Vetepere: Tammsaare Culture and Trails through Kõrvemaa

The Järvamaa Cultural Grove was established in 1992; more than 100 trees grow there in total. The Tammsaare–Järva-Madise nature trail lies within the Kõrvemaa Landscape Protection Area. The Simisalu observation tower is also located in this landscape protection area.

The A.H. Tammsaare Museum in Vargamäe is located in the birthplace of Anton Hansen Tammsaare and lies in the village of Vetepere. Another connection to the writer’s biography is the Tammsaare-Põhja farm: it was Anton Hansen Tammsaare’s home during his childhood. The farm is also connected with the setting of the novel “Truth and Justice”.

A new permanent exhibition was opened at the Anton Hansen Tammsaare Museum in Vargamäe on 30 August 2025. The museum’s outdoor exhibition offers five different routes via a mobile application. If you would like to explore the literary and historical context in greater depth, the museum organises guided tours for groups and school classes covering the writer’s birthplace and the settings of “Truth and Justice”.

The Kodru raised bog is located in the immediate vicinity of the museum. A 4.5-kilometre hiking trail leads through the bog section along a boardwalk. The approximately 7-kilometre Simisalu–Matsimäe nature trail runs across the Seli raised bog, through forests, and along old farm tracks.

The Simisalu–Matsimäe nature trail also includes approximately 5 kilometres of boardwalk, 16 information boards, and an 18-metre-high observation tower. This makes it possible to combine bog landscapes, forest sections, and information about the surrounding area on the same route, without equating the stated trail length with the length of the boardwalk.

The protected Vetepere Oak, also known as the Tammsaare Oak, stands near the museum. It is approximately 160 years old. The Simisalu observation tower is located in Simisalu, in the village of Vetepere. From its top, you can see the farms of Vetepere village across the boggy landscape.

There is a large campsite around the observation tower, with space for more than ten tents.

The nearest bus stop to the museum is Otsa, 4 kilometres away. This distance refers to the museum and does not automatically apply to every accommodation in the village. If you would like to compare Vetepere with other destinations, you can also look at Albu and Mägede.

Is the permanent exhibition at the A.H. Tammsaare Museum accessible to wheelchair users?

Yes. The permanent exhibition in the museum building is accessible to wheelchair users.

How long is the hiking trail in the Kodru raised bog?

The hiking trail is 4.5 kilometres long. In the bog section, it runs along a boardwalk.

When was the new permanent exhibition opened?

The new permanent exhibition at the Anton Hansen Tammsaare Museum in Vargamäe was opened on 30 August 2025.

To the broader travel overview: Albu.