Tartu (Estonia): history, hotels, attractions and entertainment

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Tartu is an ancient B altic city where one fifth of the population is students. Young people come here from different regions of Europe to receive a prestigious education in one of the most famous and strong higher educational institutions in the B altics. But Tartu is not only proud of its university, besides it, buildings of the Middle Ages, crooked streets and cobblestone pavements have been preserved here, museums function, and hotels and restaurants welcome their guests.

Geographic location

The city of Tartu is located in the central part of the Republic of Estonia, 185 kilometers southeast of its capital. The city stretches along both banks of the large river Emajõgi for 9 kilometers.

Relatively short distance from Tartu are such Estonian cities as Viljandi, Paide, Põltsamaa.

How to get to Tartu?

Trains arrive at the Tartu railway station (Estonia), located 15-20 minutes walk from the Town Hall Square, from Tallinn, the city of Valga bordering Latvia and the village of Koidula, which is on the border with the Russian Federation.

With othersEstonian cities Tartu has an established bus service. A small bus station building is located right in the city center.

9 kilometers south of Tartu is a rather large and modern airport building, but you can only fly here from Finland.

Weather in Tartu

Many local residents and visitors to the city believe that the weather in Tartu (Estonia) is better than in neighboring counties of the country. Winters are usually mild, summers are not hot. The average air temperature in winter is -5 ºС, in summer - +18 ºС. But lately there has been an upward trend in temperatures. On summer days, the air sometimes warms up to +35 ºС, and in winter the thermometer is less and less below zero degrees.

History

The history of Tartu dates back to the 5th century AD, when an Estonian settlement called "Tarbatu" settled here. In 1030, these lands were conquered by the Russian state, and the city became known as Yuryev.

The settlement was many times raided by local tribes and in 1224 was conquered by the German Order of the Sword, who gave the city a different name - Derpt. For the next three-plus centuries, it remained German.

In 1625 the city passed to the Swedes, five years later an advanced type gymnasium was opened here, which became the basis for the creation of the now well-known university.

After the end of the Northern War (1721), Derpt became part of the Russian Empire. Since 1883, Yuryev began to be called again.

Own todayThe city of Tartu received its name in 1919, at the same time it became part of the Republic of Estonia.

Tartu Hotels

The hotel infrastructure of Tartu (Estonia) is represented by several dozen hotels for every taste and budget. Some of them are proud of their convenient location in the city center, others - delicious breakfasts, others - home comfort. Here, each hotel is unique in its own way, but all of them are famous for their perfect service.

This could be the stylish five-star Antonius Boutique Hotel, located opposite the University of Tartu, or the cozy Art Nouveau Villa Margareta. It should also be noted the classic three-star Dorpat Spa Hotel in the very center of the city, the modern Pallas Hotel, the comfortable Dragon Hotel, the Riverside apartments with free wireless Internet and the budget hostel Tartu, reviews of which testify to the reigning here pleasant atmosphere, despite the seeming simplicity of the place.

Main attractions of the city

Tartu's city center is a typical old town, similar to many other cities, with narrow cobblestone streets and adjoining houses. In its center is the Town Hall Square, dominated by the Town Hall building.

The whole history of Tartu is inextricably linked with the city university. This institution of higher education was founded by the Swedes according to the European standard, but due to the long stay of the territory as part of the Russian state, the university ceased to look like a European one.

Scientific discoveries have been made here at all times,great scientists worked, teaching staff for other educational institutions was being prepared, and students simply studied. Today, the university does not lose its importance, having a large scientific base and a complex of auxiliary institutions.

Monuments of the city are statues and busts of famous scientists, writers and statesmen whose fate is connected with this city.

The symbols of the city are: a fountain with a sculpture of students in love on the Town Hall Square, the building of the main building of the university, the “falling house” and the arched bridge connecting the two banks of the Emajõgi River.

Also, the monuments of the city's history are two churches of the Middle Ages: Domskaya and Yaanovskaya.

Recreation and entertainment

Perhaps one of the most visited places in Tartu, according to tourists, is the science and entertainment center AH-HAA. Visitors will find interactive attractions, a planetarium, scientific expositions and a theater here. The Aura water park has gained the same popularity with its own he alth center, many slides and pools.

No less attractive are walks through the streets of the Old Town on foot or by boat along the main waterway of Tartu. And in summer, you can enjoy the beauty of the blooming Botanical Garden outside and inside the greenhouses, where you can see not only exotic plants, but also turtles.

Shoppers will appreciate the large shopping malls that can be visited by the whole family.

Tartu (Estonia) isa city where you need to come only once, then to dream of returning here again.