More Than 300 Farms and Manors Across Estonia Open Their Doors
Text Timo Raussi Photos Aivo Kallas ja Jaak Jõepera / Visit Estonia
This year’s Open Farm Days, or Avatud Talude Päev in Estonian, takes place on 25–26 July, offering visitors a chance to discover modern Estonian rural life and food production. No fewer than 308 farms, agricultural businesses and rural tourism destinations across the country are taking part, including many sites that are not normally open to the public.
Visitors can explore traditional crop and livestock farms, fisheries and food producers, as well as gardens, equestrian centres, rural tourism businesses and workshops producing wood, metal and ceramic products. Each participating venue creates its own programme, with activities ranging from guided tours and live demonstrations to opportunities to meet farm animals, sample seasonal produce and purchase food and other products directly from local producers.
This year, 15 working manor estates are also participating, creating an appealing combination of rural life, food culture and cultural heritage. Although manor estates are not listed as a separate category on the event website, they can easily be found by entering the Estonian word “mõis”, which means “manor”, into the search field. Visitors should note, however, that not every participating manor is an architecturally grand country estate.
One particularly interesting destination is the Olustvere School of Service and Rural Economics in central Estonia, which operates together with the local primary school on the grounds of Olustvere Manor. The vocational school’s modern teaching farm provides practical training in crop cultivation, food processing and the latest agricultural technologies. The manor complex also includes traditional craft workshops, a bakery, a honey house operated by a local apiary, ceramic and glass studios, and several exhibition spaces.
The largest number of participating venues can be found in Harju County surrounding Tallinn at 54, followed by Tartu County at 39, and Pärnu County with 35. In many areas, several participating farms are located just a few kilometres apart, making it easy to visit multiple destinations during the same day.
The main event takes place on Saturday, 25 July, when almost every participating venue is open to visitors. Many farms also welcome guests on Sunday, 26 July.
More information, including an interactive map, a full list of participants and searchable categories, is available here.
To learn more about this and similar topicsagriculture Countryside events farm tourism food production Manor Open Farm Days rural tourism
