Verstapostidel

Verstapostidel is an Estonian term that refers to the mileposts that were placed along roads to show distances to towns and other destinations. A verstapost (the singular form) is a signpost marking distances in versts, an old unit of length from the Russian Empire that is roughly 1.067 kilometers. In the Baltic region, including present-day Estonia, verstapostid appeared as road networks expanded, particularly from the 17th to the 19th centuries.

These posts were typically made of wood or stone and placed at intervals or at junctions with inscriptions indicating the distance to major destinations. Distances were commonly given in versts, and sometimes the destination names were included. The practice reflected the practical need to guide travelers and to manage long-distance travel before the widespread adoption of metric measurements.

Today, verstapostidel are primarily regarded as historical and cultural artifacts. They are studied by historians and archaeologists as clues to historical transport networks, cartography, and daily life along old routes. Many verstapostid have been lost or damaged over time, but some have been preserved, restored, or documented by museums, heritage organizations, and regional archives. In contemporary Estonia, official signage uses the metric system, and verstapostid no longer function as navigational markers, though they may appear in heritage trails and historic-route projects to illustrate past road infrastructure.