Tartu was the cradle of Estonia’s 19th-century national revival and lays claim to being the nation's cultural capital. Locals talk about a special Tartu vaim (spirit), created by the time-stands-still feel of its wooden houses and stately buildings, and by the beauty of its parks and riverfront. It's also Estonia’s premier university town, with students making up nearly one fifth of the population – guaranteeing a vibrant nightlife for a city of its size.
As the major repository of Estonia's cultural heritage, Tartu has an abundance of first-rate museums. We've listed the best of them here, but enquire at the tourist office if your interests extend to, say, farm machinery.
Town Hall SquareSQUARE
Tartu’s main square is lined with grand buildings and echoes with the chink of glasses and plates in summer. The centrepiece is the late-18th-century Town Hall, topped by a tower and weather vane, and fronted by a statue of students kissing under a spouting umbrella.
Tartu Art MuseumGALLERY
If you’re leaving one of the plaza’s pubs and you’re not sure whether you’re seeing straight, don’t use this building as your guide. Foundations laid partially over an old town wall have given a pronounced lean to this, the former home of Colonel Barclay de Tolly (1761–1818) – an exiled Scot who distinguished himself in the Russian army. It now contains an engrossing gallery spread over three levels, the lowest of which is given over to temporary exhibitions.
Tartu UniversityUNIVERSITY
Fronted by six Doric columns, the impressive main building of the university was built between 1803 and 1809. The university itself was founded in 1632 by the Swedish king Gustaf II Adolf (Gustavus Adolphus) to train Lutheran clergy and government officials. It was modelled on Uppsala University in Sweden.
Tartu University Art MuseumMUSEUM
Within the main university building, this collection comprises mainly plaster casts of ancient Greek sculptures made in the 1860s and 1870s, along with an Egyptian mummy. The rest of the collection was evacuated to Russia in 1915 and has never returned. Admission includes entry to the graffiti-covered attic lock-up, where students were held in solitary confinement for various infractions.
St John's Lutheran ChurchCHURCH
Dating to at least 1323, this imposing red-brick Lutheran church is unique for the rare terracotta sculptures placed in niches around its exterior and interior (look up). It lay in ruins and was left derelict following a Soviet bombing raid in 1944 and wasn't fully restored until 2005. Climb the 135 steps of the 30m steeple for a bird’s-eye view of Tartu.
Tartu Toy MuseumMUSEUM
A big hit with the under-eight crowd (and you won’t see too many adults anxious to leave), this is a great place to while away a few rainy hours. Set in a late 18th-century building, this excellent museum showcases dolls, model trains, rocking horses, toy soldiers and tons of other desirables. It's all geared to be nicely interactive, with exhibits in pull-out drawers and a kids' playroom.
0 comments:
Post a Comment