Kavastu

The first mention of Kavastu dates back to 1544 (Kawast). The manorial estate very often changed owners; some of them were distinguished public figures in Old Livonia (Stackelberg, Wahl, Middendorf, Mensenkampff). In 1558 when the manor belonged to Jacob Krabbe, the manor burnt down but it was soon restored. In 1896 the Kavastu manor belonged to the progressively thinking Werner Wulff who ordered a new manorial ensemble to be built with the park, and the 2 km long ally of lime trees. The park and alley have survived until today.

In 1929 the estate was expropriated and cut into parts. The manor and the surrounding buildings were destroyed in the shell fire. In September 1944 Kavastu became a major battlefield of World War II in Estonia. There is a memorial stone to the battle where Estonians were fighting against Estonians in the Russian and German armies.

Near Kavastu there are three big boulders connected with the legends about Kalevipoeg. One of them is near the former estate’s barn house, the second 2 m high and with the circumference 13,7m called Kohtukivi (the Court Stone) – near the Koosa road, the third – Suurkivi (height 2,4 m, the circumference 28 m) – in the village of Kikaste to the direction of Tartu. On 20 February 1842 the trip of 52 farmers “to the warm lands” finished at the Kohtukivi. The farmers had planned to escape from the hard corvée system. The initiators were sued and the military court decided they should be whipped – which happened at the Kohtukivi.

At Kavastu there is a raft moving across the river to make direct access to Põlva. More than hundred years ago, to please flax and milk produces, in the summer of 1899, the Kavastu raft started to operate making life in the neighbourhood easier. In 1983 the chain of the raft broke and the raft went down the river and disappeared. In 1999 the original wheel was lifted from the bottom of the river and began to function again. Nowhere else you can find such an experience of crossing the river.