Võru

Suur Munamägi's modest 318-metre elevation makes it Estonia's highest point only by the standards of an otherwise very flat country, but the surrounding Haanja Upland genuinely does deliver a hillier, more varied landscape than almost anywhere else in Estonia, with forested ridges and small lakes giving the region a character distinct enough that locals and visitors alike sometimes describe it as “Estonian Switzerland” — an affectionate exaggeration rather than a literal comparison. The observation tower on the summit, rebuilt several times since the first was constructed in the 1930s, gives a panoramic view that on a genuinely clear day extends into both Latvia and Russia, a reminder of how close this corner of the country sits to both borders.

Setomaa straddles the Estonia-Russia border, with Võru County holding the Estonian portion — home to the Seto people, a Finno-Ugric ethnic group with their own language variant, distinctive folk costume featuring large silver jewellery, and a religious tradition that blends Orthodox Christianity with older folk practices predating it. The Seto leelo, a form of polyphonic singing performed primarily by women in call-and-response structure, is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage and remains genuinely practised at community gatherings and festivals rather than existing only as a preserved performance tradition. The Seto Kingdom Day festival, held annually, celebrates this culture directly, with traditional food, costume and song central to the event.