PRESS RELEASE
19.05.2026
Rõuge Rural Municipality Government
SA Rõuge valla turism (Rõuge Municipality Tourism Foundation)
Rõuge Ööbikuorg Opens This Season with Enhanced Visitor Accessibility
Completed this spring, new accessibility solutions help secure an authentic experience of Rõuge's Nightingale Valley (Ööbikuorg) even for those guests for whom movement or sensory perception in the usual way might be more challenging.
On Thursday, May 21 at 2:00 PM, Rõuge Ööbikuorg will host an experiential event for International Accessibility Day, showcasing the brand-new accessibility solutions completed this spring. The event is organized by SA Rõuge valla turism and the Rõuge Rural Municipality Government.
During the event, visitors can experience firsthand how different mobility and sensory limitations affect movement in the environment and the use of services. Guests will be able to follow a guiding tactile path, try out various situations, and experience how information is perceived in alternative ways.
“We especially welcome families with young children and strollers, seniors, tourism entrepreneurs, and all community members who wish to better understand why it is crucial that our public spaces and tourism environments are more accessible to everyone.“
Einike Aedmaa, Head of SA Rõuge valla turism
Accessibility touches more people than we might think at first glance: parents pushing strollers, individuals with temporary injuries, the elderly, or visually impaired visitors. The newly completed solutions in Ööbikuorg allow guests to navigate the environment more independently and truly connect with the authentic beauty of the region.
NEW SOLUTIONS IN ÖÖBIKUORG
Tactile Map
At the entrance of the area, visitors are welcomed by a tactile map where they can start their journey along the guiding path.
Guiding Path (745 m)
A metal tube runs along the side of the trail, which can be followed with a white cane. This allows visually impaired visitors to walk independently and safely through the heart of Ööbikuorg.
Updated Information Boards
The boards are now positioned lower, making them readable for children and wheelchair users. Headings and illustrations can also be "viewed" with hands. Via QR codes, texts can be read in English and listened to in Estonian and the local Võro language—voiced by authentic, local people from Võrumaa.
Wheelchair and Stroller-Friendly Trail
Improvement works have been carried out at several points along the trail. High-contrast signs are visible from further away. Two new benches with armrests and coat hooks have been added. Designated accessible parking spaces have also been marked in the parking lot.
The visitor infrastructure in Rõuge Ööbikuorg was upgraded within the framework of the project Access Routes – Accessible Tourism Routes. The investment of Rõuge municipality amounts to 33,000 euros, of which 20% is the municipality's own contribution and 80% is covered with the support of the European Union's Interreg Estonia–Latvia programme. The total cost of the project is 1,118,217.50 euros (incl. European Regional Development Fund co-financing of 894,574 euros). The project covers four genuine tourism attractions in Võru County: Rõuge Ööbikuorg, the Kreutzwald Fairy Tale Trail in Võru town, the Piusa Visitors' Centre, and Pokumaa Theme Park. In Võru County, the activities were coordinated by the Võru County Development Centre. The completed routes can be found on the portal www.mapeirons.eu.
TIME AND PLACE Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 14:00 · Rõuge Ööbikuorg
ADDITIONAL INFO
Einike Aedmaa
SA Rõuge valla turism
+372 528 2989
The project was co-funded by the European Union Interreg Estonia–Latvia programme from the funds of the European Regional Development Fund.
Rõuge Municipality Tourism Foundation
