Karula National Park in Estonia

This typical Southern Estonian landscape is remarkable as one of very few areas untouched by the Soviet collectivisation schemes. Today 127 small farm plots, several offering tourists accommodation and a taste of country life, still dot the landscape. The sandy beaches of Lake Ähijärv and rounded hills bearing the traces of glacial activity attract visitors, as do the 14th-century Church of the Blessed Mary and a battlefield from the Great Northern War in 1708. Parts of the park are entirely off-limits and camping and fires are only allowed in marked areas. A license is required for fishing. To get there drive 8km south from Antsla in Võru County. The information centre is located farther south along the same road in the village of Ähijärve. Ask there about campsites and farmstays.