Weaving Chipwood Baskets in the Avinurme Wooden Handicrafts Center

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!

The Tartu Song Celebration Museum is located in a 19th-century classicist building, where the organizer of the first Estonian Song Festival and founder of the national theater, the Vanemuine Society, operated. The first Estonian-language play, written by Lydia Koidula, premiered here. Koidula was a prominent female poet of the Estonian National Awakening, who thereby laid the foundation for the Estonian national theater. The museum offers an introduction to the Song Celebration tradition as well as the 150-year history and heritage of the Vanemuine Theater. Visitors can take part in interactive exhibitions, virtual reality experiences, workshops, and guided tours. The museum park is also open during opening hours.

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!

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.

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!

The Art Studio sells great Estonian oil paintings and graphic art, high-class leather and wood goods and high temperature ceramics by Aivar Rumvolt. Please do not hesitate to call on us, if you need a special gift for your guest. The Avatud Ateljee Studio organises different courses: you are welcome to sign up for pottery, calligraphy, binding or leatherwork classes. In addition the studio organises poetry reading nights and meetings with artists. Groups can also visit Aivar Rumvolt’s pottery shop in Kubja by previous appointment. In summer there are workshops both for grown-ups and the young.

In the leather studio workshop, you can make a personalised keychain under the guidance of the leather designer Tiina Andron. Different metal studs, leathers, rivets, and key rings are used. The workshop is suitable for everyone (from school age). In addition to making a keychain, you will get to explore Antonius Courtyard, see the completion of various works, and hear the designers talk about their work.More leather studio workshops for groups can be found here.

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.