OREANDA-NEWS. September 26, 2014. A side effect of the declining population and the flow of people away from rural areas is that dozens of large former school buildings, some converted manor houses, are on sale for a song.

Citing one ad posted by Valgjarve municipality in southern Polva County, a daily suggests that other municipalities have also listed such buildings for as low as one euro. But with the requirement that the buildings be fixed up and used, there are many offers and few takers, as heating costs are high, Postimees reported.

In Jarva County alone, nine schoolhouses have been left empty this century, and only four are currently in use, with three more sold off to private ownership, but still left unused.

However, there are some positive examples as well, with some former schools turned into cottage industries, youth centers, libraries or nursing homes, the paper writes.