Small how it is, but with so much to discover – this time we will tell you about beautiful things you can see in the eastern part of Estonia and namely all around the lake Peipus, or Chudskoe using the Russian name, as it is shared between Russia and Estonia.
So let’s start from the beginning!
Tartu
Second biggest Estonian city, it is young and vibrant due to the big student community. It is also very Estonian in its spirit with strong national identity. Relatively quiet in summer, but loud and lively during the scholar year, Tartu is a very nice town to spend the day. Its most iconic symbols are the Town hall and Kissing Students Fountain, but if you just take a walk in the old town, you will definitely not be bored.
After a walk in the city center and along the river, don’t forget to go up to the Toomemäe Park and find the Tartu Cathedral (or rather what’s remained of Tartu Cathedral). We had a wonderful nap on one of those benches. :)
Lake Peipus
Not only is it a wonderful picturesque area, but another culturally different place to explore. Lake Peipus and the nature around is stunning. Even if it is considered as a border zone with a lot of restricted areas, it still feels like a resort. Some of the Estonians have their countryhouses in the area and we were even lucky to have a boat ride on the lake where we tried (and absolutely failed) the water skiing. Despite the moskitos, there are quite a lot of campers on its banks. Definitely a place not to miss.
Making of
It is also a source of various sorts of fish that gets smoked and then sold in numerous little shops along the lake. You’ll see all those Suitsu Kala signboards, which simply means smoked fish. And it is sooo delicious with a good piece of bread!
Visiting the Old Believers
By the way, it is this area, where the Old Believers live. Who are these old believers? In the XVII century, a Russian patriarch made some reforms in the Orthodox Church organisation, which wasn’t met with great enthusiasm from certain believers. Some of them moved to the Lake Peipus area and keep practicing there the old rituals, which are over thousand years old. There are restaurants with their traditional cuisine as well as a museum about their extraordinary destiny. Old believers are also notorious for their “onion industry” :)
Photo by Mait Jüriado
Alatskivi Castle
In the same area a beautiful manor is located – Alatskivi Castle. Dating back to the XVII century, it has been perfectly maintained and now presents an interesting spot to see during your weekend. Unfortunately we missed the museum opening hours, make sure you don’t.
And that’s how our trips normally look like :D
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Why must you include the Russian name for Lake Peipus. It is only “shared” as you so charmingly put it becasue Russia claimed it when they invaded Estonia and overstayed their welcome for 55 years. They changed the border – Estonia does not use the Russia name for any part of its country.
History is not always fair – Russia has just snapped a piece of my country as well, so I can assure you that by making our “charming” remark about two names of the same lake no ill was meant. By the way, we lived in Narva and though it’s an Estonian city (with a weird history too – no doubt), the locals call the Peipus “Чудское”.
Thanks for your comment.
All the Russians living in Estonia do name the lake Chudskoje. Like it or not, this is the name. Peipus is also an estonian slang i suppose as everywhere on the maps u can only see the Peipsi jarv for it )
Haha, really, it’s like Deutschland in German and Germany in English or Allemagne in French – same old stuff :D