Märjamaa – Karst Landscape, Culture and History

Märjamaa combines an unusual karst landscape with Estonian local history, vibrant folk culture and specific reasons to take excursions. When planning your trip, it is worth first deciding on your preferred focus: nature experiences, historical discoveries, events or a combination of these.

Karst lake depressions right by the town

The Märjamaa Järtad landscape protection area is located directly beside the town of Märjamaa. It consists of the two karst lake depressions Eesmine, also called Esimene, and Tagajärta, also called tagumine järta. Anyone interested in unusual landforms will find a clear focus on nature here when planning their trip. The two depressions give the stay a specific geographical reference point and can easily be combined conceptually with the town’s cultural offerings.

Local history and preserved church architecture

The name Märjamaa was first mentioned in 1364. The town began to take shape in the second half of the 19th century. The opening of the Rapla–Virtsu railway line at the beginning of the 1930s accelerated the development of Märjamaa. These historical milestones make the town interesting for anyone who wants to learn not only about the landscape during a trip, but also about the history that has developed over time in a particular place.

An important historical landmark is Märjamaa Maarja Church. It was built in the first third of the 14th century. In the Middle Ages, it was the strongest fortified church in western Estonia and is one of the few churches that have been completely preserved to this day. In the wider regional area, there is also Varbola Jaanilinn. It is considered the largest hillfort in Old Estonia and could not be conquered by any enemy. Thus, the historical perspective extends beyond the town of Märjamaa.

Folk culture, cinema and special reasons to travel

The Märjamaa Folk Festival was founded in 2006 to preserve folk culture and introduce the cultures of other countries. At Märjamaa Folk, visitors can take part in workshops on making handicrafts; the festival also includes a craft market. For you, this offers an opportunity to experience culture not merely as a tourist attraction, but through craft traditions and encounters.

The Helk cinema is also part of the town’s cultural profile. It has operated in its current building since 1 January 1967. As a modern cinema in Märjamaa, it offers film experiences. In 2015, it received new technology enabling 3D films to be shown. This provides a different daily rhythm from a historical sightseeing visit and can be taken into account when putting together a varied trip.

The programme of Märjamaa Suvefest 2026 included a heritage and forest hike to the village of Naistevalla, starting in front of the Märjamaa Rahvamaja. If you are timing a trip to coincide with a specific cultural programme, this event should be considered part of the 2026 programme.

Getting there and choosing accommodation

Long-distance bus routes operate in the municipality of Märjamaa, connecting it with Tallinn and Pärnu as well as Tartu and Haapsalu. Connections to Tallinn and Pärnu are also available from the Orgita ristmiku peatus bus stop. This information can be incorporated into your personal travel planning when looking for a holiday apartment or other accommodation in Märjamaa. Those primarily interested in the town’s history and cinema will plan differently from travellers whose focus is on the landscape, folk culture or a festival held at a specific time. The decisive factor is therefore which experiences are to shape the stay.

For further orientation, you can also visit the pages for Rappel, Kõrbja, Saunaküla, Kuusiku, Käru and Kastna.

For the higher-level travel overview: Rapla.