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Leigo Lake Music Festival

Leigo Lake Music is a unique music event in Europe, where the symbiosis of nature and music creates lasting, yet one-of-a-kind impressions. The open-air concerts are held in completely natural venues on the hilly landscapes of the Otepää highland. The musicians' stage is on an island in the lake, surrounded by thousands of listeners on the sloping shore. Each concert is like a performance or film, in which the world of image and sound melts into an audiovisual whole. Leigo Lake Music unites the musical and landscape adventure, seeking the harmony of fire, water, and sounds. Leigo is the place to listen timeless music, forget about reality and harmonise yourself with the surrounding nature and let your dreams fly.

Leigo Lake Music website

Adventures between the Earth and Sky

Challenge your courage, balance and judgement in the Otepää Adventure Park! Take the five tracks of the high ropes adventure course comprising of a total of 58 obstacles, and slide over a 300m long valley. After two hours of adventure in the trees, take a 5 minute walk to enjoy the beautiful views of the Otepää scenery and its surroundings on the Tehvandi viewing platform, which is part of the new Tehvandi K90 ski jump complex. The height of the viewing platform is 34m, its height above sea level is 218m. The ski jump complex also houses the highest (33m) outdoor climbing wall in Estonia. If that’s not enough for you, try out the Big Air High Jump that throws you into the air, to as high as 15-20 metres. This thrills even the spectators! The little ones have their own special adventure trail in the park.

Otepää Adventure Park website

Sangaste Castle

Sangaste Castle and the manor park are one of the most outstanding examples of historicism in the Baltic States. The most remarkable features of the castle are the gothic-style foyer, magnificent party halls and the English-style hunting hall. An interesting acoustic effect has been achieved with the arched pillars by the entrance to the castle – anything whispered in one corner can be clearly heard in the opposite corner.
Interesting facts:

the castle was designed by architect Otto Pius Hippius, who was inspired by the famous Windsor Castle in England;
the castle initially had 99 rooms, because only the tsar could have 100 or more rooms.

Sangaste castle also offers inexpensive accommodation, only 25-minute drive from Otepää.

Sangaste Castle website

Measure the Pühajärv War Oak

You have to bring several people with you to measure the circumference of the ancient oak that is almost 400 years old. The diameter of the ancient tree at the height of 1.3m is 210cm, the circumference 6.6m and the height of the tree is 20 m. It is called the War Oak because it has witnessed many historical events. Apparently, peasants of the Pühajärv Manor refused to work for the manor in autumn 1841 and the rebels were punished near the oak. A beautiful park with walking tracks surrounds the tree today.

Pühajärv War Oak on visitestonia.com

12th Century Ruins of the Otepää Bishop's Castle

You can see the ruins of the first known brick building in Estonia on top of the Otepää Fort. Herman I, who became the Bishop of Tartu in autumn 1224, established the first stronghold of its diocese here. A settlement, which was mainly populated by craftsmen and merchants, appeared around the bishop’s castle in the 13th century. Otepää got its name, which in Estonian means "bear's head" after the shape of the castle's hill - which reminds you of a bear's head.

more info on visitestonia.com

Otepää Energy Column

Otepää irradiates good energy! The monument that celebrates the existence of positive energy fields was opened in Mäe Street on 1 October 1992. The entire field is surrounded by benches and the location of these as well as the column itself was selected by psychics. The energy column is the symbol which reminds us that in this rapidly changing world, humans are a part of nature and everything is based on the rules of nature that rely on balance and co-dependency.

How to get to the Energy Column on visitestonia.com

Hiking in Otepää Nature Park

The Otepää Nature Park is an ideal place for hikers. Several hiking trails have been prepared for you. Observe and study the flora and fauna of our forests and cultural landscape on the 3.5km Murrumetsa Hiking Trail or take a 12km tour around one of the most exceptional lakes in Estonia, Pühajärve Lake. The Kekkonen Hiking Track (14km), named after the former President of Finland, Urho Kaleva Kekkonen, who visited Kääriku, can be used all year long - in summer for hiking, jogging and cycling, and in winter for skiing. In addition, when hiking or cycling, it is possible to use the Otepää-Kääriku Hiking and Cycling Trail, which is 11 km in length and runs mainly along the side of the road and occasionally enters the Murrumetsa grove as well.

Otepää Nature Park website

Take a day-trip to Tartu or Tallinn

Estonia is a great country and small enough to take day-trips to practically every part of the state. If you are in Estonia for the first time, we recommend visiting Tallinn, the capital of Estonia (approx. 2,5h drive from the Race Centre) and Tartu (approx. 30 minute drive from Race Centre). Tallinn, Estonia's crown jewel, boasts cobbled streets and rejuvenated 14th-century dwellings. Dozens of cafés and restaurants make for an atmospheric retreat after exploring historic churches and scenic ruins, galleries and boutiques. By night, stylish lounges and youthful nightclubs offer a glimpse of the city's sexier side. The Hanseatic City of Tartu is a university town and a city of youth! It is the second largest city in Estonia (but the largest in terms of student population!) and the oldest in the Baltic States. Tartu is a modern city with a rich historical heritage and culture.

Holiday by the Lake

The best way to get used to TriStar111 Estonia' main spots is to spend time at Pühajärve Spa Hotel and the surroundings. Pühajärve Spa Hotel is the official race hotel, offering more than just accommodation. Treat your body and soul at the wellness spa, enjoy the saunas, work out in the hotel’s gym or swimming pool, challenge your friends in bowling, and enjoy good food. The Spa has cosy and comfortable atmosphere and a beautiful park which offers you a pleasant time. The park is also the place where the entire Race centre, including the Star&Co Village, Start, Transition, Bike park, and Finish will take place. Before this spot completely turns to Triathlon, make sure to come and relax on the Beach, test the temperature of the water, play tennis and sun-bath on the private beach.

Pühajärve Spa Hotel website

Otepää Ski Musem

Otepää has been known as a centre for winter sports ever since the first ski competition was held here in 1929. Otepää Ski Museum is probably the only museum in the world that has been recognised by the International Ski Federation (FIS). The museum offers you the unique opportunity to view the cups, medals, skis and special clothing of our top skiers. Make sure you have plenty of time when you come to the museum as you have the chance to watch movies about the history of skiing in Estonia and the performances of our top skiers in different parts of the world. Set yourself to win the professional biathletes in rifle shooting on the museum’s biathlon simulator.

The Otepää Ski Museum on visitestonia.com