Hunting has been very popular in Estonia for several centuries. Even nowadays a lot of young people are interested of becoming a proffessional hunter, because it has been a long tradition in their family. One of the reason  why hunting is so popular in Estonia is due to big and deep forests and in the forest live a lot of wild animals. For example in winter you can hunt - elks, wild boars, beavers, pheasans, roe-deers.

 The best place for hunting is in the South Estonia  where the nature is unique and almost untouched. If you want to spend your quality time with your friends where everything is organized for you, then you can go to Taagepera castle in Valgamaa. In the castle are proffessional people who are taking care of everything you might need ( accommodation, food service, additional service, transportation, guides ). Besides real hunting you will have opportunety of photo-hunting and in clay pigin shooting.

But if you are looking for more adventure then you can also spend a night in hunter`s lodges in the middle of forest, where you can feel  like you are a part of the nature.

More hunting trip organizers and accommotations

• Hotell Metsis It is a small, cosy and comfortable hotel in the heart of Valga
• Käbliku talu The family has restored the artificaial lake of the watermill, on the bank of which 5 cross-beam houses with thatched rooves have found their place. Käbliku farmstead hidden from neigbours - create a fascionating feeling of privacy.

Related Links: Arrangements and opportunities of hunting for forigners in Estonia  Travel quides of South-Estonia  Hunting complicity Taagepera 

Underneath the Toompea bastions is a network of tunnels. Several hundred meters of which has been cleared for visitors. Rumor has it that the entire Old Town has a network of underground tunnels, but no-one knows for sure. The numerous and mysterious passages in Tallinn’s fortifications were built along with the bastions in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The aim of the passages was to conceal the movement of soldiers, ammunition and other equipment. The passages also played a role in espionage – to observe the enemy’s underground mining work.                                                                                              

•  The tunnels for the passages were made of limestone.                                                                                                                                 Take quided tour HERE!

•  They were 1.5 m wide and 2.5-3 m high, as a rule, covered by barrel vaults.

•  The walls were up to four meters thick.

•  The ceilings were provided  with ventilation holes, different levels were connected by stairs.

•  The total length of the passages is hundreds of meters and 380 m of them are open to the visitors.

 During the 18th century, the passages started to be used partly as storerooms. In the years of Soviet occupation they were provided with separate electricity and ventilation systems, running water and telephone communications. The network became an underground township with bedrooms and toilets included. Later, the passages were used as air-raid shelters as well as the sculpture storage for the Estonian Art Foundation.

The passages may be visited only with a guide.  The group meets in the Tower Kiek in de Kök. Kindly book the tour beforehand. Groups (max. 30 people) may book an additional guided tour. 

Links:  Kiek in the Kök, The City Museum, St John’s Almshouse   

Windmills are one of the most important symbols of Saaremaa. The post windmill built of stones and standing on a high post. The oldest type of windmills of Europe is characteristic of the West-Estonian islands. In the 19 century nearly each bigger farm in Saaremaa and Muhumaa had its own windmill. Now the way a windmill works can be seen on the island of Muhu at Eemu farm near the dam of Vaike vain (the Small strait).

There are also renovated windmills on the island of Abruka, at Mihkli Farm Museum at Viki, and in the villages of Metsküla and Kuusnõmme.

Five windmills stand on the Angla windmil hill near Leisi. although there are only ruins left of most of the Saaremaa’s windmills, people have started to rebuild the windmills because they are an important part of the local culture.
Angla Windmills

Related links:

In the past few years Estonian moviemakers have produced several great movies that have drawn attention to themselves not just in Estonia but all over the World and have won prizes to prove that. Critics as well as other moviefriends love them for their new point of view.

 If you want to experience the true art in moviebusiness, make sure you watch:

* “Klass” (Class) - www.klassifilm.ee
 - Nominated for foreign movie Oscar for 2007
 - Won the Grand Prix on Europa Cinemas Label contest in the 42nd international Karlovy Vary filmfestival
 - Also won the jury’s special prize on 42nd Karlovy Vary competition programme “East of the West”

* Short movie “Tühirand” (Empty Beach). Based on Mati Unt’s novel, it has won several prizes, including:
 - Estonia’s best movie 2006.

* “Leiutajateküla Lotte” (Lotte from the Inventors’ Village) - www.lotte-film.com/eng This great fulllenght cartoon offers grown-ups at least the same amount of fun than to children.
 - was in the children’s movieprogramme Generation Kplus of 57. Berlin Filmfestival.

* “Magnus” - www.magnusfilm.com
 - was in the programme of Cannes filmfestival
 - hasn’t come to theatre’s yet

* “Sügisball” (Autumn Ball) - www.sygisball.ee/en/ 
 - won the Grand Prix of Venice filmfestival’s second programme “Horisonts”
 - so fresh that you’ll have to go to Estonian theatre’s to see that

* “Georg” - www.georgfilm.com/index_en.html
 - came to theatres in October 2007

Take a look at these movies. You won’t regret it!

Buy DVD/VHS with English subtitles here:

http://www.cdmarket.eu/?m=prod&w=show&id=919071&lang=en

http://www.cdmarket.eu/?m=prod&w=show&id=818405

http://www.cdmarket.eu/?m=prod&w=show&id=815047

Are you looking for more than just a sightseeing tour in Tartu? Are you keen in having photo-memories of your visit? Are you adventurous? Do you like to explore things by yourself?

If you answered “yes” at least to one of those questions you are qualified for adventurous city tour in Tartu.

Ltd Virgestus takes you to an unusual sightseeing, where your weapon is a camera, your guide is a map and you have to navigate in Tartu downtown finding sights and taking photos of your group in given places.

• Tartu is a beautiful city and definitely worth of visiting in all four seasons
• Exploring Tartu as an adventure gives you wonderful memories, which you can share with your friends and family for a long time
• Adventurous photo-orienteering lets you to experience more about Tartu than just a guided walk in down-town
• Bigger groups can have a fun competition and the winner is the group which has the most sights found and also has the most eye-catching photos to share

Wellcome to explore Tartu with Ltd Virgestus by getting excited about adventurous sightseeing as a photo orienteering and having an acitvity holiday.

More information about Tartu:

http://kultuuriaken.tartu.ee/?setlang=EN

http://www.visittartu.com/14

www.tartu.ee

http://www.raadihotell.ee/index.php?leht=153

http://www.kohvik.ut.ee/index.php

www.http://www.kohvik.ut.ee/index.php

• Estonia is now in the EU. With a population of only 1.5 million people in a country which is about 45,000 square Km. By comparison, Scotland has an area of 77,000 and England an area of 130,000 square Km. The country is very flat with extensive forests and lakes and swamps. The forests where hunting takes place have good roads , so whilst access is easy, much of the land is in effect drained swamp land. The standard of accommodation is very good by comparison with other Eastern European countries and the food is really excellent.

• Rifle hire in Estonia is illegal , so you need to bring your own rifle which must be of calibre 6.5mm or above. If you are resident in the EU, then you only need your EU firearms pass with you when you arrive (along with confirmation of an ‘invitation to hunt’ ) and there is no additional fee.

• Hunting styles and seasons. Driven hunts for Moose start at the beginning of October until Mid December. Driven hunts can be arranged for 4-6 people. These can be combined with high seat and individual stalking in the early morning and night so Wild Boar and Beaver can also be on your quarry list at the same time. Or if you are just 2 people or even a large group, from the middle of September until mid December you can hunt on an individual basis for Moose (and also wild Boar).

• Wild Boar can be shot all year round and this is mainly done from high seats.

Hunting lodges are very comfortable and can sleep from 4 to as many as 10 hunters with room for non hunters in addition. Most lodges have a Sauna available for groups to use. The food is very good here and there is always plenty of choice.

Populations of Estonian animal:

• Deer 61 000
• Moose 16 000
• Beaver 27 000
• Wild Boar 20 500
• Rabbit 35 000