Marbling workshop at TYPA

Alatskivi Ceramics is a unique space where history and Estonian craftsmanship converge – it is situated in the vaulted basement of Alatskivi Castle, where the manor's servants once resided. Now a talented ceramics master works there, creating unique, high-quality handmade clay products on-site – bowls, cups, jugs, and other beautiful everyday ceramics that make lovely gifts! Visitors can purchase and admire these unique items in the shop and also try their hand at working with clay – the workshops are suitable for adults and are especially popular with children. You can also visit the castle, the Eduard Tubina Museum, the Alatskivi Castle Horse Stable Exhibition, and the restaurant!

Fairytale Alatskivi Castle awaits visitors in South Estonia, about 40 km from Tartu. In the castle, you travel back in time to the 19th century, get acquainted with the life of a noble family and the manor's daily routine, and meet the servants who worked here a hundred years ago, brought to life with wax figures in the basement. Castle guides share captivating stories, and visitors can create a personal souvenir in the ceramic workshop. Allocate at least 1.5 hours to explore the exhibition, which spans three floors. On the castle's third floor is the museum of composer Eduard Tubin, which presents the life and works of one of Estonia's most famous musicians. The former carriage-horse stable next to the castle offers insight into the manor's management and daily operations. Alatskivi Castle is part of the Onion Route, which can also be explored through the bright yellow National Geographic windows. Stroll in the castle park, enjoy nature on the Alatskivi hiking trail, stay in romantic castle suites, and taste local dishes at the castle restaurant.

Linocut — where the printing form is cut out of linoleum by hand — is one of the simplest graphic arts techniques. In the workshop, each participant will make a linocut printing plate (10x15 cm) according to their own design, with which they will first print a clean, blind-embossed image and then color images. Prepare for the workshop by thinking of a design in advance or searching the Internet for an image to inspire you. Tip: The image should have strong contrasts and clear lines, like a black and white image, because smooth color transitions cannot be printed with linocut.

In this workshop, you will make a simple notebook with recycled cardboard covers, printed and bound by yourself. We will provide you with all the materials you need to make the notebook. During the workshop, you will get a brief insight into the world of letterpress printing and bookbinding. You can print a picture of your choice on the front cover with linocut or metal blocks using a nearly 170-year-old printing press. We will hand-stitch the blank pages between the printed covers. You will end up with a simple but useful notebook that you can take home with you!

On the Onion Route, you can participate in an Old Believers' cooking workshop that introduces the region's traditional foods and preparation methods. The workshop selection includes onion pies with boiled sugar or making and decorating cookies. The instructor is Natalja Rästas, the first onion pie master of the Onion Route, who demonstrates cooking techniques, shares her recipes, and helps each participant follow along step by step. At the end of the workshop, all prepared dishes can be sampled on-site or taken home. The workshops take place in the classroom of the Kolkja Old Believers Museum. The room accommodates up to 15 participants; for larger groups, a suitable alternative can be arranged in advance. To ensure the desired time, it is advisable to book the workshop at least three working days in advance. Additionally, it is possible to order a guided tour of the museum alongside the workshop, which provides an overview of the history, lifestyle, and traditions of the Old Believers, giving the workshop greater depth and context.

The permanent exhibition of the Valga Museum presents the natural, historical and cultural history of Valga county and the city from ancient times to the present day. This is a lively and modern museum where you will never get bored! The photos displayed here show you the history (nature, time, and culture) of the city and county of Valga from ancient times to the present. The museum is also livened up by models, music, and wax figures. Valga Museum also organises educational programmes, museum lessons and creative workshops. Interesting facts: there is a wax figure of the first Estonian Olympic champion, Alfred Neuland, in the museum.Going to the museum is not a waste of time!

Anna Haava (1864–1957) was an Estonian poet, librettist, and translator who was born on Haavakivi Farm in Pala Parish, Tartu County.The memorial room located in the Kodavere Heritage Centre exhibits photographs of the poet and her relatives, along with a family tree, poetry collections and translations, memorabilia, parts of Anna Haava's correspondence, copies of documents, and a model of Haavakivi Farm.

Peipsiveere Samovar House is a small museum in the Old Believers' village of Varnja that introduces visitors to the world of samovars and tea culture along Lake Peipsi. The private collection, accumulated over decades, contains more than 200 diverse samovars. From simple tin samovars to rare ones with elaborate engravings, reflecting the skills and traditions of masters from different eras. The exhibition, located in an authentic Old Believers' house, offers visitors insight into why the samovar was more than just a kettle for centuries. Stories reveal the origins of samovars, manufacturing techniques, usage methods, different design types, and tea-drinking traditions in the communities along the lake. Every guest can taste genuine samovar tea and the famous Ivan chai, and try traditional boiled sugar with the tea, an integral part of Old Believers' tea culture. If desired, one can also explore handmade samovar accessories and hear stories from the hostess of Mesi Tare about preparing, serving, and respectfully preserving tea.