A journey that has connected Estonia with the outside world for more than a thousand years and which we invite you to discover!
Explore the roads.
What is Olavitee?
The sea route from Scandinavia to the east ran along the coast of Estonia for centuries. It was also used repeatedly by King Olav II Haraldsson, who ruled Norway from 1015 to 1028.
After losing the throne, he tried to take it back from Cnut the Great, but fell on July 29, 1030 in the Battle of Stiklestad in northern Norway. Due to Olav's importance as the creator of Norwegian statehood and the establisher of Christianity as the state religion, he was canonized a year after his death, i.e. in 1031. Olav is buried in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, which changed
to the most important pilgrimage destination in Northern Europe
to the time of Reformation.
Churches and chapels dedicated to Saint Olav were located at ancient harbor sites, marking former waterways and trade relations. Olav is one of the few universal new saints who were honored in the same way by both the Eastern Church and the Western Church. In Estonia, churches and chapels dedicated to Olav were located along the waterway from Saaremaa to Tallinn: Sääre chapel, Saastna chapel, Vorms church, Nõva church, both Pakri islands had their own chapels dedicated to Olav and, of course, the well-known Oleviste church in Tallinn.
Contemporary Olavitee marks the former sea road, which starts at the top of Sõrve peninsula and runs along Saaremaa,
West and North Estonian coasts to Oleviste Church in Tallinn, and then join via Finland
on the road to Trondheim. It is one link of the many historical roads that pass through
Denmark, Sweden and Finland to the place of worship of St. Olav in Nidaros Cathedral. Today Norway even has them nine. You can move there on foot, by bike, on horseback or by watercraft. Just like all other modern Olavi roads red crosses of St. Olaf to mark our way as well.
Medieval pilgrims were motivated by religious motives when setting out, today's pilgrimage is more of a meditation, in which the journey is based on the desire to get away from the routine of everyday life, discover new places and experience the beauty of nature. So, in addition to the external journey, the pilgrimage route also offers an internal journey. Today, they are gaining more and more popularity
pilgrimage routes also invite to discover local culture and traditions, linking local pilgrimage routes with a larger network of historical routes. They give new life to remote places and offer unforgettable experiences to travelers from far away.
