Neither Slavic nor Scandinavian, Estonia draws its deep identity from the forests that cover it, its marshes, its wild coast, its medieval past and its traditions that it brilliantly reconciles with a true modernity.

In the far north of Eastern Europe, on the Baltic Sea, Estonia is the last rampart before Russia and Scandinavia. Estonia is particularly wooded and is also a flat country, with a peak of only 318 metres and a beautiful panorama. Even the coasts overlooking the Baltic Sea are gentle. They are also planted with a hundred beaches almost deserted... where one can feel alone in the world, including in the heart of summer. Estonia is divided into some 1,500 islands, most of which are tiny and only 13 of which are inhabited. The islands of Hiiumaa and Saaremaa are the largest and also an open window on a typical Estonian way of life, calm and simple. Tallinn is the capital of the country and by far the largest with its 400,000 inhabitants. It is also one of the country's main attractions, a popular weekend destination. If modern towers are beginning to emerge from the earth, its medieval old town protected by an authentic surrounding wall, with its red tiles, turrets and cobbled streets, is one of the best preserved in Europe. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this old town dominates the Gulf of Finland. Medieval castles, restored or ruined, can be found everywhere in the country and not only in Tallinn. Narva (Hermann Castle) and Kuressaare (Episcopal Castle) are also worth a visit. Tartu is the second largest city in the country, to the southeast. A university city, it is considered the city of young people but also the intellectual and cultural centre of Estonia. It is not far from Lake Peipsi, shared with Russia and the fourth largest in Europe. Estonia has over a thousand lakes, mainly in the southern part, which complement the charm of the Estonian countryside. Estonia's natural asset remains its national parks. Lahemaa, in the north of the country, covers 65,000 hectares of which 75% is forest and offers a real diversity of landscapes: rivers and waterfalls, lakes and swamps, white sandy beaches, picturesque villages and archaeological sites. The brown bear and the moose are living symbols of this preserved corner of nature. To the south, Sooma National Park protects a vast expanse of wetlands, potholes, forests and grasslands where elk, beavers and flying squirrels can be seen. Late spring and summer are ideal to discover Estonia. Due to the northern situation, summer days are long and temperatures are mild (between 15° and 25°C with cooler evenings). In this wooded country, autumn is a festival of colour and can be pleasant. Winter, on the other hand, is the harshest of all the Baltic countries. Estonia is a particularly wooded country, with forests covering almost half of its territory. Almost all are protected or included in national parks. Hiking trails criss-cross them. The rest of Estonia is made up of lakes and marshes, some of which can be as deep as 6 metres. In spring, at the time of the thaw, these meadows are often flooded and one then crosses them in haabja, canoe cut in the trunk of an aspen tree.
Gateway to Russia and Scandinavia, Estonia is lined with beautiful primary forests, lakes and grasslands. Its countryside, with isolated farms in vast clearings, has retained its charm of yesteryear. Its islands are of rare wild beauty. Its medieval fortresses, restored or in ruins, bear witness to the grandeur of an era.

Art and culture in Estonia
Estonia has a strong culture and folklore with a strong identity, marked by a rich oral tradition of poems and songs with the major themes of the cycle of the seasons, agriculture, family life, love and mythology. Singing has an important place in Estonian culture. Every five years the Estonian Song Festival takes place, which has been going on since 1869 and brings together more than 25,000 singers. An event included in Unesco's oral and intangible heritage Estonian crafts are very diverse: ceramics, woodcarving, leatherwork, basketry, embroidery, linen weaving... What to visit in Estonia
Tallinn and its medieval old town, overflowing with life in summer thanks to festivals and numerous concerts, are the must pass of any stay in Estonia. An excursion to the islands of Hiiumaa and Saaremaa and hikes in the national parks of Lahemaa between lakes and cliffs on the trail of 18th century mansions or Sooma, aboard a haabja to meet witches who would hide in the marshes, should also be part of the program.