Increase in border tourism in south-eastern Estonia - tourists want to see the fortifications on the border with Russia

The increase in the so-called border tourism was recorded in the south-eastern region. Estonia. Visitors ask whether it is still safe near the border with Russia and whether the inhabitants are not afraid of war. So far, most guests visited the open-air museum and learned about the local folk culture, now they want to see the dug ditches and anti-tank installations, says Helen Alumae, a local guide in Setomaa, a historic region located south of Lake Peipus and inhabited by the Finno-Ugric Seto people.

"Dragon's Teeth" attracts tourists to the border of Estonia

As part of the strengthening of the eastern border, approximately 40 km of anti-tank ditches and almost 600 bunkers are to be built by 2027. The plan also assumes the construction of a defense zone approximately 100 km long and approximately 40 km wide into the territory. The first installations were built this fall.

The entire Estonian border with Russia is 338 km long, of which approximately 135 km of the land section is mainly in difficult forested and swampy terrain, while 76 km runs through the Narva River and 127 km runs through Lake Peipus.

The "Baltic Defense Line" is a joint interstate project of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, agreed at the beginning of 2024. Its goal is to strengthen the EU's eastern flank, including protection against the incursion of foreign troops from Russia and Belarus. The Baltic line is to be connected to the Polish "East Shield" in the future.