Historical and cultural landmarks along the Postitee

 

Memorial to the Bolsheviks who lost their lives in the War of Independence

This memorial, which was erected on the outskirts of the village of Ihamaru during the Soviet era, commemorates the battle that took place at the end of January 1919 during the War of Independence. It is dedicated to the memory of the Bolsheviks who fell in the battle. The Soviet version of history avoided the term ‘war of independence’, instead opting for ‘civil war’. Thus the term is also used on the memorial.

 

Põlva Peasantry Museum

Põlva Peasantry Museum was founded in Karilatsi in 1970. The museum offers an overview of the school life, farm life and local government activities of the late 19^th and early 20^th century. The buildings of the former Karilatsi (Kähri) Parish centre are preserved on the museum’s grounds.

 

Estonian Road Museum

The road museum at Varbuse Post Station opened its doors in June 2005. The museum’s permanent exhibition, entitled “Make history!”, highlights the development of roads and traffic from ancient times to the present day. In the machinery hall there is an exhibition of road construction and maintenance technology.

 

Lukatsi and Aleksandri Parish Granges

Communal granaries were built in the mid-19^th century and lent crops to farmers in hard times. The order to establish such granges was issued in 1799. The importance of their role had diminished by the second half of the 19^th century, as the economic situation was improving, and they lost their importance altogether in the early 20^th century. Lukatsi Grange is now used as a summer cottage, while Aleksandri Parish Grange is used by construction workers from Parksepa School.

 

Karaski school house and the birthplace of Richard Roht

Karaski School was open from 1874 to 1930 and was the learning place of such authors as Richard Roht, Rudolf Sirge and Valev Uibobuu. Educationist Elmar Loodus also studied here. Roht is renowned for his children’s and animal stories, but you can also find descriptions of his home in other writings: Vana Võromaa /Ancient Võrumaa/, Hümnid paanile /Hymns to Pan/ and others.

 

Birthplace of Heinrich Mark

Heinrich Mark,a politician and educationist born in Ihamaru, emigrated to Sweden in 1944 after Estonia was occupied and took an active role in the Estonian Committee. He was Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia in exile from 1971 to 1990 and Acting President from 1990 to 1992.

 

Parksepa school house

Väimela Parish established its own school on land belonging to the former Rammuli Farm in 1875. A wooden school house, dating from the same period, has been preserved in its original form. The first principals of the school were Henno Kalkun and Hans Kann, who is widely known as a promoter of community life and choir singing. The longest-serving director of the school is Jaan Kabel, who has run the school for the last 28 years. Construction of the new school building began in the late 1930s. Today the renovated building houses Parksepa Secondary School, which has around 500 students.