Rapla (county)

Rapla (county)

The Rapla county is a land of hidden water and stone history. The karst landscape means the rivers sometimes vanish underground leaving dry beds and mysterious sinkholes. You can find the **Kuimetsa** caves where the limestone has been hollowed out by water over thousands of years. Exploring these small natural tunnels gives you a sense of the hidden world that exists just beneath the surface of the fields. The **Vigala** river is crossed by the Rapla stone bridge which is a rare double-deck structure built from local rock. Many grand manors like **Kohila** and **Raikküla** are scattered through the county often surrounded by ancient oak parks. The roads are lined with stone walls and old farmsteads that have stood for generations. You will find that the pace of life here is very steady, reflecting the solid stone foundations of the region. Climb the **Jalase** nature trail to see a lake that sits on a limestone plateau surrounded by rare plants. The history of the region is tied to the earth and the stone that was pulled from it to build the country’s cathedrals. It is a quiet driving route for those who love geology and ruins. The backroads often lead to small village cemeteries where the stone carvings are works of art in themselves.

Rapla (county) highlights

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The Scenic Route
The Heritage Drive
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History of Rapla (county)

The Rapla county is famous for the **Varbola Hillfort**, which was one of the largest and most powerful fortresses in the north around a thousand years ago. It was protected by a massive wall made of limestone and earth that was nearly 600 meters long. In 1212, it was so strong that it successfully survived a massive siege by an invading army. Making it a legendary site of ancient strength and resistance. The region is also the site of the **Mahtra War** in 1858, which wasn't a war between countries, but a famous uprising of local farmers against the manor lords. The farmers were fighting for their rights and for a better life, and although they were defeated, the event became a powerful symbol of the people's bravery. Today, the old battlefields and the local museum tell the story of how these ordinary people stood up for their freedom in the middle of the 19th century. Rapla is also a land of limestone, the national stone. For centuries, the local quarries provided the building material for the country’s greatest churches and castles. In 1901, the locals finished building the Rapla Church, which is the only rural church in the country with two tall towers. Driving through the county, you can see this stone history everywhere, from the ancient arched bridges to the solid farmhouses that have stood for generations.
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