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Keelutsoon (Restricted Zone) on the Päranditee

Keelutsoon (Restricted Zone) on the Päranditee

Highlight • Historical Site

Keelutsoon (Restricted Zone) on the Päranditee

Recommended by 19 cyclists out of 20

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Location: Saare, Estonia

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Top cycling routes to Keelutsoon (Restricted Zone) on the Päranditee

4.8

(11)

riders

1. Ohessaare Stone Cairns – Sõrve Lighthouse loop from Hermani

89.3km

05:09

150m

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Hard

4.5

(8)

riders

2. Päranditee Heritage Road loop from Salme

32.7km

02:21

50m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.7

(6)

riders

3. Möldri Dirt Road – View of Lõmala Harbour loop from Salme

34.3km

02:26

50m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Beyond the Horizon

October 3, 2023

The 'Keelutsoon', or the "forbidden zone", is not just a geographical name, but an impressive testimony to the history of Saaremaa. On a bike tour through this area, you will not only be enchanted by the island's untouched nature, but also touched by the gravity of the past.

From 1948 to 1991, during the occupation, Saaremaa remained inaccessible to many, shrouded in mystery and isolated from the outside world. Residents required a new visa for each visit, even if family lived on the island. A bureaucratic process that only increased the isolation.

The West Coast, the core zone of the ban, was particularly heavily guarded. Here, where cyclists can now feel the wind in their hair and breathe in the scent of the sea, border guards once patrolled, vigilant and relentless. Only farmers during their working hours and border guards were allowed to travel on the Päranditee, this quiet street.

Today, as you cycle through this historic area, you can feel the echoes of the past. The wind carries stories that tell of longing, separation and hope. It is a place that invites the cyclist not only to enjoy the beauty of the landscape, but also to pause for a moment to think about the history inscribed on this earth. It is a journey through time that reminds us how valuable freedom and movement are.

Translated by Google •

ICE Adventure Fan

June 7, 2023

'Keelutsoon' means no-go zone. The whole of Saaremaa was a restricted area during the occupation period from 1948 to 1991. You could only go to the island if you had family there. And you had to apply for a new visitor visa each time.
The most tightened exclusion zone on the island itself was the west coast. Absolutely no one was allowed to stay there except for the border guards. On this Päranditee, too, only the local farmers were allowed to drive or walk during their working hours (they all worked on the collective farm) and the border guards.

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Walter u. Martina / Tandem

July 11, 2025

Formerly restricted area, today the street is described in Russian, well, Wehrs likes

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Details

Informations

Elevation 30 m

Weather

Wednesday 24 December

7°C

2°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 25.0 km/h

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See rides here

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Location: Saare, Estonia

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Keelutsoon (Restricted Zone) on the Päranditee

1. Ohessaare Stone Cairns – Sõrve Lighthouse loop from Hermani

2. Päranditee Heritage Road loop from Salme

3. Möldri Dirt Road – View of Lõmala Harbour loop from Salme

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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