Altja nature and culture historical trail (3 km)

The small northern coastal village Altja was mentioned for the first time in 1465 as a fishing site at the mouth of the Oandu River. Since 1838 the whole village belonged to the Sagadi manor.

Fishing was the way of life, the transport of firewood, trading and salt smuggling brought wealth to the villagers. This money was used for buying and building sailing vessels. There were three village pubs and three shipyards at Altja, two manors had summerhouses on the beach in the 19^th century. In 1923 the Altja-Mustoja educational and Cultural Society was founded. 

During the Soviet occupation the traditional village life came to an end. People were closed off from the sea by a border zone, there was a barbed wire fencing and a strip of harrowed area along the coast, boats were sawn in half, burnt or taken away. Families escaped to the West or moved to towns.

When Lahemaa National Park was created in 1971 Altja was found to be a coastal village where it was possible to restore the overall appearance and original architecture. Now Altja is a village where life continues. The unique atmosphere and surrounding nature from the stony beach to river floodplain offer the feeling of past, present and future.