My Homeland Estonia

 The school of Kauksi, which was founded in 1810, is almost like a family school for me, because my grandfather, grand-aunts, mother and aunts have studied in this school and at the moment, I am also studying in this harmonious and lovely school together with my sister.

Kõpu Lighthouse is one of the three lighthouses in the world that has been continuously working for the longest time, the lighthouses of Ristna and Tahkuna have been designed in the office of the world-famous engineer Gustave Eiffel. It was a great surprise to also see the Tower of Eiffel in Hiiumaa. The tower was completed in 2007 and built by a local farmer Jaan Alliksoo. The tower is ten times smaller than the real construction in Paris at a height of 31.4 metres. The aforementioned handyman has made other copies of famous landmarks as well.&nbsp;

The most beautiful places I have visited in Estonia are the Toila Oru Park, Alatskivi Castle and the Kuremäe Convent. What enchants me most about these places is their historical background. The creation of Toila Oru Park was started during the tsar era and the castle was destroyed by Soviet troops during World War II. The former glory of the park has been restored by now. The park has over 200 species of trees and shrubs and a seaside pavilion where the former owner, Estonia´s first president Konstantin Päts liked to have his morning coffee and read the newspapers. &nbsp;

The Kuremäe Convent, located in the centre of Kuremäe, was established in 1891, and is the only functioning Russian Orthodox nunnery in Estonia. In ancient times, a sacred place of the Estonians was located here and a sacrificial spring was at the foot of the hill. The spring is knows as a “holy spring” today for the curative powers of its water.&nbsp;I have never seen a church with icons as flashy, a monastery complex as beautiful, domes as sumptuous or pavements as clean.&nbsp;

I am not the best skier but I love sledging and snowtubing very much and have been able to do both in Otepää Winterplace for years.

As the biggest body of water near my homeplace is the narrow river of Lutsu, the yearning for a larger water body drives me and my family to go on vacation by the sea at least once a year.

Last year we rested in Hiiumaa and it was an amazing experience. My thought of Estonia being a diversely rich country was confirmed once again. When planning a family holiday, then in addition to having chances for relaxing, we also want to visit interesting and educational sights.

My favourite town in Estonia is Tartu. There is a lot to discover in this town. I have repeatedly visited Science Centre AHHAA, which has cool and educational exhibitions, science theatres and &nbsp;enjoyable demonstrations in the planetarium. Although the Tartu Toy Museum and the Estonian National Museum have completely different exhibits, they both convey the history of Estonian people and are therefore very dear to me.

I hold theme parks created after the works of Estonian writers close to my heart, for example the natural and sweet Pokuland based on the creations of Edgar Valter. 

In addition to the sea, I also love heights. Fortunately, the highest peak of the Baltic, Suur Munamägi, is not far from Kauksi. I have been able to enjoy the gorgeous view from the top of the observation tower in every season. Other wonderful places such as Ööbikuorg and Rõuge are also quite close to this hill.&nbsp;

Lotte Village features characters from cartoons about puppy girl Lotte, created by Heiki Ernits and Janno Põldma. The theme park has over 100 attractions, inventions or toys and many fun plays, that are carried out over the course the day. My father is an electrician, so his favourite place was the power plant of Lotte Village.

This ebook is dedicated to my Estonia with love.

Happy Birthday, my Estonia!

1. Congratulation 2. Content 3. My homeplace 4. Hiiumaa 5. Suur Munamägi and Ööbikuorg 6. Otepää Winterplace 7. Rakvere - Viljandi - Haapsalu 8. Beautiful places 9. Theme Parks 10. Song stages 11. My favourite city 12. My Estonia 100 13. About author

The Alatskivi Castle was built at the end of the 19th century and it is one the most picturesque Neo-Gothic structures in the Baltic States. The castle’s owner, Arved Georg von Nolcken took example of the Balmoral Castle in Scotland when planning the Alatskivi Castle building. Walking around in the castle halls, while watching the waves of time, I felt like I was in a different era.

On beautiful island we visited the Hiiumaa Military Museum and the Hill of Crosses, walked to the end of the Kassari Sääretirp and conquered three of the highest lighthouses in Hiiumaa, which the island is best known for. 

My grandad also lives in Kauksi and I spend a lot of my summer at his house with my cousins. The name of his cottage is Kõuetamme, which means Thunder Oak. When the Government Office challenged people to plant oaks for the 100th birthday of Estonia, we also planted an oak, that my aunt’s husband grew from an acorn.

My name is Kreteli Sibul. I`m 13 years old and study at the Kauksi Basic School. I`m a year 6 student. I`m foud of reading and playing sports. In addition to sports I study at the folk music school and play the garmon (a kind of Russian button accordion). I have swimming training too. My favourite lessons are PE, art, literature and music.

My Estonia is a small and special country with beautiful nature, fascinating sightseeing and people very close to my heart. My home village Kauksi is situated in Põlva County. The origins of its name can be found in prehistory.

A notion of the village’s long history is given by the Kauksi Hillfort, which is also called Leerimägi. It is an archaeological monument from the second half of the first millennium.

Being a singer in a children’s choir, Intsikurmu in Põlva and the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds are also very important to me. These are truly places which make not only your voice, but also your heart sing.

Kreteli Sibul Kauksi Basic School 2018

Tartu is not only the town of educative museums, but also a town full of culture. I highly appreciate the plays of Vanemuine Theatre, I especially enjoyed “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Misérables”. Theatre House is a tiny and cute theatre, where children’s plays are performed. There are also a lot of parks and other lovely places where one can take a walk in Tartu. I like Toomemägi, the park of the Songfest Museum and the Town Hall Square with its romantic fountain and sculpture called “The Kissing Students”. One of the most majestic buildings in Tartu is the University of Tartu main building. The University of Tartu was founded in 1632 by the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus. It was initially called Academia Dorpatensis. One of my dreams also connects me to Tartu – after graduating school in Kauksi, I wish to continue my studies in Tartu.

Because of my deep interest in history, I have visited many different castles in Estonia and have gathered a lot of knowledge about Estonia’s history from the fortresses in Rakvere, Haapsalu and Viljandi. Throughout the ages, Rakvere Castle has belonged to Danish kings, knight-monks of the Livonian Order and the Swedish and Polish states.&nbsp;At the end of the prehistoric times, there was an Estonian stronghold called Tarvanpää at the present location of Rakvere Castle. The castle was partially blown up by the Polish during the war between Sweden and Poland in 1605 and the castle has been in ruins ever since. Haapsalu Castle used to be the residence of the medieval Prince-Bishops of a small state called Saare-Lääne (Ösel-Wiek) Bishopric. The castle was founded in the middle of the 13th century and was in use until the end of the 17th century. &nbsp;Although Estonia is full of legends, the castle ruins here haunted by the country´s most famous ghost, the White Lady, who was entombed alive in the castle walls due to a tragic turn of events. She appears on full moon nights in August to mourn her lost love. Viljandi Castle&nbsp;of&nbsp;the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livonian_Order">Livonian Order</a>, the construction of which started in 1224 to in place of a former&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillfort">hillfort</a>, was one of the strongest&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle">castles</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livonia">Livonia</a>. It was finally destroyed in the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish-Swedish_wars">Polish-Swedish wars</a>&nbsp;in the early 17th century. Already in the beginning of the last century the ruins of the fortress and the park around it turned into a recreational area for the residents of Viljandi. In order to access the castle hills from town a rope bridge was built from the Kaeuvumägi hill over the 13 meters deep trench in 1931. From the ruins you have the most beautiful view over the lake of Viljandi. Since 1993, the Viljandi Folk Music Festival has been held every year&nbsp;in the Castle Park and centre of Viljandi

 Ilon’s Wonderland in Haapsalu is both a playground and an art gallery. One can see original book illustrations painted by artist Ilon Wikland and also take a look at the room of Karlsson-on-the-roof, find characters familiar from books all over the place, play in the playroom and do handicrafts. The cinema hall displays visiting exhibitions and shows a film of the life of Ilon Wikland.

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