Gallery/store of Loov Energia Keraamikahoov

You are invited to Obinitsa Museum to dress up! The Seto culture workshop "Putting on Seto clothes" is about putting on Seto women's clothes. One member of the company or group will put on the garments. While dressing, the guide will tell you how a Seto woman and man should dress according to tradition, including how to distinguish a married woman from an unmarried girl. The historical context and significance of the objects in Seto culture will also be presented. Come and learn about Seto folk costumes and history!

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!

The patron saint of the Värska Orthodox Church is St. George. The most important church holiday is St. George's Day, which is celebrated in Setomaa on May 6 and culminates with the afternoon kirmaski, or village party. The church was built with money from the community, and the original iconostasis from the beginning of the 20th century has been preserved, part of which is an icon of St. George painted on a tree in the 17th century. The church also has several handmade holy shawls. Värska cemetery is next to the church, and several important Seto cultural figures are buried there.

Kalevipoeg is the Estonian national epic about the adventures of the hero called Kalevipoeg.In 1950, the memorial Kalevipoeg, which was dedicated to the soldiers who lost their lives in the War of Independence, was taken down by the occupying power. The monument was built by Amandus Adamson. In 1952, the monument to Kreutzwald, the Father of Song, was erected at the same location. Discussions over restoring the memorial Kalevipoeg were held since 1988, but in 2002, when the exhibition ‘Kalevipoeg in Sculpture’ took place, the restoration proptly started. Sculptor Ekke Väli modelled the momorial on the basis of photos, and he was consulted by Endel Taniloo, a senior sculptor, during the restoration of Kalevipoeg.

This church, dedicated to the archangel Michael, was completed in 1785. It stands on the shores of a man-made lake in Räpina and enjoys beautiful views over Sillapää castle and park. The walls of the church, which was constructed in Late Baroque style, are made from rendered natural stone. The front of the church is adorned with sculptures dating from the time of its construction, which symbolise Hope and Love.One of the church's most valuable assets, the two-part altar painting entitled 'The Appearance of the Risen Jesus to Mary Magdalene' and 'The Burial of Jesus', was painted by Carl Antropoff in 1871.

St. Mary’s Church in Tartu was built in 1842 to be the home church of the city of Tartu and the Estonians in the parish. Prominent parish members included, for example, M. Härma, L. Koidula, and J. V. Jannsen. In 1869, the first Estonian song festival was initiated in St. Mary's Church in Tartu, which is why the church is also called the cradle of the song festival.The church was destroyed on July 12, 1941 and was reconstructed as a gym for the Estonian Academy of Agriculture. The church remained as a sanctuary for sports in Tartu for almost 50 years.The church was returned to the parish again in 2009 and is presently being restored. In 2022 the restoration works of the tower, which had been demolished while turning the church into a gym, were finished. A golden rooster stands guard on the tower.

The park and monument dedicated to Betti Alver were opened with a ceremony on the writer's 90th birthday in 1996. This is not a traditional bust of a writer, but a symbol focussed on creation. The poet's autograph, signature in stone, is in the base of the monument. The monument as a whole depicts the airy lightness, classic strictness and energetic striving of the poet's works, but also shows contrasts, suppressing and destructive forces. The general image of the monument represents Betti Alver's fate and story.

Standing in the landcaped area opposite the former main entrance of the Räpina Paper Factory is the Tree Garden Warrior, a monument to the historical Tree Garden War designed by Riho Kuld in 1984. The locals refer to the warrior as the Iron Man.In 1784 a peasant uprising took place in Räpina following the levying of a bounty tax. In the tree garden of the local manor a battle erupted between the soldiers and the local farmhands, who were armed with poles - ending in the deaths of five local men.