Border and military infrastructure in Võrumaa becomes an unlikely tourist attraction
In Estonia's Võrumaa county near the Russian border, tourists are increasingly asking to see border and Baltic defence line installations, prompting local tourism businesses to adjust their offerings.
Near the village of Meremäe, trenches and defensive earthworks have been dug on private land, drawing the attention of foreign visitors. Kaidi Kerdt, who runs the Kirsi farmstead, told Estonian public broadcaster's "Aktuaalne Kaamera" that visitors often ask where they can see these defensive trenches, whether they can approach the border, and whether they can view the related infrastructure. The Seitsmemäe hill has now also been opened to visitors, another spot drawing strong interest.
While guides in the border municipality of Setomaa traditionally focus on local culture, tourists are reluctant to miss a chance to also see border infrastructure. Guide Helen Alumäe said that this summer she frequently had to adjust her tour programs, since people are very eager to see defensive barriers. Tours also included information about defensive trenches and showed so-called "dragon's teeth" concrete anti-tank obstacles.
Local residents often find themselves reassuring tourists that living near the border is safe, since enough police officers and border guards operate in the area. Kerdt noted that foreign tourists frequently ask whether it is safe to live near the border and whether locals fear a military threat, while Estonian tourists are notably less concerned about this.
