The evolution of Postitee (Post road)

The network of Estonian roads dates back many centuries. In ancient times and during the Middle Ages the most important means of travelling, besides roads, was waterways. Traffic between Tartu and Pskov travelled along the Emajõgi River and across Lake Peipus (even when frozen over in winter) or via roads across Kirumpää and Vastseliina.

A new leaf in the development of Postitee was turned in 1784 when Võru County was established from the southern parishes of Tartu County. Võru Manor near the Kirumpää stronghold was chosen as the centre of the new county. Regular postal traffic between Tartu and Võru only began moving in the mid-19th century.

Railway traffic – which underwent significant development in the late 19th century, bringing about the closure of many post roads – did not have a major impact on traffic between Tartu and Võru. The fatal blow to stage traffic between the two was instead delivered by the launch of bus lines in 1922. Post traffic in the region came to an end in 1931.

From 1944 to 1971 the Tartu-Võru road held the status of a Road of Pan-Union Importance of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic. During this period the design of the road was significantly changed – some sections were straightened, embankments and coverings were widened, and in some places even the location of the road was changed.

Due to the completion of the new Tartu-Võru highway in 1972 the old Postitee became a side road. The section of the post road situated in Põlva and Võru Counties was not touched by major reconstruction, and people have recently begun to value it for its unique historical heritage and untouched nature, which makes the area a great one to live in and a great one to visit.