The Peipsi County Museum introduces the life of the Old Believers, the kitchen and church culture, and the life and work of the world-famous icon painter Pimen Sofronov from the local village of Tiheda. Samovars, "podrushniks", icons, "lestovkas" are worth seeing. You can buy souvenirs and handicrafts related to the culture and nature of Peipsi, as well as sweets, tea mixtures and other local products. A guided tour introducing the Old Believers and the Ivan Chai tea ceremony can be booked in advance. With a museum ticket, you can also visit the Peipsi Järve Elu room with a permanent exhibition located next door.
The art of papermaking began 2,000 years ago in China. In our craft paper workshop, you can learn how to make paper from recycled materials, as was done centuries ago. You can put flowers or other design elements inside the paper, and give the finished paper a lacy pattern under the press or make it mirror-smooth between the metal plates.In the workshop, we will give an overview of different techniques and possibilities. Each participant can make three sheets of craft paper (A5 format).
Located at the Estonian Agricultural Museum in Ülenurme, the MUHK, or the Rural Curiosity Center, is a lively place where visitors of all ages can discover, research, and play. This is where rural life comes to play through engaging education. Located on two floors, the center introduces modern agriculture through practical activities. The “Barn Symphony” exhibition explores topics related to animal welfare, feeding, and husbandry. You can also meet the museum's farm animals and relax in a soothing rabbit village. The exhibition “Manure and Milk” adds to the excitement, where you can also see a rare manure spreader. For the more adventurous, the slightly gut-wrenching veterinary room takes a look at the history of animal treatment. The museum’s treasury, or open storage, also awaits visitors, where fascinating objects from the museum’s collections are on display. The Estonian Rural Museum ticket gives you access to all museums in the complex, including the Rural Curiosity Center.
Lake Peipus Living Room is a permanent exhibition that gives visitors information about the natural conditions in Lake Peipus and the lives of people living by the lake. You can see models of the 34 species of fish that inhabit Lake Peipus. There is also a three-dimensional model of the lake that is 4 m long and 1.4 m wide and also shows the location of the towns and villages, accommodation establishments, museums, watchtowers and other places of interest near the lake.The Mustvee beach by Lake Peipus is marked with a yellow National Geographic window; it is one of the 21 places worth discovering in Southern Estonia. If you are interested in nature, it is definitely worth a visit.
At the Barge Center Theme Park, you can observe how a historical 24-meter-long two-masted Emajõe-Peipsi barge is built. You can also craft model barges, learn sailor skills, visit the forge, try old-time barge-related tasks, and explore the history of barge shipping. In the cinema area, you can watch films about barges and slide shows. We offer guided tours and workshops for groups upon prior reservation.Lodjakoja is a historical ship-building center, museum, theme park, and conference and exhibition venue. Viking and barge journeys begin here, and we have our own café and harbor. Explore an educational trail that introduces shipbuilding and forge work. Try out the sailing simulator that takes you on the water, and the test pool lets you try out your homemade model barge. Small visitors will be delighted by the play ship, sandbox-boat, and block corner, while older ones can puzzle over 3D puzzles. Everyone will enjoy the rope-pulling machine and old-time sports games. By visiting Lodjakoja, you help make history!
The Medieval Theme Park and Pilgrim House at Vastseliina Episcopal Castle is a unique destination in South Estonia, offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the medieval world. This place combines the ruins of a 14th-century castle, a sanctuary, interactive exhibitions, and activities suitable for history buffs, families, and pilgrims alike. At our interactive museum, you can explore the medieval-themed exhibition, learn about the castle's history, discover knights' equipment and Hanseatic merchants' wares, visit an alchemist's corner, and participate in various workshops. There is a children's room and the Castle Tavern, open in summer, which serves dishes inspired by the Middle Ages.
The permanent exhibition Earth. Life. Story. includes nearly 8,000 scientific exhibit items, which tell the development story of planet Earth from the beginning of the universe until the modern day. At the exhibition, you can explore the traces of life from millions of years ago, admire shiny minerals, watch the so-called night airport of butterflies, or track the movement of the placoderm fish from the Devonian era. You can look the first jackal caught in Estonia in the eye and experience the human body through the eyes of a reptile. Visitors will be glad to see the favourites of several generations: the elk, bison, and giraffe. We also have live animals, such as the Python Regius, a turtle, a green iguana, and many other small exotic animals. See you at the Natural History Museum!
The University of Tartu Art Museum is located in the historical University Main Building and has Pompeian-style interior. The museum’s permanent exhibition consists of sculptures, mostly from the antiquity – original size plaster cast copies of the best works of Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic Greece. The Art Museum also displays many ancient originals: coins, vases, clay lamps, and cuneiform tablets. There is also the mysterious mummy chamber, where you can find a genuine Egyptian mummy. You can also visit the beautiful Assembly Hall of the university and the student lock-up in the attic.