Jõesuu: Suspension Bridge over the Pärnu

The Jõesuu suspension bridge crosses the Pärnu and is located in the Soomaa National Park region. This brings together a specific river crossing and a broader natural area as two points of interest for a trip. Other topics include the route from Tori, the Siidrisalong in the production building of Tori Siidritalu, and the spinning competition in Tori-Jõesuu. When planning your trip, you can arrange these aspects according to your interests: as a connection to the river and nature, as a coordinated visit to the farm, or as an interest in a competition with a long history.

Suspension Bridge and the Soomaa Region

The suspension bridge was built in 1975. The bridge is also located in the Soomaa National Park region, bringing the wider natural area into focus as a point of interest alongside the specific structure. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you are more interested in the structure and the river or in its connection to the natural region. The bridge marks the crossing over the Pärnu, while Soomaa provides the regional context.

Getting to the Soomaa Area

From Tori, the route towards Soomaa follows Võlli tee; then it is six kilometres along Jõesuu tee to the settlement of Jõesuu. Another route to the RMK Soomaa Visitor Centre in Kõrtsi-Tõramaa follows Kõpu-Jõesuu road: from the junction before Jõesuu, it is 14.4 kilometres to the visitor centre. This second starting point is before the settlement, not in Jõesuu itself. The two routes have different starting and ending points and should therefore be treated as separate legs. As road conditions may change, check the route before setting off.

A Visit to Tori Siidritalu

The Siidrisalong is a guest reception space in the production building of Tori Siidritalu, completed in autumn 2018. During a visit to the farm, guests learn about cider and wine production and taste the farm’s products; visitors are asked to arrange their visit in advance. The Siidrisalong is recommended to visitors to Soomaa as a place to stop for a glass of cider or a cup of coffee. As operations may change, check in advance if you plan to include this stop in your itinerary. This will help you decide whether to include a visit with an introduction and tasting or a break with a drink in your day’s plans.

Competition and River Landscape

The spinning competition in Tori-Jõesuu has been held since 1976. This gives the trip a connection to an event that differs from the year the suspension bridge was built: one marks the start of a competition, the other the construction of a structure. The place name Jõesuu küla in Pärnumaa points to another geographical detail. Its name refers to the nearby confluence where the Navesti flows into the Pärnu. The confluence and the bridge draw attention to two different river features: the meeting of two rivers and the crossing of the Pärnu.

Discover more destinations: Riisa.

Back to the main travel overview: Tori.