Peipsiääre
Peipsiääre municipality is a self-governing unit of Tartu County, which was formed on October 23, 2017 as a result of the merger of Alatskivi municipality, Kallaste city, Pala municipality, Peipsiääre municipality and Vara municipality. The area of the municipality is 652.26 square kilometers. In terms of territory, this municipality is slightly larger than the Estonian average (median 550 km2), but in terms of population it is smaller than the average (median approx. 7,700 inhabitants). Peipsiääre municipality has 89 settlements, including the smallest town of Estonia – Kallaste.
Like many small rural municipalities in Estonia, Peipsiääre Municipality faces the challenges of an ageing and declining population. The primary concern is the departure of young people from their hometowns after completing basic education, as well as competition between villages within the municipality.
However, the distance from major urban centers has instilled in our residents an appreciation for their roots and local cultural heritage. Our region is exceptionally rich in culture, and we proudly present three unique cultural traditions to visitors and the community. These include the distinct Kodavere culture, the culture of the Russian Old Believers, and the Baltic-German manor heritage.
During the BSR Cultural Pearls title year municipality plans to launch a hackathon to bring youth ideas to the table and foster their development. Based on the ideas’ potential, municipality is ready to integrate them into the development plan, offering support and guidance for implementation. Additionally, two youth camps will be conducted aimed at introducing young people to their cultural heritage and equipping them with contemporary skills.
To strengthen local ties and increase community engagement, municipality will organize a Dance Festival, the municipality’s smallest town, Kallaste, will be featured at the Rural Living Day. Furthermore, traditional events will take place, particularly the high-participation Sibulatee Buffet Day, which attracts a large number of locals and visitors.
Visit: www.peipsivald.ee
Video on Peipsiääre – BSR Cultural Pearl 2025
Activities and Events
Calendar of events in Peipsiääre during the BSR Cultural Pearls 2025 title year
26 April
Fish Buffet Day
7 June
Kodavere Dance Festival
11-15 August
Kodavere Heritage Camp
25-27 August
Youth Camp P.Õ.N.E.V.
13 September
The Buffet Day of The Onion Route
20 September
Rural Living Day
16-17 October
Youth Hackaton
8 November
Onion Route Jam Party
Peipsiääre Municipality awarded the BSR Cultural Pearl 2025 title
On February 24, Estonian Independence Day, the prestigious Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pearl title was awarded for the first time in Estonia. The recipient of this recognition was Peipsiääre Rural Municipality.
The celebratory event took place in the municipality centre Alatskivi, starting with a parade and continuing with a folk festival. The award was officially handed to Ms Piibe Koemets, Mayor of Peipsiääre Rural Municipality, by Kristīne Lipiņa, representative of the BSR Cultural Pearls project partner the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture.
Celebrating Local Traditions
Jointly organised community events play an important role in strengthening social life in the Peipsiääre region. Last Saturday, 26 April 2025 three vibrant events took place in the municipality – number of lakeside villages along Lake Peipus joined forces to host the Sibulatee Fish Café Day (KALApuhvetite päev), the Open Fishing Harbours Day, and the Open Pantries Day. All events brought together the entire community, regardless of language or cultural background, contributing significantly to community cohesion.
The Fish Café Day is part of the Peipsiääre Culture and Resilience action plans as a BSR Cultural Pearl 2025. This event is a powerful expression of social resilience tapping into the region’s traditions and national heritage.
On this day, the yards and gardens along the Sibulatee (Onion Route) opened up to guests, offering menus rich in local flavours — the pop-up cafés served a wide variety of fish-based dishes making fish from Lake Peipus prominent.
