Pechory Southern Camp Hike

There are not very many places in Estonia where you can feel the proximity of the border as strongly as you can here, close to Voropi village in Setomaa. On the one hand, the Russian border is just over 400 meters away and you can hear the sounds of Pechory city and the bells of its monastery. On the other hand, the old camp ruins that have been taken over by nature, telling endless stories of romance and tragedy. The Southern Camp that was established in 1926 was the training ground for thousands of members of the Estonian Defence Forces every summer. By today, only some foundation rocks and ancient trees remain from the once extravagant military campus. The background of this unique place is introduced by the creator of the 2 km hiking path, the State Forest Management Centre ranger, Toomas Valk.
 
The duration of the hike is about 1 hour and it starts from the Southern Camp Campfire Site in Voropi village (more detailed info available from the Hiking Info Tent). Participants will have to organize their own transport from Värska to the starting point of the hike.
Photo: Kaido Einamaa