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| Värska was first known under the name of Verhoustje given by the Pskov merchants. On the territory of the Republic of Estonia, Värska is the largest settlement of Setomaa. The shores of the Bay of Värska have been inhabited for about 5 000 years. Shipping traffic was especially busy in the early years of the Republic of Estonia when a small port for passenger boats, freighters and warships was built. WW II cut off shipping traffic for quite a long period of time. Regular passenger lines to Tartu and Pskov were run in the 1970ies and 1980ies. Värska Church used to be a wooden building until the 20th century when in 1904-1907 the present Saint George’s Orthodox Church was built inside the cemetery of the congregation. The Värska village holiday is Jüripäev (St. George’s Day), celebrated twice a year, in the spring (May 6) and in the winter (December 9). According to folk tradition, Värska is a part of Tsätski nulk, one of the twelve areas Seto folk have divided Setomaa into. In Värska the old tradition of Leelopäevad (a Seto folk song festival) has been revived. Since 1977 the festivities are being held every three years in the yard of the Setu Talumuuseum (Setu Farm Museum). The museum is a living example of the rural architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Visitors can acquaint themselves with old tools, handicrafts, etc. The smoke sauna, the first building of the museum’s farm complex, was erected in 1994. Today the complex consists of the living house, granaries, chaff loft, sauna, cow-shed, hay barn, threshing barn and coach house. At the far end of the village is AS Värska Vesi - a company producing mineral water. Värska Originaal - the most popular product of the company, originates from the local drilled well with the depth of 470 meters. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||