Otepaa Estonia. Otepää is the winter capital of Estonia. Otepää - the winter center of Estonia

Estonia is a fairly small Baltic country bordering Russia. Remembering this country, numerous cultural monuments, attractions, medieval architecture, and amazing nature immediately come to mind. Estonia combines all this. But few people know that this European country boasts its own ski resorts. There are not very many of them in Estonia, but their quality is not inferior to many large well-known winter resorts in Europe. And the prices will pleasantly surprise you, unlike popular analogues. So, what ski resorts are there in Estonia?

Otepää - the winter center of Estonia

A town like Otepää is located in the south of Estonia. There are only two thousand indigenous people here. But calm and quiet place There is no way to call it Otepa. The people of Estonia and frequent visitors to this country know that this is the most popular place winter recreation, winter sports. Entertainment here is presented in a wide range, it will be interesting for everyone, both adults and children.

Interestingly, Otepää is translated as “bear’s head.” The thing is that in 1224 one monk saw a hill that very much resembled the head of a bear. It was on this hill that he built the first castle. From that moment it all began. Modern Otepää is famous not only for its ski resort, but also as a spa center. A wide range of services are offered for tourists - from massage to body wraps.

In addition to an active ski holiday, you can spend time usefully by visiting the main attractions of the area:

• Medieval castle;
• Ski Museum in Estonia;
• Museum of the National Flag of Estonia;
• Cart Museum.

The adventure park, equipped with a large observation deck. It is designed for hiking in the snow-capped mountains, and there is also a climbing wall. There is an opportunity to visit one more natural Park, in which tourists observe the life of the local fauna. As surprising as it may sound, this ski resort has a beautiful beach.

It has become a pleasant tradition to equip golf centers on the territory of a winter resort. Otepää in Estonia is no exception. The golf center here is quite large and offers 18 high-quality golf courses. The resort has great amount game rooms, gardens and ski schools for children. After all, Otepää is often great for family vacation. You can while away winter evenings in one of the restaurants.

As for hotels, in this part of Estonia there is a hotel for every taste and financial opportunity. Of course, the main thing at a ski resort is the slopes. There are about seven trails here (1 red, 3 blue, 3 green) of varying difficulty. The length of the longest route is about 500 meters. One of the tracks in the Tehvandi sports center is very popular among professionals. Its length is as much as 5.5 kilometers. The “old” route, with a similar length, is also publicly accessible.

Kuutsemäe

One more winter resort Estonia, which has a large number of spa centers, is Kuutsemäe. It is located next to Otepää, just 14 kilometers away. Therefore, some guidebooks describe them as one ski resort in Estonia. There are some differences between these two resorts. Thus, Kuutsemäe has a large number of houses and holiday homes. Great for a vacation with the family.

You can also team up in pairs and rent a house for the weekend. This will help you save a lot. Many trails are suitable for both beginners and professionals. Here you can also rent all the necessary equipment. All the tracks are illuminated, so in the evening you get the feeling winter's tale. Otepää can be reached by bus, which runs every hour. The main beauty and Kuutsemäe's pride is amazing natural landscape. The resort combines amazingly mountain ranges and forests. You could even say that here a mountain is located on a mountain. The local view is simply mesmerizing.

A stunning sight awaits all Estonian tourists from Mount Harimägi. Its height is 200 meters, and it has a large, spacious observation deck. There are others active entertainment. Thus, Kuutsemäe brings to your attention the famous JK luge center. On a motorized sleigh you can see everything tourist routes resort, and just have an interesting and fun time.

There are special trails for children that are protected with everything necessary. Your kids will be treated by real professionals in their field. You can go down the slopes not only on skis, but also on a snowboard. The resort can provide any services for a comfortable and carefree holiday. Hotels and holiday homes offer a catering service. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the resort.

The ski resort also operates in summer. It is on these hills and mountains that there are numerous hiking trails. So, you can saturate your life with wonderful emotions, as well as improve your health. All paths are concentrated around the purest beautiful mountain lake. If you find it difficult to endure the entire hike on your feet, you can rent a bicycle.

Another, smaller resort in Estonia is Kutiorg. There are only two descent routes here, but this does not make it any less attractive for tourists. Kutiorg is considered real entertainment complex Estonia. Here you can visit the ancient ruins of the castle and visit some caves. Accommodation of tourists takes place on the territory of the resort in houses. The mountain slopes are equipped with automatic lifts.

Otepää — small town, located in the hilly part of the South. During the winter season, the city takes on the status of the country's capital. Otepää, despite its small territory, is the most famous resort center winter sports throughout the Baltic states.

Otepää: history and modernity

Otepää literally translates from Estonian as “bear’s head”. The city owes its name to the shape of the hill, reminiscent of nothing more than the head of this wild animal.

The historical significance of this place is documented: it was here in 1224 that Bishop Herman built the famous Stone Fort, the first castle on the territory.

The Stone Fort was located in the safest place of the settlement - on the top of a steep hill surrounded by water. The castle was built in the Gothic style, using materials such as brick and granite. However, a little less than two centuries later, in 1396, the castle was destroyed during a fierce war between the high clergy and the knights of the Livonian Order.

Those who believe in the supernatural will be interested in visiting the Otepyat “energy pillar”. An ancient legend says that a colossal charge of powerful health and endless energy can be obtained by touching this pillar for just a few seconds.

Otepää: the “pearl” of sports tourism

In winter, the city of Otepää becomes a real paradise for everyone who cares about active recreation. Excellent conditions for winter sports lovers make this place one of the most popular not only in the Baltics, but throughout Western Europe. Fans of cross-country or alpine skiing, brave snowboarders, snowmobilers, skaters, as well as just people who are partial to the ancient fun of sledding - they all find this place one of the best in the entire Baltics. Otepää is a sports center designed for both experienced athletes and beginner sports tourists. The Otepyat trails, divided into different levels and categories of difficulty, strictly comply with high European quality standards.

Since the late fifties of the last century, there have been two sports centers in Otepää - Tehvandi and Kairiku, intended for adherents of a sports lifestyle. The center of Kairiku is a place where athletes (both professionals and beginners) from all over the Baltics flock from November to March.

In turn, Tehvandi is a year-round sports center designed for top-level professional athletes. This is where sports stars such as Andrus Veerpalu, Kristina Šmigun and Jaak Mäe live, train and prepare for new Olympic victories.

Otepaa: culture and attractions

The town of Otepää is attractive not only for winter sports enthusiasts. Otepää will also be of interest to people who are far from sports achievements. The picturesque nature of the region, popular in the black bath (followed by swimming in an ice hole), will not leave indifferent those who are accustomed to a relaxing holiday.

Fans of cultural leisure will be interested in the sights for which this wonderful town is famous. The building of the Maritime Museum, opened at the end of 1996, is famous for its centuries-old history. It was in this building that the Estonian national flag was first raised on June 4, 1884, which half a century later became the official banner of the independent Republic of Estonia.

The structure, originally built as a church in 1671, has undergone significant renovations several times. Thus, in 1860, the roof of the bell tower was thoroughly reconstructed in the neo-Baroque style. And already at the end of the nineteenth century (in 1890) the church took on its modern appearance, made in the English neo-Gothic style. In the same year, an organ was installed, which is in good condition today.

Not far from the church, in a hilly area, there is a monument to the victims of the War of Independence of the Republic of Estonia.

In addition, in 1992, a museum dedicated to the history was opened in the city. cultural life and the nature of the region.

Otepää fortification, ruins of a 12th-century bishop's castle

On Linnamägi Hill there was an ancient Estonian settlement, which, thanks to good location was easy to defend. The exact time of the formation of the fort is not known, but already a thousand years ago it was the most important fortification of the ancient Estonian land of Ugala. The southern side of the hill was used for settlement. It can be assumed that the settlement was surrounded by a water barrier, as evidenced by the existence of a now swampy meadow and the overgrown Lake Alevijärv near Linnamägi. Now you can see and touch on the city hill the ruins of a stone fort built in 1224 by Bishop Herman. In 1937, a metal map of the ancient settlements was installed on the hill.

Otepää St. Mary Lutheran Church

Otepää is one of the oldest parishes in Southern Estonia. In 1224, on the initiative of Tartu Bishop Herman, a fortified church was erected near the bishop's castle. The distrust of Germans and Estonians necessitated the construction of new church outside the fortress walls. In Swedish times, in 1671, another church was built again. If the first (built in 1608?) church was located at the highest tip of Linnamägi hill, then the second was apparently located east of Linnamägi on a hill shaped like a heart, which is now marked by a stone cross. In 1850, the church was renovated from the inside and a balcony was built for the choir. The organ was created in the workshop of Tartu organ maker Kessler in 1852 and was generally the first organ in Otepää Church. The church tower in its current form was built in 1860. In 1890 the church was rebuilt. The altar painting dates back to 1880. The bell of Otepää Church was donated by H. Billinghausen and S. Taube. The church received a new bell as a gift from the Vihti parish in 1992. The church was built in the neo-Gothic style and has a tower 51 m high. Electricity was installed in the church in 1938. Under the left choir is a flagstone tombstone erected in 1806 for General Rennenkamp. It is also worth paying attention to the lock of the first door, which dates back to 1772.

• On June 4, 1884, in the hall of Otepää Church Manor, the blue-black-white flag of the Estonian Student Society was consecrated, which later became the national flag and in 1992 the state flag. The bas-reliefs of the flag, created by the sculptor Waldemar Mellick, were unveiled on the wall of the church in 1934 (on the anniversary of the 50th anniversary of the national flag). The bas-reliefs were destroyed in 1950, but were restored and reopened on July 15, 1989. The sculptor is Mati Varik.
• On May 20, 1997, the presidents of the three Baltic states planted oak trees in the church garden.

Winter Church

In winter, they use a warmer and more comfortable church, the so-called. WINTER CHURCH, which was erected from an auxiliary building of the old church estate. It was consecrated on December 6, 1992, on Finnish Independence Day, because this winter church was built thanks to the help of the Finns. The consecrated name of the winter church is the Chapel of the Widow and Orphan. It is dedicated to widows because in Soviet times it was they who kept the church alive by scraping from their meager salaries. The Winter Church also hosts some concerts as part of the traditional winter music festival.

• In front of the Winter Church there is a granite monument to JACOB HURTH. The monument was consecrated on November 2, 1989. JAKOB HURT was the first pastor of Estonian nationality who worked in Otepää in the years 1872-1880. He gained popularity among the people as a folklorist and linguist. He was a prominent figure during the Estonian national movement and had the largest collection of folklore in Europe.

Monument to soldiers who died in the liberation war

The monument is erected on the hill in front of Otepää Church. On November 2, 1922, the council of the Otepää Church obliged its board to begin negotiations on the erection of a monument to the soldiers who died in the War of Independence. The sketches of the monument were made by Waldemar Melnik, the sculptor was P. Weeber. The grand opening of the monument took place on June 10, 1928. In June 1950, the monument disappeared from the face of the earth. On the initiative of the Otepää Popular Front and the Otepää Society for the Preservation of Ancient Monuments, as well as with the organization and leadership of Karl Ojaver, restoration of the monument began in the summer of 1988. On August 3, 1988, in a solemn ceremony, the upper part of the monument with the inscription “GLORY TO THE FALLEN” was pulled to the surface of the earth. However, the granite block with full list fallen warriors. Only 22 names have survived. On March 14, 1989, they began preparing the foundation for the monument in a new location (the previous location remains on the territory of the plant). The artistic metalworking works were carried out by Yuri Oyaver. The cornerstone laying ceremony took place on April 22, 1989.

Museum of the Estonian Flag

The museum was opened on December 23, 1996 in Otepää Church Manor. The author of the idea and the initiator of its implementation was the pastor of the Otepää Mariinsky parish of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Yuri Stepanov. Are common construction works carried out by AS Aunapuu Ehitus, the compiler and designer of the museum's exhibitions were employees of the Estonian Folk Museum Piret Õunapuu and Kaie Kukk, as well as representative of the Estonian Student Society Tõnis Mäldre. The opening of the museum is connected with the history of the Estonian national flag. In early spring In 1884, the wife of Dr. Karl August Hermann, Paula Hermann, with the help of Emilia Beermann and Miina Hermann (Härma), made a large silk blue-black-white flag for the Estonian Student Society. Since it was forbidden to display this flag in Tartu in 1884, it was consecrated in Otepää on June 4. 16 students and 6 graduates took part in the consecration ceremony; they rode to Otepää in an eight-horse carriage. When the church came into view, they released the banner from under the canopy, and it began to flutter in the headwind. The flag was consecrated and blessed by Rudolf Callas. From this ceremony come the historical words uttered by Heinrich Rosenthal: “If Estonia were full of devils, they would not be able to defeat our flag.”

Lake Pyhajärve

Many legends are associated with Pyhajärv, the most beautiful lake in Estonia. There are many oak groves in the vicinity of Lake Pühajärv. One of them was called the sacred oak forest. There was no lake then. One day it came with a great roar and stopped in the heavenly heights, almost above the sacred oak grove. People looked at it and said: “It makes noise in the sky, like our sacred grove on earth.” Immediately the lake fell to the ground with a great noise next to the oak grove. The fallen lake began to be called Pyhajärv. Pyhajärv is the largest lake in the Otepää Upland, its length is 3.5 km, maximum width is 1.6 km, maximum depth 8.5 m, area 292.6 hectares, length coastline 16.4 km. The shores of the lake abound in springs, of which the most famous is the Armuallikas spring in the coastal bend near the Poslovitsa farm. The Väike-Emajõgi River originates at the southern end of Lake Pyhajärv. There are 5 islands in the lake: in the northern part of Sysarsaared, in the central part of Kloostrisaar, from south coast The islands of Suur and Väike Lepasaar are located. Another legend about Pyhajärv is also associated with the islands. According to legend, the lake arose from the tears of a grieving mother who mourned her five sons killed in the war. Their burial mounds are the current lake islands. Lake Pyhajärv is suitable for fishing and enjoying beach pleasures. Pyhajärve beach is seeking Blue Flag status, which is awarded to clean sea and lake beaches.

Pyhajärve Park

The park belonged to the Pyhajärve Manor park and was laid out as a forest with walking paths in the 19th century. The park is predominantly a forest of natural origin. The singing stage located in Pyhajärve Park was reconstructed in 1994. Among the events held in the park, the most popular is the Pyhajärve Beach Party, which was founded in 1993. In the summer of 1999, the SIGHT WHEEL was reopened in the park.

Monument to the visit of the Dalai Lama

Historical visit marked wooden sculpture on the shore of Lake Pyhajärv from the park side. The High Priest of the Lamaist Church in Tibet and the leader of the Tibetan people, His Eminence the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gwatso (born in the year of the wooden Boar in 1935), visited Estonia and Otepää on October 3, 1991 and consecrated Pühajärv on the same day at 10.45.

Pyhajärve War Oak

The diameter of the century-old oak with a huge spherical crown is 1.3 m, height 210 cm, girth of the tree 6.6 m, age about 380 years. This century-old tree is called the Oak of War as a witness to the events of the last century. In the autumn of 1841, the peasants of Pyhajärve Manor refused to perform corvee duties. The rebellious peasants were executed on December 16 near the Oak of War. In 2001 it will be 160 years since the historical event.

Khobustemägi Hill

An oblong mountain, resembling a narrow ridge, the height of which is more than 100 m above lake level. According to legend, the mountain was born in memory of a horse that carried its exhausted owner home on its back.

Spring Armuallikas

Armuallikas or Verilyate is located in the Poslovitsa bend on the shore of Lake Pyhajärv. According to popular legend, the spring got its name from the miraculous water: whoever drinks from a silver glass of spring water on Midsummer night will find great and eternal love. In addition, spring water supposedly soothes pain and cures diseases.

House-museum of the poet Gustav Wulf-Øys

Gustav Wulf was born on January 1, 1865 in the Juuza farm of Vastse-Otepää parish. He began his schooling career at an Orthodox parish school, then continued his education in Tartu at the school at the Yuri Church. In 1880 he entered the Tartu Russian Teachers' Seminary, from which he graduated in 1884 with honors. Wulf-Yis began working as a teacher at Puhja parish school. After numerous conflicts, he went to work in Vana-Otepää as a volost clerk, where he worked until 1937. Recent years He spent his life on the Lykhmus farm on the shores of Lake Nyupli. The song "Tender Nightingale", the author of the lyrics is Gustav Wulf-Yis, has become a kind of Otepää anthem. Nowadays, the Wulf-Õysa Museum is opened on the Lõhmus farm, the owner of which is the granddaughter of the poet Marie-Anne Karupä.

Mount Väike Munamägi

The effort put into reaching the top of the mountain will pay off in a big way. The visibility from here reaches more than 50 kilometers. The absolute height of Malaya or Otepää Munamägi reaches 207.5 m ( relative height more than 80 m). On the north-eastern slope of the mountain (in the Otepää direction) there is a spring, which has long been considered the source of the Väike-Emajõgi River. From here the stream flows down the ravine, then disappears and reappears on the surface below in the meadow, replenishing the stream flowing there with its waters, which flows into Lake Pyhajärv from the south-eastern side of the park. The boulder located on the edge of the first plain is the largest in the entire area and weighs 25,000 kg. In 1971, an observation tower 12.3 m high was built on the mountain, which broke in 1996.

Apteekrimyagi Hill

The peculiar name of the hill (“pharmacist’s mountain”) dates back to 1882. Then, as a result of a general search, people found here the unexpectedly missing Otepää pharmacist, pharmacist Jurvetson. He poisoned himself under one big tree because of an unhappy marriage. In 1934, a 26 m high triangulation tower was built here. In the same year, for the ski days of the Tartu County Defense League, a ski jump was built from which it was possible to make jumps up to 25 meters long.

Tehvandi Sports Center

With funding from the council of the Dynamo sports society, a ski jump was built on Mount Tehvandi, from which the first jumps were made in 1965. To date, the springboard has been reconstructed three times. In 1995, the mountain received the most modern this moment artificial turf. The springboard belongs to the Põhyakotkas club and is leased to the Tehvandi Education and Training Center for 25 years. In 1977, the Olympic training base of the USSR Committee of Physical Culture and Sports "Otepää", now the Tehvandi sports center, was built. Since 1993 - Estonian Olympic training center "Tehvandi". People, however, know it better under the name “Pentagon”. Apparently, the athletes training here began to call it that from the very beginning because of its arched appearance.

Energy Pillar

The monument, erected to indicate the presence of positive energy fields in Otepää, was unveiled on October 1, 1992 on Mäe Street. Along the entire length of the field on the mountainside there are benches, the location of which, as well as the location of the pillar, was chosen by psychics. The first sacrifice to the “Energy Pillar” was made by blacksmiths on World Blacksmiths Day on July 3, 1993. The energy forged into iron was accumulated in the form competition work 12 blacksmiths in the shape of a bear's head. The energy pillar is also a symbol and reminder in a rapidly changing world. A symbol of the fact that man is a part of nature, where the basis of all foundations are the laws of nature, where balance and interdependence prevail. A reminder not to stray too far from nature and to reconnect with the earth. How to get energy?

• 1. Choose yourself appropriate place between two oaks. Try to imagine yourself as one particle of nature (for example, a small oak tree). Close your eyes and try to absorb the energy. You feel relieved and your palms become warm (even in cold weather).
• 2. Place your hands on a wooden post, oak tree, or the surface of the ground. Make yourself more comfortable. Try to imagine that you are absorbing energy through your palms. You are permeated by a pleasant feeling that covers your whole body. Try to free yourself from bad thoughts. Take up meditation. Imagine yourself as a particle of the Universe.
• 3. Choose a suitable bench for sitting. Sitting or lying on a bench, point your palms down, trying to draw energy into yourself. Concentrate your thoughts on what you are trying to free yourself from with the help of the energy entering you.

Märdi mill dam

It is located in the village of Märdi, on a fairly large road when driving from Otepää to Valga through the village of Sikhva. The Väike Emajõgi River is dammed and the water flowing under the road falls down in the form of a waterfall. The dam is built in such a way that you can stand behind the water curtain and listen to the sound of the water. Although the surrounding area has not yet been developed, the waterfall will bring you true pleasure. Next to the former mill there are cork oak trees, which are under state protection.

In January-February 2015, unbridled winter fun is expected in Otepää with major international competitions and a sauna marathon. Our material contains a list of what will attract a real winter traveler in this modest Estonian town.

The town of Otepää is located in the southern part Estonia, and its name is literally translated from the local language as “bear’s head”. It's all about the hilly terrain - one of the largest hills exactly resembles this very bear's head. The permanent population here is only a little more than 2 thousand people, and the main local activity, of course, is tourism. In the summer people also relax here, for example, on the beach of the main Estonian lake Pyhajärve, but still the largest influx of tourists occurs in January-February. Unofficially, Otepää is considered the winter capital of the country.

In January-February 2015, the cultural program in Otepää will be extremely eventful. The big biathlon has finally reached the town, joining the already familiar cross-country skiing. The importance of Otepää for skiers is gradually increasing, as is the importance of the resort in tourist map Europe.

The program of big holidays in Otepää in 2015 will be opened by two ski races on January 17 and 18 - these are intermediate competitions between the famous Tour de Ski and the World Ski Championships, which this year will be held in Falun, Sweden.

Ski races will smoothly flow into World Snow Day - a holiday that has been held since 2012 International Federation skiing. In 2015 it fell on January 18th. The main goal of this event is to attract as many people as possible to winter sports. more people Therefore, on this day, mass competitions are held in alpine and cross-country skiing, ice skating and snowboarding.

After a short ten-day respite, the town will host the European Biathlon Championships. Otepää often hosted training camps for biathlon teams and not the most important stages of biathlon cups, but such a large-scale event will be held for the first time. The European Championships will last a whole week and will include 9 big races: men and women will run in the individual race, sprint, pursuit and relay, and on February 2 there will also be a mixed relay.

At the end of February, the most original competition from the 2015 sports program will take place - the European Bath Marathon. The essence of the competition is to visit as many as possible more local baths, and you need to spend at least three minutes in each steam room. To take part in the marathon, you need to pre-register, and you can compete both as an individual and as a team. To add spice to the competition, the organizers have come up with a number of additional competitions, for participation in which additional points are awarded to the overall standings. The most severe of them is swimming in ice holes.

Holding large-scale competitions forces the town to remember old ones and come up with new attractions so that tourists have something to do in free time. In the local museum you can trace the history of the development of biathlon and cross-country skiing and other winter sports, look at the very first wooden skis with fancy bindings and study a large collection of awards from various competitions.

Locals are trying to introduce visitors to Estonian culture, and one of best places for this purpose - the Estonian Flag Room. It was in Otepää in 1884 that the modern blue, black and white flag of Estonia was consecrated and blessed. A special room dedicated to the history of the flag is located in the Otepán church.

In Otepää you can recharge yourself with positive energy. In 1992, a monument called the “Energy Pillar” was unveiled in the town. Local residents claim that it is in this place that there are positive energy fields found by a group of psychics. To get a boost of energy, you just need to sit on one of the many benches around this marvelous structure.

In the vicinity of Otepää, on Linnamägi Hill, there is a 13th-century bishop's castle, or rather its ruins. The guides will tell you a lot of interesting things about its centuries-old fascinating history, but there is not much to see here, especially in winter. But there is something to see in the Sangaste estate, 25 km from Otepää, where there is a huge castle built in 1874 with 149 rooms.

It is interesting that Otepää has traces of eastern cultures. In 1991, the Dalai Lama himself visited here and consecrated Lake Pyhajärve. In honor of this significant event, a wooden sculpture was installed on the shore.

But if we talk about winter recreation, then, naturally, the main place here is occupied by the Tehvandi sports center, where there is a huge number ski slopes, including those with FIS certificates, six ski jumps, a ski stadium, biathlon shooting ranges for 17 and 30 places, an alpine room and a lot of other sports facilities.

We bring to the attention of site readers a report about one of the most famous ski racing centers not only in Europe, but also in the world - Estonian Otepää, a kind of test drive of which the Ski Sport magazine conducted in early July.
Probably, this report will not be so interesting to professional athletes who often attend training camps in this place, but for active lovers skiers who know a lot about training and love to train and, perhaps, have never been to Otepää, we hope that our material will be of interest.

Road

Being the happy owner of a personal vehicle, the “LS” correspondent traveled to Otepää by car. The road from Moscow, depending on the pace of driving, will take from 8 to 10 hours. Novorizhskoe highway Now many places have been reconstructed, and the “washboard” that was there two or three years ago is no longer there. Of course, there are some bad bits left (where would Russia be without them?), but everywhere you can drive at speeds of more than 100 km/h without any problems. Crossing the border is also a fairly painless procedure and takes from an hour to two, although to get there, it is better to have a map, because there are no signs. It should be noted that to enter Estonia by car you need insurance - the so-called “ green map" For a period of 15 days to a month it costs 2,700 rubles. The roads in Estonia are good and there are signs at every intersection so you don't get lost.

Accommodation

We lived in a cottage for 8 people, although not eight of us. But if fully filled, this is a fairly budget option, which is clearly cheaper than its counterparts in Russian centers. In addition, you are unlikely to get such conditions: shower, bathhouse, kitchen, refrigerator, etc. necessary household appliances there. For comparison, in Demino for this money you could live in a cottage for 3-4 days, and in Estonia - 18.

There are quite a few such individual cottages, but there are several hotels, as well as a fairly large private sector. Almost everywhere there is free wireless Internet, the high speed of which is pleasantly surprising. I was also pleasantly pleased with the prices in local supermarkets - they are lower than in Moscow Auchans.

Workout

Let's move on to what we came here for, that is, to Otepää, that is, to training. Probably, the first thing a skier needs is a roller ski track, and it is by this criterion that training sites are mainly selected. In Otepää there are such trails, and more precisely places for skating - several, which, by the way, saves you from crowding on the circles. The “new track” was laid on the territory of the Tehvandi sports complex, its length is 6 km. The circuit includes long, gentle descents and long climbs, sometimes with steep exits. If there is a turn on the descent, then be sure that the counter slope is also in place. The quality of the asphalt is excellent, there are kilometer markers all around, and the roadsides are mowed. There are two shooting ranges on the course for biathletes.

The “Old Route” is an ordinary road, although it is marked with special signs warning that roller skiers or other athletes may meet on it. The asphalt there is good, but, of course, not as smooth as on the new roller skate. Nevertheless, it is noticeably superior in quality to the famous asphalt of the small cycle ring in Krylatskoye. The terrain of the route is more typical of a road - the climbs there are really long, which, coupled with the not very fast asphalt, makes them quite difficult. Its length in one direction is just over 6 km, respectively, back and forth – 12.5 km. If a car catches up with you, it will drive behind you as long as necessary to overtake you safely. In general, no one races there, especially during training time.

also in different sides parallel to the city highways There are bike paths with excellent asphalt and very soft terrain, which makes them attractive for rides and second training sessions. Based on my observations, I note that more skiers ride on them than cyclists. Our favorite part was the bike path to the town of Kääriku, which runs through the park along the shore of the main local lake, Pyhäjärvi. The length of the path is about 10 km one way.

Now let's move on to the simulation: there are also two tracks for this type of training activity in Otepää. The “old” or “Dynamo” track was laid in the area of ​​the old ski jump on Apteekerimägi hill. Its length is 6 km, it is very well marked, it is almost impossible to lose your way. The terrain on the highway is very decent. Perhaps in terms of steepness it is inferior to the track in Ostrov, but it is definitely not weaker than the circle in Raubichi. In the middle of the circle, there are two steep uphill jumps in a row: landings head-on and diagonally - this is for fans of shuttle imitation, you can only imitate up and down on them.

The “new” imitation circle is located in the same place as the new roller skate, that is, on the territory of the Tehvandi ski center. Its length is 5 km, and the terrain, in my opinion, is somewhat softer than Dynamo’s. There is one serious climb on the circle - also uphill from the jump landing, however, it is one and a half to two times longer than similar climbs on the old circle. Separately, I would like to note that the circles are carefully monitored: they are carefully mowed, fallen trees are immediately removed, bridges are made through swamps and streams, which eliminates excess dirt.

In addition to the description of the “ski attractions” of Otepää, we attach an interview with the director of the Tehvandi sports center Allar Arukusk, who spoke a little about the history of the Otepää ski center and its preparations for the World Junior Championships, which will be held there in early 2011.

This center was built in 1978, and it became the base for training national teams Soviet Union, especially in skiing sports: cross-country skiing and combined events. After the collapse of the Union, the center became owned by the Estonian government, and now its co-owners are the state, the Estonian Ski Union and the municipality of Otepää. This year we held the World Cup in cross-country skiing for the tenth time, and the main event of next year will be the World Junior and Youth Ski Championships. In 2007, we built a new ski jump, and at the end of this summer, by September, we will complete the construction of a new stadium, which will become the main arena of the championship. It will be a year-round complex: in the summer there will be athletics and football, and in the winter there will be skiing. The main stand will accommodate 2,200 spectators, and the small stand will seat 1,000. Thus, there will be more than 3 thousand in the stadium alone seating, and it can accommodate up to 6 thousand spectators. True, our attendance record set at the Ski World Cup is 23 thousand spectators over two days. After construction is completed, we will add a large cross-country skiing stadium to the shooting range and biathlon stadium.

- What sports facilities are managed by the Tehvandi Sports Center?

- We own a stadium, a roller ski track, a shooting range, a simulation circle, and running circles. In winter we have a 10 km loop of artificial snow.

- Do you make it from snow that you save from last winter? I saw a mountain of sawdust on the highway...

- No, that snow is only enough for 4 km. We make several piles, the largest of which is about 20 thousand cubic meters. But as soon as the first cold weather sets in, we make snow with snow cannons.

- Is skating paid?

- Yes, when natural snow has not yet fallen, you have to pay for skiing.

- Is it cost-effective?

- Yes, we have agreements with the Estonian Ski Union, the Estonian Biathlon Association, the local sports school, the Otepää municipality: they pay for the use of the track by their members, so as not to charge each individual fee. If a team comes to our training camp, the track fee is included in the cost of hotel accommodation.

- How many employees does the center have?

- 37 people. Of course, you always want to have more employees, but in the current economic situation in the world, this is probably the optimal number.

Whose parking spaces do you think these are?

Hotel Tehvandi - also known as the famous Pentagon

The sports center's trail layout is what is called "new" trails. The black circle is a roller, the blue circle is an imitation. On the roller skate, however, one loop has not yet been completed, which leads to the stadium

First climb on the new roller skate

Ski bridge

A new stadium, which is being built specifically for the 2011 World Junior and Youth Championships

The ski slope in winter runs a little differently than the roller slope in summer.

The beginning of the "old" rollerball. Sporditee is Estonian for "sports road"

Pay attention to the triangle icons

Old rollerball

Beginning of the Dynamo simulation lap

Pay attention to the neatly mowed edges of the path and the markings: the color corresponds to the length of the circle. White - 6 km, blue - 3 km. At this point, as you might guess, they coincide