Sights and landmarks in Tartu

Sights and landmarks in Tartu

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   Arched Bridge

   Stands on the site of the original stone bridge of Tartu which was built in 1784 and blown up by the Soviets in World War II. This new bridge is only for pedestrians and allows you to do one of the most loved cultural activities of Tartu, walk over the top of the arch after a big night in the club. It is said you have to walk over the arch at least once to be a true student in Tartu. Just don't let the cops catch you.

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   Barclay House

   Late 18th-century building. Duchess Barclay bought the house in 1819 after the death of her husband, Barclay de Tolly. The riverside wall of the building is actually a reused part of the old town wall, while the other side was built on a new foundation. This is why the house is now askew and is popularly called the Tower of Pisa.

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   Cathedral ruins

   From the 13th century and were dedicated to apostles St. Peter and Paul. Today the choir part houses the Tartu University History Museum, and the towers are reconstructed to sightseeing platforms.

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   Devil's Bridge

   Built in 1913 in honour of the 300th jubilee of tsarist Russia's Romanov Dynasty, which is memorialised on the bridge by the dates 1613-1913.

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   Estonian National Museum

   Eesti Rahva Muuseum, ERM

   The new building of the Estonian National Museum features a permanent exhibition on Estonian and Finno-Ugric culture, language, and traditions, as well as various temporary installations. Definitely worth visiting. The museum can be easily reached from the city center on foot by following the newly constructed walkway along Roosi street (ca. 2 km total distance).

   Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed Mon·adults €16, concessions €12

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   Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum

   The Baltics' biggest museum designated to sports, with several interactive exhibits.

   Daily 10:00-18:00·€12, concession 8€, family 28€

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   Gunpowder Cellar

   Dug into the side of the hill in 1767 as part of the complex of the bishop's citadel. It was used as a gunpowder cellar until 1809. Until 1982, it served as a storage room for many different enterprises, and was later developed into an eating place. Today, the building hosts a bar/restaurant of the same name, claiming to have the highest pub ceiling in the world, at 11 metres.

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   KGB Museum

   the Gray House

   This nondescript building was the headquarters of the Estonian KGB. It tells the story of how the prisoners were treated there, and some stories about the Estonian resistance heroes, the Forest Brothers. The museum is small and does not have a very big sign, so look carefully.

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   Main building of the University of Tartu

   One of Tartu's grandest buildings, facing a relatively narrow street. As such if you want to take a photo of the whole building you need to do so at an angle.

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    National Court

    In 1763, a military barracks was erected in this place. Onto its ruins was built the university hospital in 1808, which functioned until 1990. Since 1993, the national court is again in Tartu, which is Estonia's supreme judiciary court.

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    Old Anatomical Theatre

    One of the first buildings of the re-opened Tartu University, built in 1803-1805 according to the drawings of university architect J. Krause.

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    Old Observatory

    The observatory, designed by university architect J.W. Krause, was built at the beginning of the 19th century. Working place of many famous astronomers including Struve; indeed the observatory is a point on the world heritage listed Struve Geodetic Arc spanning from the Arctic Sea to the Black Sea.

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    Soup Neighbourhood

    Supilinn

    Neighbourhood where all of the streets are named after soup ingredients. Features charming old wooden houses.

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    St. John's Church

    Tartu Jaani Church

    A 14th-century red brick church, famous for its thousands of medieval terracotta figures.

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    St. Paul's Church

    An outstanding redbrick Finnish National Romanticist style building by the famous Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen.

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    St. Peter's Church

    A Neogothic Lutheran church from 1903, built on the grounds of the first general Estonian song festival, which took place in 1869.

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    Tartu Centre for Creative Industries

    Congregates several creative enterprises and creates therefore a creative atmosphere. The three buildings of the centre were built between 1830 and 1913 and represent different architectural styles: historicism and Art Nouveau.

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    Tartu City Museum

    Classicist style structure was built as a town palace in 1790. The building is popularly called Catherine's House. The legend has it that Empress Catherine II made a short stay there. It is not true, though. The permanent exhibition provides a good insight into Tartu's long history up to 1920.

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    Town Hall Square

    Raekoja plats

    The main square between Emajõgi River and the pink town hall is probably the iconic view of the city. Right in the front of the town hall you can see the kissing students fountain, which is a symbol of Tartu. When standing at the river end of the square, with the town hall in front of you, on the right hand side is the leaning house - first it doesn't seem to lean so much, but go closer and look at it from a right angle!

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    Angel's Bridge

    Built in the 19th century and spans Lossi Street.

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    Botanic Garden of the University of Tartu

    Nice place for a walk.

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    Former Soviet Airfield

    Raadi

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    Remains of the Town Wall

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    Roman Catholic Church

    A beautiful revivalist redbrick building from 1899.

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    Statue of Oscar Wilde and Eduard Vilde

    Kirjanike Oscar Wilde ja Eduard Vilde mälestusmärk

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    Tartu Art Museum

    In the "leaning house", mainly displaying 20th century art.

    Wed Fri–Sun 11:00–18:00, Thu 11:00–21:00

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    Tartu Salem Church

    Tartu Salemi kirik

    A Baptist church.

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    Toome Hill

    Toomemägi

    Many monuments, statues and historical buildings

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Tartu (CC BY-SA 4.0).