Discover Kurena: Memorial History and Culture

When planning a trip to Kurena, a local memorial site and the Kurena–Nurme road section offer two concrete points of reference. Cultural history, watercraft and nature provide different areas of focus: the Tori attractions range from a horse breeding farm to dugout canoe trips, while Soomaa National Park encompasses bogs, swamp forests and river landscapes. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether your stay should focus more on remembrance, history, nature or an active route.

Memorial Sites and Local Tradition

Kurena has a memorial stone to Olga Öövel. If you plan to visit it, confirm its current condition before your visit. The Räägu sacrificial stone is also part of the recorded history of Kurena village: a stone where offerings were made is said to lie at the edge of the forest in the settlement of Räägu. It was not found during fieldwork, and it may have been confused with another place called Räägu. For planning purposes, it is therefore important to distinguish between the two: the memorial stone to Olga Öövel is a specific location, while the exact location of the Räägu sacrificial stone remains uncertain.

History and Music in Tori

The Tori Horse Breeding Farm began operating in 1856. Its attic displays old objects, old stories and history for visitors; the exhibition content may change. The year 1856 marks the start of the farm’s operations, while the exhibition focuses on the objects and stories on display.

Tori St George’s Lutheran Church was consecrated in 2001 as a memorial to all the victims of the Second World War and is used as a concert venue in the municipality of Tori. Its consecration and use for concerts represent two distinct aspects of the church: remembrance of the war victims and cultural events.

Geology, Dugout Canoes and Nature

Tori Hell was formed by spring water eroding the Devonian sandstone banks of the Pärnu River. The cave is associated with numerous folk tales and legends, but it cannot currently be entered. Its origins and the stories passed down about it make it an interesting subject in cultural and geological history, even though visiting the cave is not possible.

Haabjakoda presents Soomaa’s dugout canoe culture, the construction of enlarged dugout canoes, and stories about the Pärnu River. Haabjakoda also offers dugout canoe trips on the Tori River. This brings cultural interpretation together with a specific opportunity to take a trip: those interested in the construction method can also plan a ride in a dugout canoe.

The wider region includes Soomaa National Park, with its bogs, swamp forests and rivers in natural riverbeds. The Meiekose Study Trail runs along the banks of the Raudna and Tõramaa rivers and leads to the meadows at the mouth of the Tõramaa River. These meadows are part of the cultural landscape of Soomaa National Park. Here, the focus is on riverbanks, a river mouth and meadows—a different emphasis from the cultural history of the places in Tori.

Planning Your Route and Accommodation

The 4.5-kilometre Kurena–Nurme road section is part of the international Via Baltica road network. Roadworks may affect conditions along the route, so check the latest road conditions before travelling.

The 25-kilometre cycling route is described as starting from the direction of Pärnu; it heads towards Tori near a smaller road and ends in the municipality of Tori. The figures refer to different things: 4.5 kilometres is the length of a road section, while 25 kilometres is the length of the cycling route. The latter offers a separate point of reference for anyone wishing to include cycling in their trip plans.

Vita Holiday House offers the opportunity to go fishing. It was built at the initiative of Vita von Maydell, a descendant of a well-known Baltic German family, and is also suitable for weekend events with larger groups. Check current availability when planning a specific stay.

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