Discover Kurevere: National Park, Cultural Landscape and Jaagarahu

Kurevere between the National Park, Cultural Landscape and Jaagarahu

Part of the village of Kurevere lies within Vilsandi National Park. As a result, protected natural areas, traces of historic settlement and an unusually diverse cultural landscape come together here. For travel planning, Kurevere is particularly interesting if you would like to combine nature observation, history and geological features.

Landscape and paths around the historic farmsteads

Historic woodland areas have been preserved in the part of Kurevere belonging to the national park. Spring fens are also found there, while a partly open landscape is classified as a representative cultural landscape. These different landscapes are located around historic farmstead sites: three such sites have been preserved in the national park area, and stone walls are found mainly around historic farmsteads and in their fields.

A historically significant section of the route from the lands of Ossi Farm to Harila Farm has been preserved in the landscape and can be explored on foot. The smaller paths leading to farmsteads that have since been destroyed, however, are difficult or impossible to access by car. If you choose Kurevere because of its historic landscape features, you should therefore distinguish between the walkable section of the route and the side paths with limited vehicle access.

Individual farm buildings also illustrate the region’s architectural and land-use history. Maandli Farm is one of the well-preserved, still-used smokehouses documented in the former parish of Kihelkonna. The larger barn on the Harila plot was assessed as particularly valuable in a study.

Sacred Stones and a Cemetery Used for a Long Period

Outside the national park area of Kurevere, there are seven sacred stones. Most have one or two depressions; one stone has 62 depressions. The Kurevere sacred stones were used as cult objects in the 1st millennium BC. They are believed to have been brought there from the old fields of the village of Kurevere, located east of their present-day positions. Ancient stone heaps are also considered evidence of the earliest agriculture in Kurevere.

Another historic trace is the Kurevere stone cemetery. It was used as a burial site over a very long period. Excavations carried out in 1874, 1877 and 1965 uncovered finds dating from the 7th to the 12th century. Those interested in the chronological depth of settlement will therefore find a distinct point of interest here alongside the farmsteads and sacred stones.

Jaagarahu: Quarries, Outcrop and Connection to the Harbour

The Jaagarahu quarries lie between Jaagarahu Harbour and the village of Kurevere. The lower part of the Jaagarahu Formation is exposed on the wall rising above the water. The exposed limestone contains remains of stromatoporoids. The geological outcrop has been permanently preserved; trees and shrubs grow there. There is also a disused, water-filled limestone quarry near Jaagarahu.

Orientation towards the harbour is also part of the local landscape. The later bridge on the road to Jaagarahu Harbour is used as a road bridge. At the beginning of Jaagarahu Pier, among juniper trees, stands a memorial stone for the deportees, erected on 17 June 1989. The area around Jaagarahu thus combines transport and harbour history, memorial culture and visible geological features.

For further orientation within the same broader area, you can also find Mäebe, Abula, Rootsiküla, Tammese, Kihelkonna and Undva.

Return to the broader travel overview: Kihelkonna.