the adult version.

There are five national parks in Estonia. This is the country with colourful history and rich culture that has maintained its thriving wildlife. In Estonia, there are 2 hectares of forests, many kilometres of fields, moors

and empty sandy beaches per head of population.

The Endla nature reserve is located at the border of Järva, Jõgeva and Lääne Viru counties. It was established in order to preserve the swamps, swamp islands and karst springs. The Endla nature reserve is a wetland area of International significance. The marked down hiking trails enable visitors to study the various

forest plants.

Tuhala Witch`s well – in Kose County, Harjumaa, is the Tuhala karst area, where one of the most fascinating natural phenomena, Tuhala Witch`s Well is located.(www.tuhalalooduskeskus.ee)

According to the folklore the Witch`s Well starts to „boil“ when the witches of Tuhala are using the well to have a sauna.

Tuhala Witch`s Well is visited every year by 15000-20000 wilderness lovers including tourists arriving on cruiseships from all over the world. Tuhala Witch`s Well is primeval and unique natural phenomen worty

of preservation.

Suur Munamägi (‘big egg-mountain’) in Haanja Upland is the highest elevation in Estonia. From the observation tower four counties can be seen, as well as parts of Latvia and Russia. Suur Munamägi is 314

metres high. Climb the mountain and enjoy the magnificent view!

Türisalu pank is a cliff in Türisalu, Estonia. The cliff is part of the Baltic Klint and has an height of up to 30 metres (100 ft). Enjoy the beautiful outcrops and the sunset in the summer.

Kaali craterlake in Saaremaa marks a rare natural phenomen.The meteorite broke up in the atmosphere and hit the ground in several pieces, producing the 110-metre diameeter and 22 metres deep main crater and several smaller ones. It is

estimated that the meteorite weighing 20-80 tons and travelling at a speed of 20 m/s hit Saaremaa approximately 8,000 years ago. The flooded main crater is known as the Kaali lake.

The legend tells when two persons walk around the lake holding hands - a handholding figure will appear above the lake. Besides, here was born ancient Estonian god Tharapita (known as Thor in Scandinavia) or, by other version, crashlanded

Phaeton, son of Helios.

TALLINN – CAPITAL OF ESTONIA, EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2011

The Kadriorg Palace is one of the most beautiful places in Tallinn.The Kadriorg palace and park were built as the summer residence for the Russian Czar Peter I. The place was named after his wife Catherinenthal, or Kadriorg in Estonian.The building of the Baroque palace complex and the park began in 1718 according to the design of the Italian architect Niccolo Michetti. The palace currently houses the National Museum of

Foreign Art.

TARTU – „CAPITAL“ OF THE CULTURE AND EDUCATION

TARTU the centre of Estonia`s education. Generations of Estonian intellectuals have grown up and received their education at the Tartu University.

The footbridge over Emajõgi (Mother-river) connects Tartu`s modern districts with the historic old town.

Tartu Town Hall, was built in 1786.The Town Hall is still the seat of the Tartu city council and city government.

And the town hall square has been the centre of Tartu throughout centuries.

Nearby stands the main building of Tartu University (Ülikooli 18), which was established in 1632 and named after the founder , King Gustavus II Adolphus of Sweden Academia Gustaviana. Thanks to the Estonian society towards education in general and the university as the source of education, the Tartu

University main building has turned to something more than a house, it has received a national symbolic status.

Fountain „ The Kissing Students“is in front of the Tartu Town Hall has become one of the symbols of modern Tartu.Tartu has became magnificient scientific centre with its library, an observatory, botanical garden, clinics. Tartu University became a national university and the centre of Estonian

scientific and academic life in 1919 after the establishment of Estonian`s independence.

At the other end of the historic square , a skew house (Raekoja18), called Estonian Pisa tower, stands. An art muuseum is opened there.

Church (ST Johns) with well preserved, rare terracotta sculptures.

THE VANEMUINE, named after the old Estonian god of music and poetry in the romantic pseudo-mythology of 19th-century national awakening, is the oldest Estonian theatre. It was born in 1870 within an amateur singing and acting society in the old university centre Tartu, which at present has ca 100,000

inhabitants and is the second-largest city in the country.

PÄRNU – „SUMMER CAPITAL“ OF ESTONIA

Theatre Endla in Pärnu

The Pärnu River, the second largest in Estonia, 144 km -s long

Ammende Villa in the health resort of Pärnu built in 1905, one of the loveliest places where concerts and culture events are held, the place for special occasions.

In the centre of Pärnu there you can find lots of cafes.

Near this fountain in Lastepark an open air summer dancing and music festivals are held.

Mudaravila - one of the finest symbols of Pärnu resort which is famous for its mud baths.Mudaravila has been offering unique mud baths since 1926

SURJU PARISH

Population: 1055

Area: 358 km2 (forests 280 km2)

The Estonian regional identity is still based on parishes. Our whole older cultural layer (dialects, folklore, material culture, etc.) is divided by parishes. All our folk songs and national costumes originate from

different parishes. Pärnu is the nearest town to Surju Parish.

Midsummer marks a change in the farming year, specifically the break between the completion of spring sowing and the hard work of summer hay-making.

Some of the rituals of Jaanipäev have very strong folkloric roots. The best-known Jaanik, or midsummer, ritual is the lighting of the bonfire and jumping over it. This is seen as a way of guaranteeing prosperity and avoiding bad luck.

Likewise, to not light the fire is to invite the destruction of your house by fire. The fire also frightened away mischievous spirits who avoided it at all costs, thus ensuring a good harvest. So, the bigger the fire, the further the mischievous spirits

stayed away.

Estonians celebrate "Jaaniõhtu" on the eve of the Summer Solstice (June 23) with bonfires. .

Since 1934, June 23 is also national Victory Day of Estonia and both 23rd and 24th are holidays and flag days. The Estonian flag is not lowered in the night between these two days.

Folk Dance Group of Surju „Sõsarad“

The Fifth Season in Surju

Reiu - the biggest river in Surju

You can meet a lot of different animals in Estonia, but some of them live here only temporary...