On Saturday we rented a car for the day and headed out into the countryside of south-eastern Estonia. The brilliant sunny weather continued and we had the chance to see a variety of aspects of rural life. Our first stop was at Rouge, about an hour's drive south of Tartu, and reputed to be one of the most picturesque villages in Estonia. It is situated in the only (relatively) hilly part of the country: the highest mountain in the Baltics -- over 300 meters! -- is only a few miles away, and in the background of the picture below is the deepest lake in Estonia.
Perched on the hill overlooking the village was a picturesque church, parts of which date back to the 18th century.
After lunch in the nearby town of Voru, we spent the afternoon meandering back towards Tartu, taking in various churches and manor houses on the way. Manor houses are something of an Estonian speciality. They mainly date from the 18th and 19th centuries, during which time they housed members of the ruling German aristocracy. Several hundred have survived intact and a few are open to the general public. But not in March, which -- current weather notwithstanding -- is still definitely 'out of season' as far as tourism is concerned. Our favorite manor house was at Rapina. We did manage to get inside this one because it houses an art school.
Our final stop of the day was at the church in Vonnu, situated next to one of the rivers that empties into Lake Peipsei, a body of water several hundred miles long that forms the border between Estonia and Russia.
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