Võru (county)

Võru (county)

The Võru county is the roof of the country with the most dramatic roads in the land. Drive to the top of **Suur Munamägi** to stand on the highest point in the Baltics and see the forest ocean stretching into Russia and Latvia. The roads snake through the **Haanja** highlands with steep climbs and sudden views of hidden lakes. The elevation change makes for an exciting drive that is unlike anything else in the flat northern plains. The **Rõuge** Nightingale Valley holds the deepest lakes in Estonia where the water is dark and cold under the steep hills. You can see a modern watchtower and a hydraulic ram pump that has been working for a century. The local smoke saunas are part of a living tradition that is the pride of the southern people. Taking part in a sauna ritual here is a deep cultural experience that connects you with the ancient spirits of the forest. Explore the **Vastseliina** castle ruins near the border where pilgrims once traveled to see a miraculous cross. The road to the east leads to the Seto kingdom where the language and customs are unlike anywhere else in the world. It is a land of high peaks and old mysteries. The people here speak a unique dialect and have maintained a strong identity that makes every visit feel like a trip to a secret world.

Võru (county) highlights

Part of these road trips

Follow the routes that cross this destination

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

The Võru county is a special county because its main town was actually planned from scratch. In 1784, the Russian Empress **Catherine the Great** gave the order to build a new town in the southern highlands to help manage the region. This gave the area a very organized feel with straight streets and a grand central square. The county is also home to the highest point in the Baltics, a hill called **Suur Munamägi**, where people have been building observation towers since 1812. The people of the south have their own unique language called Võro, which has been spoken in these hills for over 500 years. They have also preserved an ancient tradition called the **Smoke Sauna**. This isn't just a way to get clean: it’s a sacred ritual that has been passed down through families since the 1200s, using the heat and the smell of wood smoke to heal the body and soul. Driving through these highlands, you can visit the ruins of the **Vastseliina** Castle, which was built in 1342. It was once one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Europe because of a legend about a miraculous cross that appeared in the chapel. Today, the winding roads take you through the steepest hills in the country and past deep, dark lakes. It gives a look at a culture that has stayed proud and independent for centuries.
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