Õrsava: Lakeside Trail and Põhjalaager History

Around Õrsava, a lakeside trail meets a historic trail theme. The Õrsava Lake Trail is a 5 km loop around the lake. The themed Põhjalaager hiking trail begins and ends at General Reek’s House, on a scenic stretch of the Õrsava shoreline. When planning your visit, you can distinguish between the lake as the theme of one route and the historic camp as the focus of the other.

Hiking Trails Around the Lake

The Põhjalaager hiking trail partly overlaps with the Õrsava-järve hiking trail. This means there is a section where the two trail themes meet; one route is described as a loop around the lake, while the other focuses on Põhjalaager. These different focuses can help you orient yourself when comparing the trails. As routes may be revised, check the current trail layout before setting out.

A paved section leads from General Reek’s House to the barracks of Põhjalaager and the Värska Farm Museum. This section is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. The suitability applies to the specified part of the trail. If you are planning around a wheelchair or stroller, therefore, apply this information to this section only.

Põhjalaager and Its Preserved Buildings

Petseri Northern Camp’s full name is Eesti Kaitseväe Petseri Põhjalaager. The camp was established in 1926 in the village of Värska, on the shores of Õrsava. The Põhjalaagri memorial stone commemorates the Estonian Defence Forces camp from 1926 to 1941. These dates provide a clear timeframe for the historical subject.

More than ten buildings from Põhjalaager’s original construction period have been preserved. The grounds can be viewed from the outside. This lets you see the historic site outdoors without conflating that with a possible visit to General Reek’s House: the house was fully restored and opened to visitors in 2020. Check before your trip whether a visit is currently possible.

Exhibition, Memorial Stone and Programme

The exhibition at the Värska Visitor Centre – General Reek's House covers Petseri Northern Camp, established in Setomaa in the 1920s; events of the Estonian War of Independence; and the use of therapeutic mud and mineral water in the local spa area. The subjects thus connect the history of the camp with other aspects of regional history. Exhibition content may change over time.

The memorial stone also commemorates Estonian officers persecuted by Soviet rule; the memorial plaque bears the date 14 June 1941. If you would like to learn more about Põhjalaager, the Värska Farm Museum can offer a themed programme on request. The memorial site, exhibition and programme each provide their own focus for exploring the camp.

Discover more destinations: Värska, Perdaku, Kolodavitsa, Nedsaja.

Back to the main travel overview: Värska.