Obinitsa Museum

At the TYPA Center for Printing and Paper Arts, we offer a historic photo processing process of Cyanotype, or iron-blue print, in which the image is displayed on paper in combination with iron-containing chemicals and UV light. The result is an image with white lines on a blue background. This allows you to make a gift for a loved one and show photos, a skyline of your drawing, or a dried plant instead. If you wish to use your own photo in the workshop, please send it to us digitally at least one day before the workshop for preparation. On the ground, we're here to mentor you, so you can enjoy the creative process and create something truly special!

Cyanotype is the process by which an image is produced to fabric by the combination of chemicals and UV light. The result is an image with white lines on a blue background. Make an exciting gift and produce a photo, drawing, or silhouette of a dried plant on a T-shirt or a cloth bag. Fabrics with a thinner texture which have been washed without conditioner and ironed beforehand are suitable for this. It is also possible to buy a cloth bag on site.If you want to produce a photo, send it to us in digital form no later than one day before the workshop. We will help you with the rest.

A wonderful morning or day tour to explore the Onion Route and Peipsi region! The tour starts from Tartu and takes you to the shores of Lake Peipsi, where you will find Alatskivi Castle and the Old Believers Museum, and encounter the charming and authentic local community. The culinary experiences will lead straight to the heart of Peipsimaa. We'll try our hand at fun workshops, enjoy delicious onion pies, tea ceremonies, and craft wine, and dive into the legends of onion braids. The bravest can also take part in an exciting ghost tour. Transportation from Tartu and back is included in the tour price. Babelhouse tours are flexible and tailored according to the group's wishes and time constraints. During the tour, you can purchase local Peipsi onions, crafts, wine, and other souvenirs. The Onion Route tour is perfect for culture enthusiasts, foreign visitors, pre- and post-conference programs, and groups of friends who want to experience the authentic culture of the Old Believers together. Book your trip and enjoy an unforgettable day by Lake Peipsi!

Karilatsi Open Air Museum is a unique open air museum in Southern Estonia which provides an overview of the life of Vana-Võromaa County about 100 years ago.On the 5-hectare territory of the museum, you can experience moments from the school life and farm work of that time and get to know everyday simple tools. Workshops and lessons on traditions and customs: smoke sauna customs, Võromaa wedding customs, celebrations, folk calendar year, and many other experience programmes (e.g. court session in Võru language, old school lesson). You can see a school, a court, and an almshouse with their smaller buildings, a granary, a barn-dwelling, a cottar farm, and a Dutch windmill. Agricultural machinery and vehicles are also on display. Ticket sales to the museum end one hour before closing.

During this workshop exploring the tea culture of the Lake Peipsi region, we will learn about the tea drinking customs of the Old Believers and learn about Ivan Chai (fireweed tea), how it is made, and the role it has played in Peipsiveere villages. The workshop takes place at the Varnja Samovar House, which is located in a traditional Old Believer dwelling. There, you can take a closer look at the use of samovars in households around Lake Peipsi, learn about their history, and enjoy tea with the Old Believers' traditional boiled sugar. Depending on the season, participants can also try making Ivan Chai themselves. In the summer, this is done together with the hostess of Mesi Tare, who guides you through the entire process from picking the plant to drying it. During the autumn-winter period, the focus is on Ivan Chai's history and use, discussing its medicinal properties, traditional tea culture, and tasting a variety of tea flavors. Visit us with a group or team for the Peipsiveere tea culture workshop!

Kadaka Bakery is a fairy-tale-like place, created by hostess Merle using recycled materials. In the bakery, traditional Estonian rye bread is baked using natural sourdough, as are buckwheat bread, cinnamon rolls, waffles, juniper-coriander bread, sweet and savory pretzels, pumpkin cake, Italian-style focaccia, rye crisps, and cookies. A visit to the bakery offers experiences in every season and is suitable for the whole family. In the beautifully designed garden, goats, chickens, cats, and mini rabbits can be seen in spring and summer. Regular bread-making workshops and summer garden concerts are held in the bakery. Kadaka Bakery is well-suited for various team events and special gatherings, such as birthday celebrations. Come and experience authentic Estonian bread culture!

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.

Värska Farm Museum is a unique place in Setomaa, offering comprehensive insight into the life of a wealthy Seto fortified farm in the 1920s. It is a great place to experience Seto culture, architecture, and traditions. The building complex includes a smoke sauna, a residential building, a clothing, dining and granary barn, an animal barn, a hay barn, a men's workshop, a threshing floor, a blacksmith's shop, and a pottery factory — you can get an overview of the entire Seto architecture. The museum also houses genuine Estonian farm animals. Various workshops are offered upon reservation, such as making sõir, bread making, and crocheting Seto lace, among others. The largest handicraft shop in Setomaa is open under the threshing floor! Come visit us!