Värska Külastuskeskus – Kindral Reegi maja

About the museum

Reegi maja (Reegi House) is the house of General Nikolai Reek on the shore of Lake Õrsava in Värska. Reek was the commander of the division of the Estonian Defence Forces and the initiator of the establishment of the Petseri Northern Camp. The Northern Camp was the summer training centre of the Estonian military. The commander's house built in the camp in the latter half of the 1920s has always been well known among the locals as the Reegi maja.

The house was restored, and in 2020 the Värska Visitor Centre, managed by the Setomaa Museums, opened in it. The permanent exhibition links the Petseri Northern Camp and Värska as a spa area: it tells of the War of Independence and military camp life, as well as of the use of Värska's healing mud and mineral water. The exhibition is intended both for adults interested in history and for families with children.

Since 2022 the permanent exhibition has been complemented by a personal exhibition on General Nikolai Reek, which opens his personality from several sides; among the soldiers he had the nickname “Eestimaa Napoleon” (Napoleon of Estonia). The beautiful surroundings allow the exhibition area to be extended to the yard, where there is a picnic site and activities for children, and boats, bicycles, pedal boats and skates can be rented. A car park for motorhomes is located at the house, and from the visitor centre you can take walks in both the Northern Camp and the Southern Camp (Lõunalaager) areas.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition on the Petseri Northern Camp, the War of Independence and the history of the Värska spa
• Personal exhibition on General Nikolai Reek
• Walks in the Northern Camp and Southern Camp areas
• Picnic site and rental of boats, bicycles, pedal boats and skates
• Car park for motorhomes at the house

Permanent exhibitions

• Petseri Põhjalaager ja Värska kuurortpiirkond – The permanent exhibition links the Petseri Northern Camp, the War of Independence and the spa history of Värska, with its healing mud and mineral water.
• Kindral Nikolai Reegi isikunäitus – The personal exhibition introduces General Reek's personality, his military career and private life, and his connection to the Petseri Northern Camp.

Founded

2020

Operated by

Setomaa Muuseumid

Admission & discounts

Prices from 1 September to 31 May: full ticket €7, reduced ticket €5, family ticket €16; for groups (over 16 people) full ticket €5 and reduced ticket €3. Prices from 1 June to 31 August: full ticket €9, reduced ticket €6, family ticket €22, full ticket for groups €7 and reduced ticket €4. Joint tickets for several houses (Värska Farm Museum, Värska Visitor Centre, and the Saatse and Obinitsa museums): a full ticket for two houses €12 (€16 in summer), for three houses €17 (€25 in summer), for four houses €26 (€34 in summer). Free admission for pupils of Setomaa schools, visitors in Seto folk costume at events, and children up to and including 7 years of age. On presentation of the relevant document, free admission also applies to the tour group leader, guide and bus driver, holders of an ICOM card, museum employees and members of museum associations, journalists on assignment, repressed persons, conscripts and the companions of pupil groups. Prices and discounts do not apply to special events that have a separate price. Holders of the family card receive a 20% discount on the full ticket, the pupil ticket and the family ticket.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair users have access to the yard areas and the ground floors of the museums. The options of each museum should be checked more closely before a visit.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

The exhibition is also intended for families with children. The yard has a picnic site and activities for children. Educational programmes are offered by the Setomaa Museums.

Getting there & parking

The only petrol station in Setomaa Rural Municipality is in Värska.

Amenities & dining

The café-restaurant Seto Tsäimaja is located at the Värska Farm Museum, at Pikk 56 (Monday to Saturday 11:00–17:00).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit