Home > Holiday Destinations > Cultural Treasures
Estonian Cultural Treasures
Every country has their cultural treasures that they are immensely proud of.
As Estonia has managed to preserve its traditional culture incredibly well we actually can find culture treasures in almost every corner of the country.
We have however selected a few that we know we Estonians, and visiting tourists, seem to enjoy and respect in equal measure.
Seto Culture in Setomaa: Over 10,000 Setos, a deeply religious people, live in Estonia. Setomaa on the Estonia-Russia border has preserved its own language, lifestyle, food and unique folk costumes. Try to hear a beautiful Seto Leelo choir on one of their traditional festive holidays.
Võrumaa: A beautiful hilly area and home to Haanja nature park and the longest river in Estonia, the Võhandu. There are 70,000 Võru speakers in Estonia and in 1995 the Estonian Government founded the Võru Institute to encourage Võro people to speak their own language and to preserve their traditions.
Mulgimaa: The President of Estonia is a “Mulk” and historically they have always been wealthy, educated and influential people. During the Soviet education they were heavily targeted (for deportation) because they produced the then Estonian elite. Prospects for Mulks are improving again since the formation of the Institute of Mulgi Culture. Only a few thousand people currently speak the Mulgi dialect.
Old Believers: They arrived, escaping Russian persecution, in the 17th century and are found mostly around Lake Peipsi in East Estonia. Today there are 15,000 members of The Union of Old Believers in Estonia. Their religion is an old form of Russian Orthodoxy and they do not believe in shaving, electricity, smoking or drinking coffee.
Estonian Swedes: They are one of the oldest minorities, arriving in the 13th century, in Estonia and live around the north and west coast as well as on several Estonian islands. Their culture and population was heavily affected when the Soviet Union invasion in 1939 forced many to flee. Today their culture is in revival mode and the Cultural Society of Estonian Swedes aims to keep it growing.
