Where true diversities come together!
Virumaa is the longest day trip Reval Tours offer. During 10 fascinating hours we will visit 2 counties located eastwards from Tallinn. On this tour the diversities come together because of the contrast between lifestyle in capital and other areas. By taking this tour you will have a possibility to discover the easternmost part of Estonia and whole European Union. There are 3 main points we suggest you to visit: Rakvere stronghold, Kohtla-Nõmme mining museum (yes, it’s situated underground!) and Pühtitsa Convent. Be free to choose 2
of our “main courses” and we will spice them up with some other places on the way.
Some places we visit:
Jägala Waterfall is the highest and the widest natural waterfall in Estonia. It runs down from the North-Estonian limestone platoe and during thousands of years created up to 14 m deep and 300 m long valley. The waterfall forms two strong whirlpools at each edge. Whirlpool at the right shore is stronger – reportedly there is 6 m deep pit. Jägala river is not that deep here, but its stream is powerful enough to bring away a horse. In the limestone in upper side of the waterfall could be seen fossils of ancient cephalopods (related to octopuses). The most impressive time to visit waterfall is in winter when it is frozen and it is possible to walk under the waterfall or in spring during the high waters period. By the way, Latvians have nicknamed Jägala the Niagara Falls of the Baltics!
Rakvere, located about 100km east from Tallinn, is the ancient centre of Virumaa region and today is the capital of Lääne-Viru county. The town of Rakvere is known for its Tarvas (aurochs) statue made of bronze which is the biggest animal statue in the Baltics. It is also the smallest town in Europe to have its own professional theatre. There are nice low wooden, limestone and brick houses in the central part of town. Rakvere stronghold which is a town‟s main attraction was firstly mentioned in 1226 as Tarvanpea („the head of an aurochs‟). Nowadays the mighty stronghold is preservated and reconstructed and offers to experience medieval lifestyle by numerous themed attractions. There is a smithy, a stable with sheeps, goats and horses, an archery, a barbershop, a carpenter‟s workshop and even a Red light district in the castle‟s yard. It is also possible to try with your own hands different weapons, fight with swords, make coins, marzipan or wax candles. In the maze of tiny corridors a torture chamber, a “death room” and a “hell” can be found for a truly special experience!
Kohtla-Nõmme Oil Shale Mine was founded in 1937 for the needs of oil factory. Its tunnels are 8-35 meters deep and there are situated miners‟ workplaces, railway, explosive storages and even a canteen. Right after closing the mine in 2001, the only oil shale museum in the European Union started to operate on the same territory. On the ground there is an oil-shale sorting and enriching complex, where the main work was done by women, huge tipper BELAZ and exposition of the means of transport used in oil-shale production. Museum guides are the former miners who have worked for a long period. Oil shale, Estonia’s most important natural resource, formed 450 million years ago and is found in 80 countries. The amount of electricity, which is got from oil shale, is over 95% of Estonia‟s energy production.
OR…
Pühtitsa (Kuremäe) Russian Orthodox Convent was built at the end of the 19th century and is currently home for over 160 nuns and novices. It is located on a site known as Pühitsetud (“blessed” in Estonian) since ancient times and is the only Russian Orthodox convent in Estonia. According to a 16th century legend, near the local village, Kuremäe, a shepherd witnessed a divine revelation near a spring of water. Later, locals found an ancient icon under a huge oak tree. Nowadays Pühtitsa Convent is one of the most notable religional sights outside Tallinn in Estonia. Thousands of pilgrims and curious travellers visit it every year. There are six churches in the convent which is surrounded by a thick granite wall and has a majestic entrance gate with seven large bells. There is also a revered sacred spring that never freezes and is famous for its curing waters. Monastery premises are open for visitors: walk around in beautiful floral gardens, admire traditional “hut-style” firewood stacks, try out the blessed healing water from the Kuremäe stream and visit churches.
Saka Cliff. For each country and nation there exists some landscape that associates with this very country or nation more clearly than anything else. In Saka you can admire the beauty of the North Estonian Glint which is a part of the Baltic Glint that sweeps from Öland (Sweden) to Lake Ladoga (Russia) for 1 200 kilometres. The Saka Section of the glint is one of the most extensive outcrops of Lower Palaeozoic rocks in the world. Since 1996 Saka area has been declared a natural heritage and national symbol of Estonia by the Estonian Academy of Science. Nowadays the Estonian government applies for the switching this area to the list of natural objects of UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. In honour of the Baltic Glint it was featured on the reverse of the Estonian 100 kroon note.
TOUR INFO
DURATION ca 10 hours
START AT 9:00 a.m.
Minimum number of participants is 2
PRICE 139 EUR per person
Groups of 3 and more participants: 109 EUR per person
Children aged up to 7 travel for free*, 7-12 years: 89 EUR per person
INCLUSIONS
– Transportation by comfortable car or minivan
– Personal English speaking guide
– Entrance tickets
– Lunch
– Small snacks and drinking water on the way
– Printed materials about places we visit
– A CD with pictures of Estonia as a gift
– Surprise for small tourists
– Raincoats if necessary
*- 1 child for 1 adult, lunch is not included.