Antsla: Hiking, Nature and History

Antsla offers a variety of options for planning your trip: local history, trails on the edge of town and natural landscapes in the municipality. You can decide whether to explore the historic market town or focus on outdoor activities and nature.

Antsla: Market History and the Hauka Fair

Antsla developed during the last quarter of the 19th century around the Siksälä inn, at a busy crossroads. In 1889, the traditional fairground was moved near the railway station and the inn. That same year, the Valga–Petseri railway line was completed, giving Antsla a strong impetus for development. Antsla railway station was named after the nearby Uue-Antsla and Vana-Antsla manors.

The name Hauka also refers to the town’s history: the settlement around the railway station was named after a local historic farm. The Hauka Fair was first mentioned by that name in an official fair announcement in 1903, which listed March 20 and October 23. A monument to the Estonian War of Independence stands on the former fairground.

At the 2026 Hauka Fair, traders, shoppers, entertainers and spectators gathered in the streets of Antsla. During the fair, the streets became a crowded open-air market. This snapshot in time adds a picture of market activity in 2026 to the fair’s older history.

Trails and Hikes

The Kasumetsa Health Trail lies on the edge of Antsla in a forest area managed by RMK. You can choose between a shorter 1-kilometre loop and a longer 2.2-kilometre loop; both are illuminated. The difference in length is 1.2 kilometres, making it easy to distinguish between the two loops.

The long hiking trail in Karula National Park is a loop. It has no designated starting or ending point and is marked in both directions. Its layout therefore differs from the numbered Kasumetsa loops: here, the focus is on the loop route and two-way markings, while the health trail offers two specific distances to choose from.

Natural Attractions and Landscapes

The 123-square-kilometre Karula National Park lies in the southern and southwestern part of Antsla Municipality and also extends into Valga and Rõuge municipalities. It protects the forested, lake-rich hilly landscapes typical of southern Estonia, protected species and cultural heritage. The park thus brings together landscape and nature conservation with regional cultural history.

Near the visitor centre in Ähijärve is a children’s nature trail designed especially for younger visitors. The trail includes a playground, a slide, an observation tower, swings, a sandbox and a rope roundabout. The focus here is on a nature trail with play features; the facilities listed give this place a different character from the longer hiking routes.

The Uhtjärv recreation area has a picnic spot, a small sandy beach and a swimming area. The lake is 28 metres deep and is considered Estonia’s fifth-deepest lake. At Uhtjärv, the recreational facilities described sit alongside a notable fact about the lake’s depth.

Cultural Sites and Other Activities

The present-day Urvaste Church was consecrated in 1889. It is a Gothic-style, three-aisled basilica. The recorded history of the Vana-Antsla manor complex dates back to its first mention in 1405. Its park was laid out in the late 18th century and features avenues and ponds. The two sites have different points of interest: the church is notable for its architectural style and year of consecration, while the manor complex is notable for its early mention and the design of its park.

Liikluslinn also combines several activity features: the indoor traffic town has working traffic lights and city-style lighting. It also has a Formula track and a cycling practice area.

Discover more destinations: Rõuge, Haanja, Mae–suhka, Võru, Juba.

Go to the main travel overview: Võru.