Marbling workshop at TYPA

The Tartu Art Museum is located in one of the most special buildings in the Town Hall Square – the leaning house of Tartu. This prominent building, built in 1793, leans 5.8 degrees, which is even more than Italy's famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Tartu Art Museum is the heart of Estonian contemporary art, showcasing 20th and 21st-century art, modern themes, and creative thinking. Here are the works of Estonia's top artists as well as exhibitions featuring international artists. The museum builds bridges between the past and present, addressing important societal issues and providing a thought-provoking experience to visitors of all ages. The museum also hosts guided tours, virtual tours, and workshops that make the art experience even more meaningful and vibrant. The building also houses a museum shop where art books, work by local artists, and souvenirs can be found. Tartu Art Museum is an ideal place to visit for both art enthusiasts and those who want to enjoy beautiful architecture and an inspirational environment. Walk in, and see what's on display right now!

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.

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.

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.

Explore the home and inspiring work of one of Estonia's most famous writers and poets at the Juhan Liiv Museum. The museum offers interactive experiences where poetry comes to life through sound and video, highlighting the region's unique characteristics. It tells the story of Kodavere's rich cultural heritage, and in summer, you can stroll around the beautiful garden. The Liiv Museum also offers activities for children, and families are welcome to visit with their four-legged friends. You can order a guided tour introducing the museum's story if you wish. Come and let the Liiv Museum inspire you!

Between Hellenurme, Elva, and Otepää, there is a unique opportunity to see Estonia's last historical water-powered flour and grist mill in operation – the Hellenurme Water Mill. Upon arrival, we explore the mill building and views over the mill pond to Hellenurme Manor, then we open the turbine, and the mill begins to work, powered by water. Through the mill's four floors, you can see, touch, and feel the power of the mill, and soon fresh flour and grist fall into the bag as in the old days. In the bread house, you can try breadmaking under the guidance of the Mill Mistress, honoring traditions and telling stories about bread and the wisdom of ancestors. In the bread trough, dough is kneaded from sourdough. Each guest molds their own little loaf from a dough ball, which the Mill Mistress throws into the large bread oven with an old bread peel. Soon, the bread house fills with the smell of bread, and each guest can take their loaf from the oven, which tastes warm and buttery like an unforgettable dessert! As writer Juhan Liiv wrote: "... warm bread – imagine!"

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 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.