Manors on the Postitee

Varbuse Manor
Until the mid-18th century Varbuse dairy farm formed part of Väimela Manor. It then became an independent barony. In the 20th century the manor housed first a community centre and then a library. In 1981 the building was destroyed by fire. The outhouses of the manor have been partially preserved: a granary drier, a stable and coach house, a farmhands’ house and the manor park, which was developed in the second half of the 19th century.

Põlgaste Manor
Põlgaste was established as an independent manor in the second half of the 17th century, when it was separated from Krootuse Manor. The early Classicist single-storey main building with its semi-hipped roof was built in the late 18th century and is still standing today. Of its outhouses there remain the steward’s house, which was built at the same time as the main building, and the two farmhands’ houses built in the second half of the 19th century, which are a still in quite good condition. An interesting historical site at Põlgaste Manor is the ‘lace wall’ (made of bricks) which separates the manor park from the neighbouring apple orchard. The park is not very rich in terms of species, but it is still in comparatively good shape.

After expropriation the building was used as a school house until the end of the 20th century. Today one wing of the building houses the Lahe Parish Library.

Väimela Manor
The earliest records of Väimela Manor date back to the 1590s. The symmetrical early Classicist manor complex, which was completed in the early 19th century, is one of the most elegant manors in the area. The heart of the complex was a single-storey main building with a flat roof, while the distinguished round court in front of the main building was fringed by a granary with vaulted openings and a stable and coach house. When visiting, make sure you take a look at the clock tower and quarry-stone cowshed.

The main building of the manor burned down in 1919 during the War of Independence. Later the building was restored, although an extra storey was added to the original single-storey building. Today the manor is used by the Võrumaa Vocational Education Centre. The main building was damaged in a fire again in the 1950s, but it retains the appearance it obtained during renovations at the time. Most of the manor’s outhouses have been preserved in their original form.