The 10 Best Historic Sites in Tartu County, Tartu County

Tartu Town Hall Square is the trapeze-shaped central square of Tartu, surrounded by classical buildings. The current town hall is the third building that has been erected to that spot. In the 18th century, the square was the location of the most important market in the city – der Grosse Markt, or the Great Market. Since 1998, it has been adorned by the fountain known as the Kissing Students. Every day, bells ring out from the tower of the Town Hall; its 18 bells were manufactured in the bell foundry in Karlsruhe, Germany, and 16 bells were cast for the 15th anniversary of bell-ringing at the Royal Eijsbouts Belfry in the Netherlands. A yellow National Geographic window erected in the Town Hall Square represents Tartu as one of the places in Southern Estonia worth discovering.

The earliest mentions of Luke Manor date back to 1557. The final wooden main building was from the turn of the 20th century with characteristics of Neo-Baroque and Heimat Style. The manor building was destroyed during World War II in 1941. The pride of Luke manor is still the picturesque Neo-Baroque park with terraces on different levels and trees that were once trimmed and now look quite peculiar. Lion statues made of concrete line one of the flight of stairs between the terraces. The stylish historicist gardener's house and ponds, all restored, are also worth looking at.

When you walk to the other side of Toomemagi, you will see a beautiful villa in the German heimat style on the corner of Kastani and Naituse Streets. It is the Neobaltia House built for the Neobaltia Student Fraternity according to the design by R von Engelhardt (1902). The Baltic-German Neobaltia Fraternity was created in 1879. At first, members of the fraternity met in private apartments. They moved into their fraternity house in Kastani Street in 1902. The house is currently used by the Tartu Institute of German Culture.

Uppsala House is a typical 18th century citizen’s home – a one-storey building with a mansard roof. In 1993, the cities of Uppsala and Tartu entered into a cooperation project 'Restoration of Old Buildings'. This led to the restoration of Uppsala House, which currently belongs to Tartu City Government. Did you know...? The families of a secretary of the highest Livonian court, a saddle maker, tailors and representatives of many other interesting professions have lived in the building at different times. There were rental flats for students in the building at the beginning of the 19th century. Only the exterior of the Uppsala House can be enjoyed by the visitors!

Karlova Manor was founded in 1793 when it was separated from Tahtvere Manor. Thaddeus von Bulgarin bought the manor in 1828 and had the old building expanded to more than twice its original size. Karlova Manor became the cultural centre of local Russians during the time of the Bulgarins. The manor had a remarkably rich collection of art, books and rarities, which included the biggest privately owned collection of maps in the entire Russian Empire.NB! The manor is in private ownership and tours are possible only if arranged in advance. Elina Aro is the guide.

Alatskivi Fort, the fort of ancient Estonians, was probably used as a vassal stronghold in the 13th and 14th centuries. The fort is protected by lakes in the south and the south-east and a slope that is 10 metres high on the northern side. The fort is surrounded by a moat that is a couple of metres deep and 5 m wide. The yard of the stronghold has an oval shape.Interesting facts:- old folk stories say that stone cellars with iron doors are hidden inside the hill. People believe that squires used to lock rebellious peasants there in the old times.

In Noo, you can visit the only country church with genuinely medieval walls and arches in Southern Estonia. The church is adorned by a wooden tower (1819) and stylish pseudo-Gothic furnishings from the 19th century. You will see the altar painting ‘Christ on the Cross’ by Tonis Grenzestein from 1895 and 4 wooden sculptures of apostles (Jaan Koort, 1910) in the Noo St Lawrence Church. Interesting facts: Noo Church is the only brick church in Southern Estonia - all requisites of the church are under conservation as artistic monuments.

Tahtvere Manor, which is located in the City of Tartu today, used to be a part of Noo Parish. The manor was first mentioned in 1515 and it belonged to the Bishop of Tartu in the Middle Ages. The Estonian Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine used the mansion of the manor after the Second World War. The mansion has become one of the study buildings of the Estonian University of Life Sciences by today.

The one-storey stone mansion was built in the first half of the 19th century. The buildings of the Ropka Manor are located on both sides of Ropka Road. Preserved manor buildings include the farm hand’s house, cattle barn, converted stables that belong to AS Eviko, granary, cellar, and the manor park is also still there. There were three ponds in the park and it is planned to restore one of them. There was an orchard on the western side of the servants’ house.The building is in private ownership.