Haanja Things to Do

It surely is a must if You are already nearby !
Castle was started to built om 25.march 1342. At first it was called after Virgin Marian and when it was winished it was called new castle ( Castrum Novum, Neuhausen, Nyhusen, Nowogrodek ). It was located in a really important place as old Livlands border was nearby and main road to between Livland, Estonia and Russia past it. So all the merchants past it and ofcourse it had also major deffencive reason.
It is known that Rigas headpishop wrote to pope Innocentius VI , where he describes miracle what happened in Vastseliina Castles chapel. In one 1353 years september night people hear music plaing in chapel and when they went to see what is going on they saw two candles in a mysterious lightning. Cross what was usually hanged on the wall was now standing mysteriously without any support on the altar . It still stood there when the letter was written in 1354 ! After that miracle people starting to come and see that from livland and even germany. Many blind people got back their sight and who did'nt hear before started to hear again.

Right now stands this orthodox church empty, only storknest in the top of roof shows that somebody lives there :) It is beautiful building. Estonian Orthodox Church plans to renovate this church within next year and wants to build new monastery for 15 munks and guesthouse nearby. at least preast Rafale Hinrikus hopes so.
Plaani church is built in 1873 and has suffered during years but after renovation completed it will be ready to be used. Father Rafael hopes that this church becomes one of the kind church in Estonia. It means that one of the kind round church walls will be covered with frescoes. He does'nt want to use elecricity in church but candles and oillamps. Maybe only for water heating or something like that, he said. Monastery should come similar with church and same construction materials will be used. It will open monastery so people can come to see munks life. Project will cost 20 milj. EEK.
I FOUND THIS INTERESTIG ARTICLE FROM NEWSPAPER CALLED " POSTIMEES " and the guesthouse was already built. Pitty that I did'nt took a picture about it.

Hydraulic ram is working in with help of water and water can be pumped up to 100m. This pump was discovered by Joseph Michel Montgolfier in 1780.
One that kind of ram is in ??biku valley and was built by Fr.Johanson in 1939 for his house what is in the edge of valley. Ramp workes with the help of spring and pumps water up to house about 26-30 m. Second ram was built year ago 2002.
In winter You can see such icesculpture round the ramp, which is very beautiful.

Read more from my general tips about Hinni canyon. One and only canyon in Estonia.

Even when in ruins this has bean really imposant building. When to use good imagination can see how they lived there in middle ages.