Sacred stone, spring or grove
Hiissaar sacred island, Alutaguse
Ohvrikoht Hiissaar, Alutaguse
In the south-eastern corner of the great Muraka bog, inside Alutaguse National Park, a peat island rises above the open mire, its tall trees visible from far away. This is Hiissaar, the sacred island of Roostoja village. Legend says that before Christianity people crossed the bog in secret to worship their old gods and bring offerings here, and the folklore archives hold eight records about the place, one describing it as a beautiful high island in the middle of the bare bog. A War of Independence-era bunker and trenches were later dug on its north end. The island was declared a cultural monument in June 2023.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
Suure Muraka raba kaguosas, Alutaguse rahvuspargis, kerkib lagedast rabast turbasaar, mille kõrged puud paistavad kaugele. See on Roostoja küla Hiissaar. Pärimuse järgi käisid inimesed enne ristiusku salaja üle raba siin oma vanu jumalaid kummardamas ja ohvreid toomas ning rahvaluulearhiivis on paiga kohta kaheksa kirjapanekut, millest üks kirjeldab seda kui ilusat kõrget saart keset lagedat raba. Saare põhjaossa kaevati hiljem Vabadussõja-aegne punker ja kaevikud. Juunis 2023 tunnistati saar kultuurimälestiseks.