Visit Estoniaz: Tartu Town Hall Square
Estoniaz: Tartu up tourist route from the village of Old Believers
If a few months ago we published a story on Tallinn, which this year is European Capital of Culture, now tell you of the main tourist attractions in the south of this small country.
We begin this tour in Tartu, a city of just over 100,000 inhabitants and for many the cradle of Estonian national culture. This statement supports the fact that Tartu has seven universities. As a direct consequence, the presence of young people makes the Tartu nightlife is famous all over Estonia.
To learn more the city of Tartu is worth doing a review, although in this case is brief, history. First mentioned in the eleventh century, Tartu is now a beautiful city, however, has been abused throughout history. During the eighteenth century, was razed by fire and during World War II suffered several bombings that left battered part of their heritage.
Tartu Town Hall Square
The Town Hall Square is perhaps the most visited place in Tartu. On this site we can see a symbol of the city, the famous Statue of Lovers, designed by Mati Karmin, and so-called Tartu Twisted House, which gets its name because, as you can imagine, is angled (fact that visible to the naked eye). Among its architectural heritage is the church of San Juan brick Gothic style.
Left, Tartu houses during the winter to countless college students. Center, Statue of Lovers, one of the most symbolic of the city. Right, Tartu has seven universities
Just behind the Town Hall Square is the small hill Toomemägi, where the remains of what was once the largest cathedral in Livonia, the territory now occupied Estonia and Latvia, and two of the most iconic bridges Tartu: Bridge Devil’s Bridge and the Angel.
Jommu barge, along the river Emanjogi
But there are other ways of knowing Tartu apart from walking around the historic center. A highly recommended option is to take a boat trip on the barges that travel the Emanjogi River, which flows through town with a real zigzag, and from which you can see from another perspective Tartu.
Several boats offer river cruises along the river Emanjogi
Both banks of the river are really beautiful, as the vegetation is abundant. During the warmer months, the river become makeshift Emanjogi beaches where it is very common to see people sunbathing or even some brave bathing in the river. ”
Emajongi the river becomes a beach when the warm weather arrives
In addition to the nightlife scene, which is very broad Tartu, Estonia city has many cultural offerings. It is very typical craft and the perfect place to see a sample of this is the Antonius Guild crafts workshop in the neighborhood Jaani, in the historic center of Tartu.
Antonius Guild Craft Workshop
Värska, on the border between Estonia and Russia
An hour’s drive from the town of Tartu Värska find where you live hedge community, which has its own king and its own government. In this setting, it is advisable to visit the Open Air Museum Setu, where you can see how this community lived, who came back in the thirteenth century. This museum is relatively young, has only 16, but it’s really interesting to see their clothes, their homes or children’s toys, among many other things.
In each household lived at least 10 people, were therefore very large families, and is intersante see how the houses of the rich were different from those of the poor by the number of doors they had. Thus, households that had more doors belonged to the wealthy. Hedge community worships the God of fertility, Peko, and all members want to have a Peko at home.
Setu Open Air Museum
Although most surprising of this visit was to attend the performance of hedge Kuldatsäuk folklore group. This group consists of women, wearing traditional costumes from the hedge community, singing and dancing traditional songs from their community.
Kuldatsäuk hedge folklore group
The Village of Old Believers
A two-hour drive from Värska is Lake Peipsi, which separates Estonia from Russia. This lake, the fourth largest in Europe in area, houses in the village west bank of the Old Believers. This community was expelled from Russia in the seventeenth century after the Reformation (the Russians called them contemptuously raskolniks) and settled in Estonia. Many of them were fishermen and farmers and became known as the “Russian onions” because it is dedicated to cultivating this plant.
It’s funny because today some members of this community, despite being physically in Estonia, speak only Russian and no Estonian. Also do not pay taxes to the government of Estonia and live solely on fishing and what they grow. It is highly recommended to visit the Village Museum Kolkja, where you can see the tools, clothing or religious objects of this community.
Practical Guide
Getting there
The airline Air Baltic www.airbaltic.com flies from Barcelona and Madrid to Tallinn with a stopover in Riga (Latvia). From Tallinn to Tartu can be reached either by car or plane with a flight of less than an hour.
Where to stay?
Hotel Villa Margaretha www.margaretha.ee
Where to eat?
Atlantis Restaurant www.atlantis.ee
Restaurant Vilde www.vilde.ee/eng/