Otepää Nature Park, Protected nature park in Otepää Rural Municipality, Estonia.
Otepää Nature Park is a protected landscape covering around 222 square kilometers with rolling hills, mixed forests, and about 65 lakes spread across northern Valga County. The terrain rises and falls with wooded ridges, creating varied landforms, while water bodies of different sizes dot the entire area.
The park's terrain developed through natural geological processes and was shaped over centuries by agricultural activities in the Otepää uplands. This combination of natural forces and human land use created the landscape visible today.
Lake Pühajärv holds deep meaning for local communities who come here to connect with nature and enjoy the landscape. The wooded islands and shoreline forests shape how people use and think about this space.
The Otepää Nature Centre at the park offers visitor information, exhibits about landscape patterns, and a short documentary film available in Estonian and English. From there, visitors can easily explore different sections of the park and learn more about its natural features.
The park protects several noteworthy natural monuments, including the War Oak of Pühajärve, an ancient spruce called Tsuura, and a rare cork tree near Märdi. These individual trees stand as markers of long-standing natural history and hold local significance.
Location: Otepää Rural Municipality
Location: Elva Rural Municipality
Location: Kanepi Rural Municipality
GPS coordinates: 58.06667,26.43333
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:47
Estonia showcases limestone cliffs, medieval castle ruins, flowing waterfalls, and protected wild areas. This collection includes the Kõpu Lighthouse built in 1531 on Hiiumaa Island, the submerged stone quarries of Rummu, and numerous manor houses from the 1800s. Natural features include meteorite impact craters at Kaali, red sandstone cliffs at Taevaskoda, and extensive wetland systems that define much of the landscape. The collection brings together history and nature across the country. Medieval ruins like Toolse and Laiuse castle stand as reminders of Estonia's past, while Orthodox cathedrals and old mills reveal the region's diverse heritage. Natural attractions include waterfalls, coastal bluffs, and bog lands that draw visitors interested in walking and observing the landscape. From Tartu to the eastern coast, these places show how Estonia's geography and history intertwine. Museums set in historic houses, maritime displays in fishing villages, and waterways through nature reserves all demonstrate how culture and landscape have shaped each other over time.
Otepää Church
4.2 km
Aakre manor
14 km
Otepää Castle
4.3 km
Rõngu Castle
15.6 km
Rõngu Church
14 km
Pühajärv War Oak
2.8 km
Otepää hill fort
4.3 km
Elva Church
17.2 km
Sangaste Church
16.7 km
Monument to the War of Independence in Otepää
4.1 km
Aakre Kivivare
11.7 km
Hellenurme watermill
8.3 km
Hellenurme Mill Museum
8.3 km
Elva cemetery
16 km
Otepää energiasammas
4 km
Ilmjärve Orthodox Church
12.7 km
Pulga oja raudteesild
15.1 km
Karste hiietamm
14.2 km
Kastolatsi orthodox church
3.7 km
Otepää Cemetery
3.5 km
Krüüdneri abikirik
16.7 km
Otepää Old Cemetery
4.5 km
Nõuni Library
8.4 km
Jaanimäe mänd
5.3 km
Otepää Winter Church
4 km
Koruste Library
16.7 km
Station building of Puka railway station
11.5 km
Otepää pastor's house
4.1 kmVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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