7. Tartu - Pjuhtica - Narva

Tartu, Narva and Pjuhtica are cities, which history is closely connected with dissemination of Christianity. Tartu is famous city of East Baltic since distant ages. The role of Narva in Estonian history. Puhtitsa Orthodox Nunnery – the most faraway Orthodox Church in Baltic States today.

Itinerary of excursion:

1st day.
We depart from Riga in early morning. Our road goes in the direction of old and mighty fortification – to Sigulda and Cesis. Mediaeval castles – ruins silently witnesses about the history of many nations. Gauja and the Gauja National Park. The history of National Park development in the world and Baltic States. Ligatne – the centre of the Gauja National Park. Valmiera – the centre of mediaeval trade. Valka and Valga – some day both of them were one city, but now border divides them. Development of Valka and Valga nowadays.
Passage to Tartu, which was a famous Baltic mediaeval city. Excursion in Tartu. Tartu – authority of Orthodox Church. Activities of the grand duke Juri Dolgorutov in 1030.
Sightseeing tour in the historical centre. Tumemjagi (Toomemagi) hillock – ruins of mediaeval buildings. The Dome Cathedral and others. Development of today’s Tartu around the mediaeval castle. Tartu – one of the educational centres in Europe nowadays.
Passage in to the direction of Narva. Visitation of Puhtitsa Uspenska Orthodox Nunnery. Nunnery still functions.
Passage to Narva late in the evening, Check – in the hotel.

2nd day.
Breakfast. Excursion in Narva – a sightseeing of the city’s oldest part. The famous Narva Fortress – one of the greatest defence fortifications in mediaeval Baltic. The history of Narva and its role during the Great Northern War. After excursion – free time.
At 14.00 pma – way back to Riga. We will visit another natural specimen – the Valaste waterfall (25m) – the highest waterfall in the Baltics States. You will visit one of the oldest mediaeval cities of Estonia – Vilande for a while.
We will return in Riga late in the evening.