New form of tourism grows along Estonia's border with Russia
Tourist interest in Estonia's newly built border defence infrastructure is rising in the country's southeast, while the historic "Saatse Boot" road stretch has now been closed.
In southeastern Estonia, a new tourism trend is emerging: visitors increasingly want to see the border defence infrastructure built in recent years along the Baltic defence line, including anti-tank obstacles known as "dragon's teeth" and other fortifications, according to Estonian media.
From culture to defence structures
The Setomaa region, known for its distinctive history and culture, has long attracted tourists mainly interested in local traditions. Tour operators now report a shift, with travelers also wanting to view the modernized border infrastructure. A local guide said tour routes had to be adjusted this summer due to growing interest in defence structures, with visitors shown the border fence from a permitted distance, along with defensive trenches and dragon's teeth obstacles. Visitors are informed about safety rules and areas where approaching the border is not allowed.
Questions about safety near the border
Near the village of Meremäe, just a few kilometers from the Russian border, defensive trenches and an embankment have been built, increasingly drawing tourists who want to see the new infrastructure firsthand. The owner of a local farm said people regularly ask where they can view the fortifications and whether it is permitted to approach the border. She noted that foreign tourists in particular often ask whether it is safe to live near the Russian border and whether local residents feel concerned about potential threats of war. Estonian tourists, she said, are not significantly deterred by the situation at the border.
The "Saatse Boot" is now closed
One of the region's most distinctive former attractions was the so-called "Saatse Boot" — a roughly 400-meter road stretch that crossed into Russian territory. Following a security incident last autumn, when Russian soldiers were spotted on this stretch, Estonia decided to build a bypass road. Construction of the bypass is nearly complete, and the historic road section crossing Russian territory is now closed. Border tourism in southeastern Estonia is thus taking on a new dimension, as visitors' attention turns not only to the region's culture and nature but also to life near the European Union's external border.
