Rogosi Manor Training and Wellness Center

The Estonian outdoors

by AgentJX

I have been in the region of Võrumaa on several occasions and while I have enjoyed the towns that I have visited, the true joy of the region is in the natural world. Võru is a great starting point to visit the surrounding countryside, which is full of lakes, hills, small valleys, fields and forests. It is a great place to visit in the summer sun, or the winter snow. For me it was the rain that soaked me from head to toe while walking from booth to booth at the folklore festival. There is nothing like a bus ride home soaked by rain from a place well worth the wet weather. Võru has good weather too, every other time I have visited the region the weather has been very pleasant.

Estonian Literary History

by AgentJX

Võru where Kreutzwald lived and worked as a doctor, now has the Kreutzwald Memorial Museum (in his former house) and highlights the towns connection to Estonians cultural heritage. The town itself steeps in its tradition as a center for the development of Estonian culture.

Southern Estonian Dialect

by AgentJX

Despite the relative small size of Estonia, the country features several distinct dialects, including one in Võru. The dialect of the area reflects the separate history of Southern Estonia. As the Estonian language developed it attempted to combine a northern and southern dialect. The current Estonian language is closely connected to the original northern language while, the language in the south has some distinctly different sounds and is connected to the Setu language.

Voru - the gateway to Vorumaa

by King_Golo

Voru is not without charm - it's a small Estonian town situated on the shores of Tamula Lake with an old centre full of typical wooden houses and other interesting buildings (such as the pinkest post office in the world!). Yet, it mainly serves as the gateway to beautiful Vorumaa. Buses from Tartu stop in Voru and you can change here to smaller local buses. It might be a good idea to stop in Voru for an hour or two, check out some parts of the town and go on to Vorumaa.

A map of Voru is found here

Center of Southern Estonia

by AgentJX

"The land of Southern Estonia"

Võru which is the administrative center for the Võrumaa district of Estonia is another example of Estonia’s small town charm. Located in beautiful southern Estonia, Võru is the starting point for many outdoor adventures with more than its fair share of bike and outdoor equipment shops. However, it is also the cultural center of Southern Estonia. Friedrich Kreutzwald, author of the Estonian epic Kalevipoeg lived and worked in Võru. Since the town attempts to focus on the culture of Southern Estonia there is a wide range of cultural activities and centers.

"Folklore Festival"

Võru is home to one of the many folklore festivals that can be found throughout Estonia during the summer months. I happened to visit on a rainy day, but the atmosphere could not be spoiled by the dreary weather. Folk singers and dancers from all over come to perform at the festival along with a wide selection of local Estonian groups. My visit was highlighted by a folk group from Turkey and one from Serbia, both of which put on a fantastic show. The folklore festival also includes a craft fair and ethnic dinners that change on each day of the fair. If you happen to be in Estonia in early July, I would recommend checking up on the dates of the folklore festival.