TAEVASKOJA

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TAEVASKOJA SKY CHAMBERS

• Luule Säde
• Estonia

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We would like to take you to an excursion to a
picturesque place in South Estonia to
Taevaskoja.
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Just north of the town of Põlva is Taevaskoja
Heavens Hall or Sky Chambers, famous for its
high sandstone banks and incredible natural
beauty. The Small and Big Taevaskoja are a nature
lovers delight.
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We start at Saesaare dam from where it is
possible to take a small river boat excursion on
the striking Ahja River, considered one of
Estonias most beautiful. The hike to the Small
Taevaskoja takes you through a 150 year-old
forest.
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• The hike to the Small Taevaskoja takes you
  through a 150 year-old forest. Besides the Small
  Taevaskoja you will also find Neitsikoobas
  (Maidens Cave) cut into the outcropping of
  Devonian sandstone.

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A little further along and you will come
to Big
Taevaskoja an impressive sanstone wall
rising 24 metres
from its base.
The trail back passes over the cliff
of Small Taevaskoja
and arrives at
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...Emaläte (Mothers Spring)
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The spring has undermined a large cave into the
rock of Small Taevaskoja. This is called
Neitsikoobas or Maidens Cave the entrance of
which is more than 3 m high. The spring gives
about 2.5 litres of water per minute.
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• A beautiful fair-haired girl is sitting in the
  depth of the cave and
• weaving a pretty cloth. She would reveal herself
  only at Midsummer Eve (23 June)
• to those who can find the fern blossom and know
  secret words.

• According to old people village girls went to
  listen to this
• weaving on St. Georges Day (23 April). It could
  be well
• heared on that day because Vanapagan (or Old Nick
  
• as it is usually translated into English) would
  let
• a wedding suit be weaved for his son.

An example of Estonian folk costume
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The caves of Big Taevaskoja are mentioned in old
writings. There are also legends which are
transferred from generation to generation. One
of them tells that on the right bank of the Ahja
River, in a pit, there used to be an ancient
place of sacrifice and war negotiations. There
were guards standing on the higher rocks and by
the river. Once an enemys spy had sneaked to
that place along the side of the rock. But he
was hit by the guards arrow and turned into a
big stone at that very same spot. This stone is
still standing near the rock of Big Taevaskoja
and is called the Witchs Stone or the Spys
Stone.
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The Spys Stone
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There is another legend about how Taevaskoja got
its name. Once Old Nick happened to pass by the
Ahja River. He liked its nice high banks very
much and decided to settle down there. But he
didnt have a house. There were plenty of trees
growing nearby but he didnt want to build above
ground level people would see his house and
would come to disturb him. Then he started to
build a small den into the bank. He dug deeper
and deeper and made himself a whole lot of nice
rooms. He loved his new premises so much that he
called it Sky Chambers. He would live there
peacefully without being disturbed by people or
Tricky Ants.
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The Ahja River has been considered a sacred river
in Taevaskoja where sacrifices were made for the
better harvest, cattle and peoples health and
happiness.
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The mysterious caves of Taevaskoja were feared.
Parents told their children not to go there.
Noone must break the stone walls or scratch their
names on it. It was also forbidden to to go
fishing at Midsummer Eve. It could have upset the
river spirits and brought trouble. The best view
to the rock of Big Taevaskoja opens from the
opposite bank.
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It was an old tradition to gather to the valley
flat of Big Taevaskoja at Midsummer Eve. People
came from all the neighbouring villages young
and old, musicians and others. People sang,
danced and talked to each other. May be it is
interesting to know that Midsummer Eve (23 June)
is the biggest holiday besides Christmas in
Estonia.
Bonfire at Midsummer Eve
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The most famous Estonian film The last relics
was filmed in Taevaskoja in 1969. It is still
very popular in Estonia. Every Estonian knows by
heart some lines and songs from this film.
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!