Liguri and Paganamaa: Discover Lakes, Trails and Nature

Liguri is situated in a landscape that combines nature experiences, lakes and traces of history. The Paganamaa Landscape Protection Area also extends across the village and protects a diverse natural and cultural landscape with hilly terrain. Anyone planning a trip with plenty of activity and changing impressions will find both short routes and connections to international long-distance hiking trails here.

Lakescape and Piiriorg

One of the defining landforms of the protected area is Piiriorg. It reaches a depth of approximately 55 m, making it the largest landform in the Paganamaa Landscape Protection Area. Its landscape includes the chain of lakes consisting of Kikkajärv, Sarapuujärv, Liivajärv and Mudajärv. The Estonian-Latvian border runs through all four lakes – an unusual detail that gives the region its distinctive geographical character.

Paganamaa is also interesting for its animal and plant life. The lakes of Piiriorg and their shores serve as habitats and feeding grounds for five bat species: the northern bat, the parti-coloured bat, the common pipistrelle, the brown long-eared bat and the Daubenton's bat. Protected plant species in the Landscape Protection Area include Nymphaea candida.

Hiking Trails for Different Day Plans

Several routes are available for hiking through the landscape. The Piiriorg Hiking Trail is 4 km long. Depending on the option selected, the Paganamaa Nature Trail is between 2.7 and 4.7 km long. There is also a 3.8 km cycling and hiking trail in the Landscape Protection Area. These different lengths help you plan your day according to your preferred focus without having to commit to just one type of transport.

All routes in Paganamaa start at the Paganamaa campfire site on the edge of Piiriorg. Having a shared starting point makes it easier to choose and navigate a route. Those wishing to spend more time on the move will also encounter regional trails here: the Piiriorg Hiking Trail and the Paganamaa Nature Trails are part of the 815 km RMK Peräküla–Aegviidu–Ähijärve Hiking Trail. The routes in Paganamaa are also part of the international Forest Trail, the section of the European long-distance hiking trail E11 that runs through the Baltic states.

Views, Water and Peaceful Discoveries

A viewing tower on Raadi Hill offers views across the Paganamaa landscape and towards the forests of Latvia beyond the chain of lakes. This provides a clear viewpoint to add to a hike. The protected area also has a public bathing area with a bathing jetty, lifebuoy and changing room. Anyone wishing to include time by the water in addition to hiking will find another element of the landscape here.

Historical Traces in Liguri

Paganamaa is shaped by more than just its terrain, lakes and trails. The Vorotka stone grave is dated, based on its external form, to the first half of the 1st millennium and points to the region's long history. Another local connection is provided by the Ede-Liguri farm in the village of Liguri: it was the birthplace of Evald Saag, who grew up on this farm in the former municipality of Krabi.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Liguri, you can plan your trip around your preferred experience: a short hike, a longer route, a cycling tour, the viewing tower or the lakes of Paganamaa. The specific route lengths and starting points provide clear guidance for this. Liguri therefore remains a suitable search location for travellers who want to combine nature, landscapes and historical discoveries in one trip.

For the higher-level travel overview: Varstu.