The Caves of Koorküla
The Caves of Koorküla are situated in the opposite
direction of Koorküla park on the slope of left side additional valley
of Õhne primitive valley. They cover an area about a quarter of
hectare wide. The caves have eroded into the layer of sandstone. The irregularly
shaped funnels mark the whereabouts of the caves on the ground. Small
openings of the underground passages can be detected in the bottom of
these funnels. The largest opening is situated in the slope of the primitive
valley. Having wormed one’s way through it we reach a 1.5 metres
wide and 1.3 metres high passage which is a bit aslant. The passage leads
into a small cave from which several passages branch off; most of them
have collapsed.
The Caves of Helme
The
Caves of Helme (according to folk-tales known as “The Tomb of Hell”)
are situated on the high and narrow slope of the ridge spreading to the
north from the ruins of Helme Castle. The caves are probably made by human
hand serving as a hiding place during wartime. The caves have been hollowed
out into the white sandstone of burtniek layer. The Caves of Helme have
collapsed during the past decades and now they include a larger room and
passages branching off from it. Formerly the Caves of Helme were made
up of seven rooms connected with each other by passages; some of the rooms
were even three metres high. The largest of the caves was called “Old
Nick’s Belly”. It was probably the centre of the caves, from
which passages branched off into 8 directions. All the passages have already
collapsed, but half a century ago it was possible to go several hundred
metres down below the road through these passages. According to folk-tales
one passage had lead even to Viljandi, the other to Pokardi and the third
to Helme Church.
Before the last war the caves had two entrances which lead into larger
rooms, so-called halls. These rooms were connected with each other by
passages.
Legends about the Caves of Helme
Old Nick’s Belly
When Germans conquered Estonian stronghold (on the location of the ruins
of Helme Castle) they found nobody there. Estonians had left through the
caves which Germans had no knowledge about even years later. Thus Estonians
continued to pray and make sacrifices in the grove.
Finally the knights found out about the fact that Estonians kept visiting
the grove. One knight who was known for his brutality, lead his horse
among the Estonians, mocked and teased them and started to disperse the
crowd by whipping them. Then the wise man of Estonians begged their god
Taara to let the earth engulf the knight. The earth opened and the knight
on the horse subsided underground. The spot where the knight was devoured
underground can be recognized even today. It is situated in the place
where the caves have collapsed. The opening that was created by the knight
who was swallowed by the earth, later on spread a little until it obtained
the shape of a hall without a ceiling. This is the version of the folk-tale.
/Olga Parts 1957/
The Passage Straight to Old Nick
The first passage to the right from the entrance of the Old Nick’s
Belly lead to his home – Hell. The first one of the group of people
who had entered the passage would never return. Once confirmed boys decided
to visit hell through this passage. The first boy was tied to the second
one’s hand and so off they went.
When they realized that it was impossible to go any further they turned
back. The first boy was missing after they got outside, only the strap
was attached to the next boy’s hand. From that day on nobody dared
to go into the passage.
/”Uus Elu” (“New Life”) 1957/
The Passage to Viljandi
According to folk-tales underground passages branched off into several
directions from the Old Nick’s Belly. Presently they have all collapsed.
One of the passages had lead to Viljandi, the other to Pokardi.
In order to secure the exact route of the Viljandi passage, a bell was
put around a goose’s neck and then the bird was released into the
passage. The goose waddled underground and a man followed the tinkling
sound of the goose’s bell on the ground. They reached Viljandi at
the same time.
/”Uus Elu” (“New Life”) 1957/
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