Things to do & places to visit in Polva County, Estonia

Polva County #12 destination in Estonia 2023. The average rating score is 4.57 based on 155 traveler reviews, of 40 attractions. Timezone: Europe/Tallinn, current date and time: Friday, May 10, 2024, 23:08.

Top things to do (19)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Taevaskoja Nature Trail (29 reviews)
- Great activity for all
Hiking Trails

Taevaskoja nature trail is 3 km long and goes along both banks of the Ahja River. The trail starts in the Saesaare parking lot of the State Forest Management Centre which is situated near Saesaare small town on the road between Taevaskoda and Kiidjarve. The entire trail runs in the landscape reserve of the Ahja River. There are 10 observation points on the trail with boards providing information in English, Russian and Estonian. At the beginning of the trail there is also a board displaying maps of the trail and recreation area, and direction signs. At the level of difficulty it ranks in the middle.Interesting to know:The folk call high sandstone outcrops Heaven’s Hall (Taevaskoda). See more..
5.0 Estonian Road Museum (12 reviews)
- Very positive suprise!
Friday: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums

The newest part of the museum is the Machinery Hall, opened in July 2019, with the exhibition The Rule of Machines – a fascinating interactive exhibition on car mechanics and traffic physics, safe driving, and building safe roads. Outdoor exhibition Road Time is a road going through time and space where you can see old and new vehicles. Visitors can also explore Eastern Europe’s largest collection of road construction machines. For children, we have a wide selection of two-wheeled and electric cars in the traffic city. At the Varbuse Post Station, you can learn about the development of roads and modes of travel and there is a children’s museum on the first floor of the house See more..
5.0 Nature Trail of the Meenikunno Bog (5 reviews)
- A lovely walk!
Hiking Trails

Cabins for hikers, an observation point and a boarded path attract many nature lovers to Meenikunno bog. This is a beautiful recreation area. While walking down the boarded path you can see common bog plants: leather leaf, bog rosemary, black crowberry, marsh Labrador tea and Tussock cottongrass, on the edge of the bog dwarf birches can also be found. There is also a number of different species of peat moss of various colours. The bravest ones can try bog water with an interesting taste from the overgrown ditch on the edge of the bog. See more..
5.0 Polva Peasant Museum (4 reviews)
- Nice and cosy place
Speciality Museums

Polva Peasant Museum is a unique open air museum in Southern Estonia. The visitors can learn about the school, local community government and life in farm of the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. The typical arrangement of the buildings in the community centre was formed at the end of the 19th century. The territory of the museum is 5 ha and the visitors can take a look at a court, a school and a community house with outbuildings, a smith farm and a Dutch windmill. The exhibition also includes agricultural machinery and vehicles. See more..
5.0 Sillapää Castle (3 reviews)
- Усадебный парк
Friday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Castles • History Museums

Sillapea Castle was built in the classical style in 1842, later it has been reconstructed. The castle is nationally protected due its remarkable architectural ensemble. Today it accommodates the Rapina Local Lore and Gardening Museum; the castle is surrounded by a manor park with a beautiful garden spreading over 8.7 hectares. The park consists of three parts: an aesthetic garden with high vegetation comprising of terraces lowering towards the lake, a front garden bordered by paths and characterised by distinguishable ensembles of trees and bushes, and a forest park with a pavilion at the Vohandu River. See more..
5.0 Tilleoru Nature Trail (2 reviews)
- Nice hiking trail with alternating landscape
Hiking Trails

The nature trail starting in Tilleorg valley runs along the floodplain for 4.5 km, passes coniferous forests and reaches Merioone spring. The landscape reserve situated in the headwaters of the Ahja River on the stretch between Tille and the Moksi windmill was established in 1957. The purpose of the reserve is to preserve the landscape’s integrity of the forest growing on the banks of the Ahja River, in its primeval valley, nearby valleys, hills and on the brinks of the valley – it is a real handicraft hall of nature. Interesting to know: People believed that Merioone spring reached the sea; this idea is also behind its name. See more..
5.0 Nohipalu White Lake (2 reviews)
- Popular place among locals
Bodies of Water
Nohipalu White Lake is located on a forest-covered sandur in the north-east of the Haanja Upland.The banks are mostly sandy and not much bogged. The lake is surrounded by a coniferous forest dominated by pine trees. According to the existing data, the White Lake is the most oligotrophic (poor in nutrients) and transparent lake in Estonia. Holidaymakers like to enjoy themselves near a cozy fire on its banks. See more..
5.0 Polva Central Square (1 review)
- Polva Central Square
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks

The central square of Polva is like a living room in the open air. It is a nice meeting place in the city centre that attracts people of all ages. Children can play in the sandbox, on the small slide, and near the fountain. They can also play table tennis. There are lot of different sitting places. Traditional market is held on wednesdays and saturdays. See more..
5.0 Nohipalu Black Lake (1 review)
- Great Place
Bodies of Water
Nohipalu Black Lake is located 0,5 km to the south of the White Lake and is larger and a complete opposite to its neighbour. The banks of this forest lake are low, boggy and, especially in the south, difficult to move along. Its waters are acidic, reddish-brown, extremely opaque (transparency is only 0,4 m), and rich in organic elements. Hikers can rest on the banks near a fire or make a picnic in a specially equipped roofed place. See more..
5.0 Setomaa Tourist Information Point (1 review)
- Start your trip here
Friday: 12:30 AM - 4:30 AM, 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Visitor Centers
When in Setomaa start your trip from here. You get good advice - about guides and places where to go. Although, guides should be ordered in advance. See more..
5.0 Suvahavva Wool Fabric Museum (1 review)
- Amazing place in South-East of Estonia
Speciality Museums

In the Suvahavva wool fabric-museum the visitors can see machinery that was used for producing wool and woollen products (cotton wool, thread, yarn) and how yarn is made of wool. See more..
5.0 Orsava Nature Trail (1 review)
- Recreation
Hiking Trails

This is a circular trail and provides information about the activities of the Northern Camp (Petseri Northern Camp, established in 1926, was a camp of the Defence Forces of the Republic of Estonia). The trail can be accessed at the log houses of Luige and Varska. See more..
4.5 Varska Farm Museum (24 reviews)
- Great place for a family adventure
Friday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Speciality Museums

The Seto Farm Museum enables the visitors to learn about the farm architecture, old tools and rich collection of handicraft items dating from the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. The exposition comprises a half-enclosed yard, a dwelling, storehouses for clothes, grain and food, a bam with a hay shed, a workshop, other sheds, a smoke sauna, a pottery, a smithy, a barn and kiln house and a tea house. The majority of the buildings are original and originate from Nothern Setumaa. The museum also organises temporary special exhibitions. Visitors can participate in various events, such as winter holidays, Seto lace days, Folk tales’ nights and celebrations of folk calendar holidays. See more..
4.5 Varska Spa Water Park (21 reviews)
- Pools for everybody
Water Parks

Varska Water Park's jacuzzis are filled with pure mineral water.The Water Park has:mineral water constrast baths (17 °C and 34 °C), swimming pool (three 25-metre lanes, depth 1.2–1.8 m), pool for children and babies, upstream swimming, various water massage treatments, water bar, light therapy pool, Finnish saunas (90 °C and 75 °C), steam sauna, infrared sauna, gravel pathway. Also a café, chilren's playroom, beauty salon, fitness centre, sunbed, hotel and local mineral water brands for tasting. See more..
4.5 Mooste Manor (7 reviews)
- Awesome tour
Architectural Buildings

Mooste manor which lies on the shore of Lake Mooste has been established at the time when the Nolcken family ruled in the area; it is one of the manors in Estonia that has preserved its rich building ensemble. The spectacular manor ensemble was built in the historicist style. The interior of the manor includes a large hall with a gallery reaching through two floors. An English landscape park surrounding the manor adds up to its overall impression. All the alleys lead to Lake Mooste offering a picturesque view on it. There is a school operating in the main building and a flax room and a guest house in the former woodwork house. See more..
4.5 Eesti Maanteemuuseum (4 reviews)
- Travel thru time
Friday: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Children's Museums • History Museums

Very cool place to visit! Lots of attractions from different time! Possible to go horse riding, ride with different bicycles and electric cars! See more..
4.5 Lutheran Church of Blessed Virgin Mary (3 reviews)
- Jungfru Maria kyrka i Pölva.
Churches & Cathedrals

The Church of Blessed Virgin Mary in Polva is one of the oldest churches in historical Vorumaa. The rarities of the church are the old altar painting The Last Supper (1650) and the altar panels (1647). There is an altar painting The Resurrection (Friedrich Ludwig von Maydell, 1845). The church was originally a square-shaped hall church with three naves. Today it has preserved from it a high tower with a deep niche and a Western façade. Interesting to know: According to a legend, the key of the church is held by a kneeling girl called Mary who is walled in. Allegedly that is also the origin of the name of the church and Polva (‘knee’ for the Estonian ‘polv’). See more..
4.5 St George’s Orthodox Church (3 reviews)
- Beautiful!
Churches & Cathedrals

St George’s Church in Varska is a neo-Historical Orthodox church with a crossing cupola; the building displays a beautiful contrast between stones and brick cornices. The images of the iconostasis date from the time when the church was built. Interesting to know: • The famous Seto folk singer Anne Vabarna and the captain of the steamship Aurora Ivan Fjodorov have been buried in the churchyard. See more..
4.5 St Michael's Lutheran Church (2 reviews)
- Интересно.
Churches & Cathedrals

The Rapina church in the late Baroque style was built in 1785. Interior values of the church include an altar painting by Carl Antropoff, painted in 1871 and consisting of two parts: The Entombment of Jesus and Jesus reveals himself to Mary Magdalene.Interesting to know:• the former church building was destroyed in the Great Northern War;• the best-known Minister was Johan Orn (Oern), who wrote poems in Estonian;• Johann Friedrich Heller (1786-1849), who was there a Minister from 1814, studied the cases of the Estonian language and enlightened folk by working for the newspaper Beitrage by J. H. Rosenplanter. See more..
4.0 Port of Rapina (7 reviews)
- Good Boat Trips
Spent 1-2 hours Piers & Boardwalks

Rapina port is a true treat for professional and recreational fishermen and lovers of water sport! You can take a tour to the lake or enjoy the best FairTrade coffee and local beer in Harbour Cafe. See more..
4.0 Saatse Seto Museum (6 reviews)
- Small but informative museum
Friday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speciality Museums

Saatse Seto Museum was opened in the former schoolhouse on 1 July 1974. The renovated museum is small and cosy and it displays the most extensive collection of historical objects in Setomaa. It also includes a large wooden figure of Peko, the god of fertility, created by local artist Renaldo Veeber. The museum possesses a beautiful park spreading over several hectares with a study trail, only a few hundred metres from Russia. See more..
4.0 Ilumetsa Meteor Craters (5 reviews)
- Interesting
Points of Interest & Landmarks

The biggest of Ilumetsa meteorite craters that appeared 6600 years ago is Porguhaud, the diameter of it from edge to edge is up to 80 meters and depth 12,5 meters. Crater's bottom is covered with 2,5 meters thick layer of turf. The diameter of the second crater Sugavhaud from edge to edge is in average 50 meters and depth 4,5 meters. The names assigned to them by people – Porguhaud (Hell Grave), Tondihaud (Ghost Grave), Kuradihaud (Devils' Grave) and Sugavhaud (Deep Grave) – refer to dwellings of devil. The reasons they got such names remains secret. Near Porguhaud people were afraid to say word "devil" because after that the servants of the devil take the lost person right to the devil himself. See more..
4.0 St Paraskeva's Orthodox Church in Saatse (4 reviews)
- Церковь Святой Параскевы-Пятницы в Саатсе
Churches & Cathedrals

St Paraskeva’s ('Friday’ in Greek) Orthodox Church in Saatse is one of the oldest Orthodox country churches in Estonia (est. 1801). There are nationally protected artistic monuments: a wooden icon Story of Paraskeva Paatnits, a gospel and a communion bread plate. There is also a steel- framed stone cross dating from the 15th century which is deemed to be miracle-working. Interesting to know:• in 1839 a clock tower was built for the church; • in 1884 the church building was extended. See more..
4.0 St Zachariah’s and St Elizabeth’s Orthodox Church (2 reviews)
Churches & Cathedrals
The Orthodox Church is a neo-Classical oblong building consisting of three parts. In the Western part there is a bell tower and in the Eastern part a crescent-shaped apsis. A cupola with a tambour is in the middle of the building. The exterior of the building is in classical style, incorporating cornices and rustic work. Simple iconostasis of the 19th century catches the eye in the interior. Interesting to know:• The first wooden church was built in 1752 by the order of Empress Elizabeth of Russia.• In 1813 the wooden church was destroyed by fire. The building of the current church started in 1827 by the order of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia and it was finished in 1833. See more..
3.0 Pokuland (5 reviews)
- Fantastic wonderland!
Amusement & Theme Parks

The Pokuland theme park on the borders of Voru and Polva Counties was created after a children’s book Pokumaa by Edgar Valter and after its main characters – Pokus. The prototypes of Pokus in nature are sedge tussocks.The world of Pokus begins from the visitor's centre – Pokuhall – that looks like a twin-Poku and surprises guests with its unique stairways, passages and interior design elements. In the Pokuhall visitors can see original illustrations and oil paintings by Edgar Valter, get to know his creative work and make Pokus themselves. There are many other activities and events, such as study trails to introduce local nature, village swings to take a ride as well as picnic and camping sites. See more..
Cantervilla Castle (0 review)
Castles
The main building of the manor was built in 1908 in the Jugendstil. Many outbuildings, most of them built from the stones, have been preserved up to date. Today the manor is in the private ownership; it offers an opportunity to organise various parties and events. Interesting to know: Pikajarve manor was established in 1749 after being separated from the Valgjarve manor in the east. The manor was acquired by the family von Mueller in 1873 until it was expropriated in 1919. The ensemble of the buildings dates back to the time of von Muellers, mainly the beginning of the 20th century. See more..
Roiupalu Trail (0 review)
Hiking Trails
Roiupalu study trail goes along the banks of the Ahja River and passes the Roiupalu forest; it is marked with orange spots on the tree trunks. Visitors can observe sandstone outcrop, a record pine tree, a unique fir tree and a sacrifice stone. They can try to determine the height and the age of the trees and bring food for animals. The trail is a study trail with the focus on forestry and historical aspects. It does not require much physical strength but the steep slopes might be slippery. See more..
Museum of Tuglas (0 review)
Speciality Museums
The Museum of Tuglas is the childhood home of Friedebert Tuglas, born on 2 March 1886. Tuglas became a well-known writer for his novel Vaike Illimar (Little Illimar) written in 1932. The story of the little Illimar is at the same time the story of a manor in Estonia. Places related to Friedebert Tuglas and the Little Illimar are displayed on a large map, which is also exhibited in the museum. Spatial exposition provides background information for the guests who visit the places related to the novel and learn about the everyday life of the manor house. See more..
St Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church (0 review)
Churches & Cathedrals

The church was built in 1900; it was reconsecrated in 1999 upon its renovation. Near the church there is an interesting memorial stone dating from the Great Northern War.Good to know:The service is on Sundays at 10 am. See more..
Varbuse Muusikamois (0 review)
Spent 2-3 hours Dinner Theaters
Small performances for 150 visitors See more..