Väljaküla: River Landscape, Trails and Culture

Väljaküla can be geographically defined by the Alatskivi jõgi River: its source lies in the village, while other scenic and cultural destinations are located nearby. When planning a trip, the trails near Alatskivi Castle, museums and regional products are of particular interest. If you are looking for a hotel, consider what you would like to focus on: should your stay be mainly about spending time outdoors, or exploring culture and crafts? The places and activities offer different experiences.

River and Parkland

The Alatskivi jõgi River rises in Väljaküla and flows into Lake Peipus. It is open to the public. The river is therefore both a distinct geographical landmark for the village and part of a landscape that stretches all the way to Lake Peipus.

Near Väljaküla, an approximately 4.5-kilometre hiking loop runs around Lake Lossi by Alatskivi Castle. Another hiking trail leads through Alatskivi Park and through forests with linden, maple and oak trees. The trails offer different experiences: one forms a loop around the lake, while the other passes through parkland and forest.

Alatskivi Park covers approximately 130 hectares and contains the Alatskivi Landscape Protection Area. Another activity in the park is a disc golf course with 10 baskets, a par of 30 and a length of 1,077 metres. Those planning time outdoors will find both trails through different types of landscape and a course with clearly stated playing specifications.

Alatskivi Castle and the Onion Route

Alatskivi Castle is part of the Onion Route. A ceramics workshop there offers the opportunity to create a personal souvenir. A 25-kilometre cycling route along the Onion Route also starts in Alatskivi. Alongside the park trails, visitors can therefore choose between a craft activity and a longer cycling trip.

Museums and Cultural Themes

In Kolkja, the Old Believers’ Museum offers a virtual reality experience in which visitors can experience Old Believer prayer. From the museum’s observation tower, visitors can see Lake Peipus. The virtual experience and the view offer two different ways to explore culture and landscape.

The Juhan Liiv Museum presents poems through audio and video features and tells the story of Kodavere’s rich cultural heritage. Activities for children are also offered there. A guided tour on the museum’s history can be booked. This makes it possible to combine a literary focus with an optional guided tour, while the presentations of poetry and cultural heritage offer their own insights.

The landscape itself also has a literary connection: the area around Väljaküla is considered the scenic inspiration for Andrus Kasemaa’s fictional Poeedirahu. Ahervarre Farm, located in Väljaküla, is part of this literary landscape. This connection adds a link to a specific place and the landscape depicted in literature to the museum offerings.

Crafts and Regional Products

The Magasiait handicraft shop in Alatskivi sells locally made rugs, ceramics, knitwear and jewellery. Its products also include onion jams, herbal teas, flavoured salts and locally grown lavender. The range spans everything from handicrafts to food and plant products.

Alatskivi Manor Flavors makes artisan wines from regional ingredients, including rhubarb, wild berries, apples and grapes. Wine tastings include a playful guessing game about the ingredients used. Together with the handicrafts, this offers another way to experience the culture of the area around Väljaküla: through materials and products, as well as through the landscape, trails and museums.

Discover more destinations: Väljaküla, Rannu, Elva linn, Tähtvere, Alatskivi Parish, Vara, Luunja Parish, Ülenurme

For the main travel overview: Tartu.