Tartu's cultural institutions and organisations

Culture in Tartu 

Tartu’s Cultural Institutions and 

Organizations

1 



Tartu City Government Department of Culture... 2 

Cultural Service ............................................................... 4 

Youth Policy Service ...................................................... 6 

Sports Service .................................................................. 7 

Tartu Kultuuriaken ......................................................... 8 

Tartu’s Cultural Institutions and Organizations 

Museums ........................................................................... 10 

Concert Venues ............................................................... 21 

Theatres.............................................................................. 23 

Galleries and Art Shops................................................ 24 

Cinema................................................................................ 25 

Libraries.............................................................................. 26 

Hobby Education Schools........................................... 28 

Cultural Institutions and Organizations................ 29 

Youth Centres of the City of Tartu............................ 36 

Sports Facilities................................................................ 39 

The development of Tartu as a cultural city has in 

many ways been guided by the development field 

lines of the European culture. For centuries, Tartu 

has been the pioneer of Estonian culture. Common 

knowledge includes the facts that this is the birth 

place of the Estonian national university and the first 

professional theatres. Tartu has been awarded the 

UNICEF’s title of a Child Friendly City, and values and 

acknowledges its creative persons – Tartu has plenty 

of opportunities for professional cultural self-actualization. 

The city is also home to hundreds of hobby 

collectives and associations (choirs; dance groups, 

clubs and studios; sports clubs, youth centres and 

organizations; various ensembles and folk cultural 

associations). 

About 4 000 different major and minor events take 

place in Tartu during one year. The biggest of the image 

events with established traditions are the Drama 

Festival, the Tartu Prima Vista Literature Festival, the 

Tartu Student Days and the Hanseatic Days. In sports, 

the biggest undertaking is the quadruple event that 

consist of the bicycle marathon and race, the running 

marathon and the skiing marathon. 

Compiled by Tartu City Government Department of Culture 

Design by OÜ Disain ja Trükk 

Photos by Meelis Lokk, Aavo Kaine, Ingrid Leinus, Aldo Luud, 

Alar Madisson, Alan Proosa, Rein Toom, Mart Velsker, Tiina Viirelaid 

Printed by AS Paar

2 3 

Tartu City Government Department of Culture 

Tartu 

City Government 

Department of 

Culture 

Raekoja plats 12 

Tartu 

) +372 736 1360 

Tartu’s cultural life relies on traditions, openness and 

development, guaranteeing the environment for creating, 

consuming and transmitting culture. The primary 

task of the city in the field of culture is to create 

a safe, developing and modern working environment 

for the cultural institutions and cultural workers. 

Both creativity and ambitious ideas require the presence 

of strong and original creative persons. Tartu 

as a city of science, education and culture has great 

prerequisites for becoming a celebrated creative European 

town. International cooperation contributes 

significantly to outlining Tartu’s values and opening 

the city’s potential. 

The development strategy Tartu 2012 sees Tartu as 

a city of unique festivals, song festivals and sports 

events. Due to the large proportion of students among 

the city’s cultural consumers, Tartu can also be considered 

a hotbed of cultural consumption skill development 

and this influence spreads all over Estonia. 

For Tartu, the priority aspects are the openness to new 

ideas and creating contacts; crossing the field borders 

and cooperating with the people from other fields; 

interactivity and contact with the audience; knowing 

one’s target groups and engaging them in a dialogue. 

The Department of Culture led the creation of the 

cultural and sports development plan for the years 

2004-2007 in Tartu. The development plan gives 

an in-depth overview of the future vision in the 

field of culture and sports and establishes the main 

activities and goals for the Department of Culture 

in the coming years. The development plan is available 

at the Department of Culture’s homepage at 

www.tartu.ee/kultuuriosakond. 

Once a year, the Tartu City Government Department 

of Culture accepts requests for money, supporting 

the cultural, sports and youth projects and organizations 

from the city’s budget for the next year. Another 

tradition is the annual award 

ceremony for the city’s best 

in the fields of culture, sports 

and youth affairs. 

The Department of Culture 

consists of the Cultural, 

Sports and Youth Policy Services. 

Ten municipal institutions 

work under the Department 

of Culture: the Anne 

Youth Centre, the Children 

and Youth Centre “Lille Maja”, 

the Tartu Public Library, the 

Tartu I Music School, the 

Tartu II Music School, the 

Tartu Art School for Children, 

the Tartu City Sports Bases, 

the Tartu City Museum, the 

Tartu Toy Museum, and the 

Tiigi Community Centre. 

Tartu I 

Music 

School 

Anne 

Youth Centre 

Tartu City Government 

Department of Culture 

Youth 

Policy 

Service 

Tartu 

Toy 

Museum 

Tartu City 

Sports Bases 

Cultural 

Policy 

Service 

Tartu Art 

School 

for Children 

Tartu 

Public 

Library 

Tartu 

City 

Museum 

Tiigi 

Community 

Centre 

Sports 

Policy 

Service 

Tartu II 

Music 

School 

Youth Centre 

“Lille Maja” 

www.tartu.ee/kultuuriosakond

4 5 

Cultural Service 

The Cultural Service task is the coordination of the 

city’s cultural life – supporting cultural events and activities; 

checking the purposeful usage of the support 

sums; initiating and managing local and international 

cooperation projects; developing cultural development 

plans and strategies together with the various 

cultural organizers. 

The Service also deals with acquiring information 

about program participation and support opportunities; 

systematizing the existing information; arranging 

information days, and managing the cultural 

information mailing list. In order to get an overview 

of the cultural life, the Service collects and analyzes 

the statistical data concerning culture in Tartu and 

compares the different models of cultural work organization 

in the modern world. 

The Cultural Service acknowledges the creative persons 

and institutions related to culture by issuing the 

annual honorary cultural title, the “Culture Carrier”, a 

prize that also features monetary awards. 

The best overview of Tartu’s cultural events is given by 

the online cultural database at kultuuriaken.tartu.ee. 

The Department of Culture also leads the publication 

of the cultural calendar that is issued four times a year 

and describes Tartu’s cultural events. 

Of the projects related to culture, the most support 

during the years has been given to image events, the 

more detailed list of which is included in the cultural 

and sports development plan for 2004-2007 in Tartu. 

Support is also given to the projects related to the 

state holidays and folk calendar events; folk cultural 

projects; international cultural exchange, exhibitions 

and concerts; theatre and literature projects. 

ties for joining the pan-European networks and for 

creative cooperation with colleagues from other 

European countries. Taking the cultural organizers’ 

skills and knowledge to an international level is a 

significant goal that the Tartu City Government supports 

through the organization of various courses, 

seminars and conferences. 

Among the international projects the Cultural Service 

initiated a series of cultural conferences and by today 

has organized already 2 conferences. Other notable 

achievements include the creation of the cultural 

marketing strategy of Tartu and the 3 issues of “Idea 

Market”, an article collection focusing on cultural 

marketing. 

A more in-depth overview of the Cultural Service 

activities is available at the Cultural Service website: 

www.tartu.ee/kultuuriteenistus 

For years, the Cultural Service has written and managed 

international projects to exchange experiences 

and to train local cultural operators. The Cultural 

Services helps the city’s cultural persons to develop 

their mutual cooperation, creates them opportuniwww.tartu.ee/kultuuriteenistus

6 7 

Youth Policy Service 

Sports Service 

The goal of the Youth Policy Service is to plan and organize 

Tartu’s youth policy work; to initiate and manage 

international and local projects; to plan budget 

resources for supporting youth events, to open youth 

centres and hobby clubs, and to sign contracts with 

the supported parties. 

The Service’s cooperation partners in organizing 

youth work include several associations from the nonprofit 

sector, and the city’s youth policy institutions. 

Cooperation with the partners from Tartu’s twin cities 

is also active. 

In order to plan developments in youth policy, the 

Youth Policy Service organizes and analyzes youth 

studies for a better understanding of young people. 

The Service also coordinates the summer vacation for 

youngsters and trains youth workers and leaders. 

Support is given to youth projects; youth centres managed 

by the NGO sector; and youth hobby clubs (with 

per capita fees). The preference in youth event support 

from the city budget is given to the projects that have 

been initiated by the youngsters themselves and that 

deal with social, health and cultural issues. 

Every December, the youth policy field gala looks back 

at the successes of last year and acknowledges the significant 

achievers in seven different categories. 

The best overview of Tartu’s youth events is given by 

the online cultural database at noorteaken.tartu.ee. 

In the long-term perspective, the basic document for 

the youth policy activity in Tartu is the youth policy 

development trend and action plan for 2004-2007, 

passed by the Tartu City Council. 

A more in-depth overview of the Youth Service 

activities is available at the Youth Service website: 

www.tartu.ee/noorsooteenistus 

The goal of the Sports Service is to create conditions 

and opportunities for the citizen groups in Tartu 

with varying needs in order to realize their interest 

in sport. 

The main tasks are the compilation and execution 

of sport-related activity development programs; 

the consultation and support of sports associations, 

clubs and private schools; the analysis and processing 

of presented sports projects; making suggestions to 

the City Government; and compiling budget projects. 

The Sports Service also deals with the support of children’s 

and youth sport activities and the co-financing 

of the preparation of top athletes. 

The Sports Service compiles the sports event calendar 

plan and communicates with the twin cities. 

Cooperation exists with the Tartu Sports Association 

and various state sports sub-associations. 

Much of the support to the field of sports goes to 

financing the children’s and youth sporting activities. 

Other supported activities include the various 

sports-related projects and events that are divided 

into image events, traditional events and national 

sports events. Support is also available for professional 

athletes who wish to participate in national 

and international title competitions. A separate part 

of the support is given to the sports facilities owned 

by the City of Tartu in order to provide youngsters 

with conveniently priced opportunities for practice. 

Once a year the Sports Service organizes an acknowledgement 

of the best athletes. The honorary sports 

titles of Tartu are the city’s recognition of its athletes, 

teams and coaches who have achieved outstanding 

sporting results during the year. 

A more in-depth overview of the Sports Service 

activities is available at the Sports Service website: 

www.tartu.ee/sporditeenistus 

www.tartu.ee/noorsooteenistus 

www.tartu.ee/sporditeenistus

8 9 

Tartu Kultuuriaken 

Tartu’s Cultural Institutions and Organizations 

Since the fall of 2005, the public database 

“Kultuuriaken” (literally: “the 

Cultural Window”) has a new and more 

user-friendly design to disseminate 

Tartu’s cultural information more comfortably. 

We believe that this will help 

both Tartu’s inhabitants and guests to 

navigate better in the city’s ever more 

diverse cultural life. The database is 

meant for everyone who wants to 

know and announce the events in Tartu’s 

cultural, youth and sports life. 

“Kultuuriaken” is constantly updated by the active users: they 

are the ones who make kultuuriaken.tartu.ee such a good 

source of information. Event organizers, hobby clubs, entertainment 

locations and everyone else offering a chance to 

spend free time in Tartu is welcome to add information about 

their activities to the database. Use of “Kultuuriaken” and information 

submission is both free of charge. 

“Kultuuriaken”, which is administrated by the Tartu City Government 

Department of Culture, has been successfully active since 

2001 and today the database receives over 10 000 visitors per 

week. In addition to the event previews, the “Kultuuriaken” sections 

“Tegijad” (“Doers”) and “Kohad” (“Venues”) also offer information 

about event organizers and venues and many hobby 

activity and training organizers. 

Currently over 450 organizations – ensembles, aerobics groups, 

youth centres, associations etc – have registered themselves 

in the “Tegijad” section. The registered “Kultuuriaken” user can 

change and update the entered data card or the information 

about the event. The user can also order the personal newsletter 

about the events added to “Kultuuriaken” to his or her e-mail 

address. The subscriber can select the categories of the events 

and the frequency of the newsletter. Already over 200 venues 

for events, concerts, training sessions etc have been added to 

“Kultuuriaken”. A total of over 12 000 entries about events have 

been made to “Kultuuriaken” in the 4 years. 

The section “Uudised” (“News”) lets the user find cultural 

information – this is where the database shows the announcements 

by the Tartu City Government Department of 

Culture, the city’s cultural information and the mailing lists 

of kultuur.teated. The users can also add classified ads to the 

“Teadetetahvel” (“Notice Board”) and start new threads in the 

forum about Tartu’s cultural life.

10 11 

Museums 

Municipal Museums 

Tartu City Museum 

Tue-Sun 11-18 

phone +372 746 1911 

Narva mnt 23 

linnamuuseum.tartu.ee 

The Tartu City Museum was established in 1955 for 

collecting, studying and displaying the objects connected 

with the city history. The museum organizes 

annual Tartu History Days and international Hanseatic 

Conferences. Since 1995, the Museum publishes its 

own yearbook. In 2001, the Museum opened the permanent 

exhibition “Dorpat, Yuryev, Tartu” – one possible 

interpretation of the city’s history. The permanent 

exhibition is complemented by topical exhibitions 

and pedagogic programs. 

19th Century Tartu Citizen’s Home Museum 

Wed-Sun 

from April to September 11-18 

from October to March 10-15 

phone +372 736 1545 

Jaani 16 

The 19th Century Tartu Citizen’s Home Museum is 

located in one of the city’s oldest wooden buildings 

at Jaani street 16. When the visitor enters the house, 

he or she will find him/herself in the 1830s home of 

a middle class German family. Looking around, one 

can see the living room, dining room, bedroom and 

kitchen, decorated in the Biedermeier style characteristic 

of the II quarter of the 19th century. 

Karl Ristikivi Museum 

Mon, Wed, Sat 12-16 

phone +372 746 1050 

Karl August Hermanni 18 

The apartment-museum of Karl Ristikivi was opened 

in the Tähtvere district of Tartu in 1991. The museum 

is in the Hermanni street 18 house where the writer 

lived between 1936-1943 and describes the life and 

works of the writer who lived in exile since 1943. The 

museum is also a chance to get acquainted with exile 

literature. Every year, the writer’s birthday on October 

16 is the Ristikivi Day (with presentations about Estonian 

emigrant literature etc). 

House Museum of Oskar Luts 

Wed-Sat 11-17, Sun 13-17 

phone +372 746 1030 

Riia 38 

The House Museum of Oskar Luts was opened in 1964 

in the small Riia street house with a dormer floor that 

the writer had commissioned in 1936 according to 

the design by the legendary architect Matteus. Oskar 

Luts (1887-1953), a man whose name still has significance 

for Estonians, lived here for the last 17 years of 

his life. The permanent exhibition gives an overview 

of his life and work. Group tours can see performances 

of the writer’s works along with the dramatic 

recreations and museum lessons led by the instructor. 

During spring, the Museum garden hosts children’s 

and youth music, theatre, art and poetry events. The 

Museum’s archives are open to researchers. 

KGB Cells 

Tue-Sat 11-16 

phone +372 746 1717 

Riia 15B 

The KGB Cells Museum is located in the “Grey House” 

that in the 1940-50s housed the NKVD/KGB’s Tartu 

Office. The visitors can see the building’s basement 

that held arrest cells and solitary confinement cells. 

Some cells have been restored to their original state, 

others are filled with the exhibition of the Estonian 

resistance movement history and the crimes of Communism.

12 13 

National Museums 

Tartu Toy Museum 

Wed-Sun 11-18 

phone +372 746 1777 

Lutsu 8 

www.mm.ee 

The Toy Museum is located in the centre of Tartu’s 

Old Town in an old wooden building and gives the 

adults a chance to go back into their childhood, 

and the children the chance to relate to dolls in a 

different way. A permanent exhibition of dolls and 

toys throughout the ages is complemented by the 

playing and handicraft room; and also temporary 

exhibitions, courses and children’s events. 

Cinema and Theatre Puppet House 

of the Tartu Toy Museum 

Wed-Sun 11-18 

phone +372 746 1778 

Lutsu 8 

www.mm.ee 

The Cinema and Theatre Puppet House of the 

Toy Museum displays the puppets and props of 

the Estonian animated movies made in the last 

half a century. There is also an introduction into 

the puppet theatre history; a chance to see animated 

cartoons; a view into the process of theatre 

puppet production; an overview of the technical 

predecessors to the current cinema; and the 

chance to test some of the simpler optical tricks. 

Tartu Art Museum 

Wed-Sun 11-18 

phone +372 744 1080, +372 744 1920 


www.tartmus.ee 

The Tartu Art Museum was opened in 1940 and today 

has one of Estonia’s finest art collections of painted, 

graphic, sculpted and multimedia works from mostly 

Estonian, but also Russian and Western European artists. 

The art fans can also peruse the art history archive, 

film and photo collection, and library. The Leaning 

House by the Town Hall Square hosts over 10 different 

exhibition projects during a year and the accompanying 

lectures and practical activities are organized by 

the education centre. The traditional exhibition “The 

Tales of Tartu’s Art”, already the eighth permanent exhibition, 

introduces the city’s art development history 

through the one and a half century of the artists and 

groups who studied, taught or were active in Tartu. 

Estonian Literary Museum 

Mon-Thu 9-17, Fri 9-16.30 

phone +372 737 7700 

Vanemuise 42 

www.kirmus.ee 

The Estonian Literary Museum is a national scientific 

and development institution administrated by the 

Ministry of Education and Research, that also works 

as the central archive of national literature and folklore, 

and the national archive library. The main goal of 

the Literary Museum is to guarantee the preservation 

of national cultural source materials necessary for the 

continuation of the national identity and the social 

memory, intellectual freedom and the wholesome 

cultural development; and also to conduct research 

and communication according to the scientific community’s 

and society’s needs and interests. 

The Literary Museum has six subsections: the Archival 

Library, the Estonian Folklore Archives, the Estonian 

Cultural History Archives, the Department of Folklore, 

the Department of Ethnomusicology, and the Administrative 

Department. The three structural units manage 

the large, unique folk cultural collections: the 

national heritage collection, the cultural historical 

source material collection, the folklore collection.

14 15 

Estonian National Museum 

Wed-Sun 11-18 

phone +372 742 1311, +372 742 2266 

Julius Kuperjanovi 9 

www.erm.ee 

The Estonian National Museum was founded in 1909 

to preserve the memory of Jakob Hurt, our biggest collector 

of old items, and to foster Estonian folklore research. 

During the first years of the museum, the main 

focus was on preserving the fading old peasant culture. 

Today, the main task of the Estonian National Museum 

is to form a complete picture of Estonian culture and 

to help preserve our national identity. The Museum 

deals mainly with collecting, preserving, studying 

and introducing the materials that reflect primarily 

Estonian culture, but also the culture of other Finno- 

Ugric peoples and the minorities living in Estonia. The 

Estonian National Museum is Estonia’s most important 

ethnological centre and, for a long time, was also one 

of the symbols of the Estonian people. 

Estonian Sports Museum 

Wed-Sun 11-18 

phone +372 730 0750 

Rüütli 15 

www.spordimuuseum.ee 

Estonia’s only sports museum, the largest in the 

Baltic States, is located in Tartu. The Estonian Sports 

Museum is one of the national central museums and 

its goal is to collect, preserve, study and introduce the 

materials related to Estonia’s athletics and sports. The 

Sports Museum features an interactive permanent 

exhibition “Hortus Athleticus” and also constantly 

organizes temporary exhibitions, conferences, information 

days, children’s events etc. During workdays, 

the sports fans can peruse the sports library. 

Estonian Agricultural Museum 

Mon-Sun 9-18, 

phone +372 738 3810 

Pargi 4, Ülenurme 

www.epm.ee 

The Estonian Agricultural Museum was founded in 

1968 and is located in the buildings of the former 

Ülenurme Manor in Tartu County. The museum’s permanent 

exhibitions give an overview of the Estonian 

peasant’s land cultivation, sowing practices, harvest, 

animal husbandry, flax growing and apiculture. The 

Agricultural Museum also hosts temporary exhibitions 

of the rural life and home, and offers a chance 

to participate in various workshops and children’s 

programs. The amphitheatre is home to the thoroughbred 

displays, theatre performances, concerts 

and other events. 

Museum of Tartu County 

Mon-Fri 10-17, Sat 10-15 

phone +372 745 6141 

Pikk 2, Elva 

www.tartumaamuuseum.ee 

The Museum of Tartu County was established in 1959 

as the national county museum. The Museum’s goal 

is to study, preserve and introduce the nature, culture 

and history of the Old Tartu County through exhibitions, 

programs and events. The Museum is also 

tasked with leading the county’s minor museums. 

The Museum of Tartu County is located in Elva.

16 17 

Tartu University Museums 

Tartu University Art Museum 

Mon-Fri 11-17, Sat-Sun with prior notice 

phone +372 737 5384 

Ülikooli 18 

www.ut.ee/artmuseum 

The Estonia’s oldest museum (active for over 200 

years) has preserved its rare interior, created in the 

middle of the 19th century with Pompeii style paintings. 

The wall paintings offer an interesting contrast 

to the white gypsum imitations of the most outstanding 

ancient sculptures. The Art Museum also offers 

the chance to see the Tartu University’s main building, 

Assembly Hall and solitary confinement cell. 

Museum of Tartu University History 

Wed-Sun 11-17 

phone +372 737 5674 

Lossi 25 

www.ut.ee/ajaloomuuseum 

The Museum’s permanent exhibition gives an overview 

of the Tartu University’s history since 1632. The 

scientific equipment on display has great historical 

scientific value. The Museum also offers the chance 

to get acquainted with the towers of the Tartu Dome 

Church. 

Tartu Observatory 

phone +372 737 6932 

Lossi 40 

The Tartu Observatory (built between 1808-1810) 

is on the location of the former Bishop’s Castle and 

is the quintessential 19th century observatory in its 

original glory. The Tartu Observatory was made famous 

by Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve (1793-1864) 

who used the Fraunhofer telescope, made in Munich 

as the best contemporary telescope in the world, to 

study twin stars and to be the first person to calculate 

the distance of the star Vega from Earth. On July 15, 

2005, the UNESCO added a new item to it World Heritage 

List - the so-called Struve Arc which is a 2 820 km 

long meridian section that passes through Estonia, 

stretches from Northern Norway to the Black Sea and 

was measured between 1816-1855 under Struve’s 

leadership. The Observatory is also one of the city’s 

symbols and the blue-black-white national flag has 

been flying on its tower since 1989 (two years before 

the official independence declaration). 

Tartu University Botanical Garden 

Mon-Sun 7-21 (7-19 during the winter), greenhouses Mon- 

Sun 10-17 

phone +372 737 6180 

Lai 38 

www.ut.ee/botaed 

The Tartu University Botanical Garden (established in 

1803) is the oldest continuously operating botanical 

garden in the Baltic States. The diverse landscape 

of 3.5 ha features designed plant collections which 

include 6 500 different species and types of plants 

with the natural habitat ranging from the tundra to 

the tropics. The Palm House (height 22 m) is the highest 

in the Baltic States and features 57 palm species. 

The Botanical Garden holds study trips, exhibitions, 

concerts, presentations and other events. 

Tartu University Geological Museum 

Wed-Sun 10-16 

phone +372 737 5839 

Vanemuise 46 

www.ut.ee/BGGM 

The Geological Museum was based on the Tartu University 

Nature Office, reopened in 1802. The exhibition 

displays minerals, meteorites with various consistency, 

fossils and layers from all periods. The Museum has 

also got an extensive display of Estonian palaeontology 

and geology, an overview of human evolution, a 

mammoth skull that is almost 40 000 years old, and 

the Devonian placoderm that was excavated from the 

Aruküla caves near Tartu and is about 390 million years 

old and almost two meters long. 

Tartu University Zoology Museum 

Wed-Sun 10-16 

phone +372 737 5833 

Vanemuise 46 

www.ut.ee/BGZM 

The Tartu University Zoology Museum was established 

in 1822 and is the oldest Estonian museum 

that studies, introduces and collects the samples of 

the world animal life. The oldest collections date back 

to 1803. The collection, the largest of its kind in the 

Baltic States, has over 5 000 articles (stuffed animals, 

skeletons, prepared samples).

16 17 

Tartu University Museums 

Tartu University Art Museum 

Mon-Fri 11-17, Sat-Sun with prior notice 

phone +372 737 5384 

Ülikooli 18 

www.ut.ee/artmuseum 

The Estonia’s oldest museum (active for over 200 

years) has preserved its rare interior, created in the 

middle of the 19th century with Pompeii style paintings. 

The wall paintings offer an interesting contrast 

to the white gypsum imitations of the most outstanding 

ancient sculptures. The Art Museum also offers 

the chance to see the Tartu University’s main building, 

Assembly Hall and solitary confinement cell. 

Museum of Tartu University History 

Wed-Sun 11-17 

phone +372 737 5674 

Lossi 25 

www.ut.ee/ajaloomuuseum 

The Museum’s permanent exhibition gives an overview 

of the Tartu University’s history since 1632. The 

scientific equipment on display has great historical 

scientific value. The Museum also offers the chance 

to get acquainted with the towers of the Tartu Dome 

Church. 

Tartu Observatory 

phone +372 737 6932 

Lossi 40 

The Tartu Observatory (built between 1808-1810) 

is on the location of the former Bishop’s Castle and 

is the quintessential 19th century observatory in its 

original glory. The Tartu Observatory was made famous 

by Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve (1793-1864) 

who used the Fraunhofer telescope, made in Munich 

as the best contemporary telescope in the world, to 

study twin stars and to be the first person to calculate 

the distance of the star Vega from Earth. On July 15, 

2005, the UNESCO added a new item to it World Heritage 

List - the so-called Struve Arc which is a 2 820 km 

long meridian section that passes through Estonia, 

stretches from Northern Norway to the Black Sea and 

was measured between 1816-1855 under Struve’s 

leadership. The Observatory is also one of the city’s 

symbols and the blue-black-white national flag has 

been flying on its tower since 1989 (two years before 

the official independence declaration). 

Tartu University Botanical Garden 

Mon-Sun 7-21 (7-19 during the winter), greenhouses Mon- 

Sun 10-17 

phone +372 737 6180 

Lai 38 

www.ut.ee/botaed 

The Tartu University Botanical Garden (established in 

1803) is the oldest continuously operating botanical 

garden in the Baltic States. The diverse landscape 

of 3.5 ha features designed plant collections which 

include 6 500 different species and types of plants 

with the natural habitat ranging from the tundra to 

the tropics. The Palm House (height 22 m) is the highest 

in the Baltic States and features 57 palm species. 

The Botanical Garden holds study trips, exhibitions, 

concerts, presentations and other events. 

Tartu University Geological Museum 

Wed-Sun 10-16 

phone +372 737 5839 

Vanemuise 46 

www.ut.ee/BGGM 

The Geological Museum was based on the Tartu University 

Nature Office, reopened in 1802. The exhibition 

displays minerals, meteorites with various consistency, 

fossils and layers from all periods. The Museum has 

also got an extensive display of Estonian palaeontology 

and geology, an overview of human evolution, a 

mammoth skull that is almost 40 000 years old, and 

the Devonian placoderm that was excavated from the 

Aruküla caves near Tartu and is about 390 million years 

old and almost two meters long. 

Tartu University Zoology Museum 

Wed-Sun 10-16 

phone +372 737 5833 

Vanemuise 46 

www.ut.ee/BGZM 

The Tartu University Zoology Museum was established 

in 1822 and is the oldest Estonian museum 

that studies, introduces and collects the samples of 

the world animal life. The oldest collections date back 

to 1803. The collection, the largest of its kind in the 

Baltic States, has over 5 000 articles (stuffed animals, 

skeletons, prepared samples).

20 21 

Private Museums 

Estonian Postal Museum 

Wed-Sun 11-18 

phone +372 730 0775 

Rüütli 15 

www.post.ee 

The Postal Museum was opened in 1935 in Tallinn, 

closed in 1947 and reopened in 1994 in Tartu. The 

Postal Museum offers an overview of Estonian postal 

history since 1632, the history of the telegraph in Estonia 

since 1854, and an overview of the history of the 

letter and the invention of paper and ink. Besides the 

permanent exhibition, the Museum also hosts about 

10 temporary exhibitions on various postal topics 

during the year. 

A. Le Coq Beer Museum 

Tours Thu 14 and Sat 10, 12, 14; 

Wed, Fri and Sat to groups with 1 day prior notice 

phone +372 744 9711 

Tähtvere 56/62 

www.alecoq.ee 

A. Le Coq Beer Museum is located in the A. Le Coq 

Beer Factory’s Malt Tower that was completed in 

1898 and now holds an exhibition of over 300 items 

that tell the tale of the beer culture in the world and 

in Estonia, and also the history of A. Le Coq. The 

Museum visit offers a tasting session and a trip to 

the production department upon request. Entrance 

through the main gate on the Laulupeo avenue (from 

the Tähtvere Park). 

are important in the history of flight. The external 

grounds showcase the helicopters Mi-2 and Mi-8; the 

propelled airplane Wilga-35; the training and practice 

airplane TS-11 Iskra; the fighter-bomber Su-22M4; the 

fighters Mig-21, JA Viggen 37 and Mirage IIIRS. 

Other 

Science Centre AHHAA 

phone +372 737 5798 

Lossi 40 

www.ahhaa.ee 

In the Science Centre, the visitor can try and test the 

items and spend an interesting time with family or 

friends. In addition to the natural sciences (chemistry, 

physics, biology), the Centre introduces history, languages, 

psychology. Every year AHHAA produces a 

couple of new theme exhibitions. 

Concert Venues 

Tartu Aviation Museum 

from May to October Mon-Sun 11-18 

phone +372 513 5490 

Veskiorg 1, Lange, Haaslava parish 

www.lennundusmuuseum.ee 

The Tartu Aviation Museum was opened on June 14 

in 2002. The idea behind the museum creation was 

to provide flight-related information to interested 

youngsters. The three floors of the Aviation Museum 

display a few hundred models of airplanes that 

Tartu Festival Arena 

phone +372 742 2952 

Laulupeo pst 25 

www.arena.ee 

St. Anthony’s Guild 

phone +372 742 3823 

Lutsu 5 

www.antonius.ee

22 23 

Tartu St. Paul’s Church 

phone +372 742 0258 

Riia 27 

Theatres 

Tartu St. Peter’s Church 

phone +372 733 3261 

Narva mnt 104 

Theatre Vanemuine 

Tartu Town Hall’s Council Hall 

phone +372 736 1205 

Tartu Salem Church 

phone +372 734 3664 

Kalevi 76 

Tartu St. John’s Church 

phone +372 744 2229 

Jaani 5 

Tartu City Museum hall 

phone +372 746 1911 

Narva mnt 23 

Museum of Tartu University History Hall 

phone +372 737 5674 

Lossi 25 

Tartu University Assembly Hall 

phone +372 737 5685 

Ülikooli 18 

Vanemuise Concert House 

phone +372 737 7530 

Vanemuise 6 

www.concert.ee 

Estonia’s oldest theatre, Vanemuine, is in many ways 

connected to the number three. First of all, Vanemuine 

uses three buildings. The Big House with its 700-seat 

hall is on top of the hill in the city centre. A bit off centre, 

in the quiet air of the park, is an architecturally outstanding 

Small House with its more than 400-seat hall. 

On the bank of the River Emajõgi is the black-box type 

Harbour Theatre with 300 seats. In addition to three 

buildings, Vanemuine also has three branches: the 

literary, musical and dance theatre. The repertoire includes 

dramas, comedies, tragedies, operas, operettas, 

musicals, classical ballet plays and modern dance plays. 

The long history of Estonia’s only three-genre theatre 

dates back to 1870. However, Vanemuine as Estonia’s 

oldest professional theatre dates back to 1906. 

Big House of Theatre Vanemuine 

phone +372 744 0165 

Vanemuise 6 

www.vanemuine.ee 

Small House of Theatre Vanemuine 

phone +372 744 0160 

Vanemuise 45A 

www.vanemuine.ee 

Harbour Theatre 

phone +372 734 4248 

Soola 5B 

www.vanemuine.ee/sadamateater

24 25 

Galleries And Art Shops 

Galleries 

Art Shops 

Tartu German Institute of Culture’s 

Suitcase Gallery 

Mon-Thu 9-12, 13-18; Fri 8-12, 13-17 

phone +372 742 2639 

Kastani 1 

www.dki.ee 

Finnish Institute’s Picture Corridor 

Mon-Fri 10-16, Wed 10-18 

phone +372 742 7319 

Vanemuise 19 

www.finst.ee/pildikoridor 

Tartu Art House 

Wed-Mon 12-18 

phone +372 742 7671 

Vanemuise 26 

www.kunstimaja.ee 

Gallery of Tartu Art School for Children 

Mon-Fri 12-18 

phone +372 736 1578 

Jakobi 52 

www.lkk.tartu.ee 

Tartu University Library Gallery 

Mon-Fri 9-21, Sat-Sun 11-17 

phone +372 737 5749 

Struve 1 

www.utlib.ee 

Tampere House 

Mon-Fri 9-18, Sat-Sun 9 –15 

phone +372 738 6301 

Jaani 4 

www.tamperemaja.ee 

Y Gallery 

Tue-Fri 11-18, Sat 12-16, Sun 12-15 

phone +372 737 6036 

Küütri 2 

Gildi Gallery 

Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat 10-16 

phone +372 744 2170 

Gildi 2 

Art Dealership and Gallery E-Kunstisalong 

Mon-Sat 9-21, Sun 9-18 

phone +372 731 4955, +372 736 6777 

Riia 1 

www.e-kunstisalong.ee 

Mikkeli Gallery and Art Dealership 

Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat 11-16 

phone +372 734 4065 

Tähe 39 

Obu Gallery 

Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat 10-15, 

during the summer also: Sun 11-15 

phone +372 744 2215 


Tuvikese Art Dealership 

Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat 10-16 

phone +372 515 1950 

Poe 9 

Raesalong 

Mon-Sat 11-18 

phone +372 740 5022 


Cinema 

Ekraan 

phone +372 742 0508 

Riia 14 

www.superkinod.ee

26 27 

Libraries 

Tartu Public Library 

Mon-Fri 9-19, Sat 10-16 

phone +372 736 1375 

Kompanii 3/5 

www.luts.ee 

The Tartu Public Library is a universal public library, 

welcoming all locals and guests. As an info centre, 

the library’s main goal is to collect and make 

available the information and materials – books, 

newspapers and magazines, music albums, video 

films, electronic databases etc – that the visitors 

may need. Both the central collection and the 

three branch offices host public internet stations 

and the library compiles the database “Story of 

Tartu” (www.biblioserver.ee) that collects all of the 

information that has been released about Tartu’s 

sights and history, people and institutions. In addition 

to satisfying the needs for education and 

information, the library also functions as a cultural 

centre, hosting book and art exhibitions, meetings 

with the writers, concerts, performances, fairytale 

mornings, quiz shows and children’s workshops. 

Annelinna Branch Office 

Mon-Fri 9-18 

phone +372 746 1040, +372 746 1041 

Kaunase pst 23 

Karlova-Ropka Branch Office 

Mon-Fri 10-19, Sat 10-16 

phone +372 730 8472, +372 730 8473 

Tehase 16 

Tammelinna Branch Office 

Mon-Fri 10-19, Sat 10-16 

phone +372 746 1035 , +372 746 1036 

Suur kaar 56 

Lubja street Lending Station 

Mon, Wed 14-18, Fri 10-14 

phone +372 736 1698 

Staadioni 73 

Tartu University Library 

Mon-Fri 9-21, Sat-Sun 11-17 

phone +372 737 5702 

Struve 1 

www.utlib.ee 

The Tartu University Library is Estonia’s oldest and 

biggest scientific library that was established in 

1802. Today’s Tartu University Library is a national 

and universal scientific and archival library with the 

mission of collecting, preserving and presenting information 

needed by the society. The library is made 

unique by the scientifically and culturally valuable 

collections that include the Estonian and Livonian 

chronicle manuscripts by Chr. Kelch and Th. Hjärne; 

the Immanuel Kant manuscript legacy; the graphical 

sheets by Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt; the 

portrait paintings by G. von Kügelgen; the original 

photos by William Henry Fox Talbot, the world’s first 

maker of paper photos; the funeral mask of Aleksandr 

Pushkin. The Tartu University Library also constantly 

holds exhibitions that present both the history and 

scientific achievements and artistic collections of 

the university. The conference centre offers modern, 

complex scientific and conference tourism services 

and organizes tours to show the library’s assets. The 

restoration centre accepts commission to restore 

paper and leather articles and offers consultations on 

restoration issues. 

Sports Library of the Estonian Sports Museum 

Mon-Fri 9-16 

phone +372 730 0759 

Rüütli 15 

www.spordimuuseum.ee 

The Estonian Sports Museum’s library has about 

25 000 publications concerning sport. The library also 

offers the opportunity to study the materials – manuscripts, 

diplomas and various documents – that are 

kept in the Sports Museum’s archive collection. All 

materials are for on-site research, no materials can 

be checked out.

28 29 

Finnish Institute Library 

Mon-Fri 10-16, Wed 10-18 

phone +372 742 7319 

Vanemuise 19 

urr.urania.ee/finst/avalik 

The Finnish Institute has the best library in the Baltic 

States that contains Finland’s periodicals and also 

encyclopaedias, classic Finnish literature, new fiction, 

and Finnish literature in Estonian. All of the books can 

be checked out. 

Hobby Education Schools 

H. Eller Tartu Music School 

phone +372 742 3705 

Lossi 15 

eller.tmk.ee 

Arsis Handbell School 

phone +372 734 8366 

Tähe 101 

www.arsis.ee/kool 

IDA Dance School 

phone +372 5558 4963 

Brass Band Tartu 

phone +372 734 8770 

Tähe 101 

www.potartu.ee 

Tartu Environmental Education Centre 

phone +372 736 1693 

Kompanii 10 

www.teec.ee 

Cultural Institutions and Organizations 

Municipal Hobby Education Schools 

Tartu I Music School 

phone +372 736 1555 

Tähe 5 

tmk.tartu.ee 

Tartu II Music School 

phone +372 746 1708 


Tartu Art School for Children 

phone +372 736 1575 

Jakobi 52 

www.lkk.tartu.ee 

Private Hobby Education Schools 

Vanemuine Dance and Ballet School 

phone +372 5669 8956 

www.hot.ee/balletikool 

St. Anthony’s Courtyard 

phone +372 742 3823 

Lutsu 5 

www.antonius.ee 

The St. Anthony’s Courtyard is located in the Jaani 

quarter in Tartu’s historic city centre. The three 

buildings are home to the 21 open workshops of St. 

Anthony’s Guild: the workshops of stained-glass window-making, 

leatherworking, goldsmithing, carpet 

and patch-making, china-making, fabric decorating, 

textile-making, hattery; furrier’s workshop, doll-making 

workshop, painting workshop; the workshops of 

haberdashery, washed wood, accessories, fashionable 

garments, cloth and fabric, historical costumes, 

textile design, fine garments, and clay. Everyone 

can step into the workshops to see the artists and 

artisans at work and to possibly try their own hand 

at the crafts. A courtyard stage, dance and market 

square, gallery and café terrace are all located in 

the cozy inner courtyard which also hosts concerts, 

performances, exhibitions, Dance Courts and various 

art events. The second floor Guild Hall holds a permanent 

exhibition of the history of Tartu Small Guild, in 

addition to several temporary exhibitions.

30 31 

Estonian Literary Society 

phone +372 742 7079 

Vanemuise 19 

www.kirjandus.ee 

The Estonian Literary Society, founded in 1907, is a 

pan-Estonian organization with the goal of promoting 

literature, science and art. In order to achieve this 

goal, the Society organizes seminars, presentation 

meetings, festivals etc. The largest events are the 

Literature Week “Sotsia”, the Tartu Literature Festival 

“Prima Vista” and the Vanemuise Cultural Street Day. 

The Society is also the initiator and one of the organizers 

of the Estonian Book Year (1935-36, 2000-2001). 

Tartu Art House 

phone +372 742 7671 

Vanemuise 26 


The goal and mission of the Tartu Art House is to introduce 

the modern Estonian art in its full glory and 

diversity to the audience. All of the interest groups 

are considered in the compilation of the exhibition 

program which includes different art forms and techniques, 

works by young and already celebrated artists, 

works that use traditional and more innovative 

media. The two galleries of the Tartu Art House host 

exhibitions all year round for free of charge. 

Tartu Department of Estonian Writers’ Union 

phone +372 734 1073 

Vanemuise 19 

www.ekl.ee 

The Tartu Department of Estonian Writers’ Union 

unites the EWU members south of Põltsamaa. The 

EWU is a creative union of writers, fiction translators 

and literary scientists-critics with the goal of promoting 

literary culture, fostering and supporting the creative 

activities of its members and protecting their interests 

and rights. The Tartu Department of the EWU 

manages the Tartu Literature House, organizing book 

presentations and other literary events. 

Tartu Artists’ Union 

phone +372 742 7671 

Vanemuise 26 


The NGO Tartu Artists’ Union is an association of artists 

and art critics and its goals are to develop art-related 

activities and research in every aspect; to help 

raise the prestige of art in the society; to develop the 

population’s artistic education and creative thinking. 

In order to achieve this, the TAU helps its members by 

renting studio rooms at discount prices, distributing 

support sums, aiding the artists in arranging exhibitions 

and maintaining a non-profit gallery. 

Finnish Institute 

phone +372 742 7319 

Vanemuise 19 

www.finst.ee 

The Finnish Institute is an information centre open 

to all and introducing the Finnish society, culture, 

science and economic life. The Institute has a library 

both in Tartu and Tallinn for offering the visitors a 

chance to read and check out Finnish newspapers 

and magazines, fiction and information literature. 

The Finnish Institute also organizes diverse events 

– lectures, courses, exhibitions, concerts, literary 

events and meetings - to promote Finnish culture all 

over Estonia. 

Tartu German Institute for Culture 

phone +372 742 2639 

Kastani 1 

www.dki.ee 

The Tartu German Institute for Culture is a non-profit 

organization that is supported financially by the 

Federal Republic of Germany’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

The goal of the Tartu GIC is to promote German 

culture and teach German in Estonia, also to promote 

Estonian culture in Germany and develop the cultural 

relationships between Estonia and Germany. The 

Suitcase Gallery of the Tartu GIC is a small non-profit 

gallery, founded in 2000. The Suitcase Gallery hosts 

regular exhibitions by modern German artists to 

intensify contacts between the artists and art fans of 

the two countries.

32 33 

Tartu Student House 

phone +372 730 2400 

Kalevi 24 

www.ut.ee/tym 

The NGO Tartu Student House was founded by the 

Tartu University and the Estonian Agricultural University 

on March 31, 1999. The main function of the 

Tartu Student House is to coordinate the activities of 

the performing groups from Tartu’s universities, and 

to support and develop cultural-creative self-actualization. 

The Tartu Student House also offers a chance 

to rent rooms for various events and assemblies and 

is the home of the University Culture Club, a union 

of Tartu universities’ students and alumni. The cooperation 

between the Student House and Culture Club 

results in the Tartu Students Days – the Tartu Spring 

Days in the spring and the Tartu Autumn Days in the 

autumn. The Tartu Student House also manages the 

Veski Villa (Veski 6) and the Y Gallery (Küütri 2). 

Tiigi Community Centre 

phone +372 736 1564 

Tiigi 11 

www.tartu.ee/rahvakultuur 

The Tiigi Community Centre promotes and introduces 

Estonian folk culture, coordinates and advises 

the activities of the cultural associations in the field, 

and represents the pan-Estonian folk cultural organizations 

in Tartu. The institution offers the citizens of 

Tartu diverse opportunities for spending free time in 

an entertaining way, organizing cultural events and 

renting rooms to amateur groups. The Tiigi Community 

House fulfils cultural commission from the City of 

Tartu, if necessary. 

Businesses and Foundations 

Related to Culture 

and Partially Owned by the City of Tartu 

Tartu Environmental Education Centre Foundation 

phone +372 736 1693 

Kompanii 10 

www.teec.ee 

The Tartu Environmental Education Centre deals 

with children’s and adult’s training on environment, 

and hobby education; organizes courses, study days, 

camps, public lectures, seminars, exhibitions and other 

events. The goal of the Centre is to teach children, 

youngsters and adults to know nature, to make them 

aware of the environment and to shape environmentally-friendly 

values. The Centre also hosts the Tartu 

Nature House, a children’s and youth hobby school 

where students can participate in the activities of the 

natural and environmental groups. 

Tähtvere Recreational Park Foundation 

phone +372 742 2952 

Laulupeo pst 25 

www.arena.ee 

The Tähtvere Recreational Park Foundation was established 

in 2002. The Tähtvere recreational Park is 

a cultural and sports complex that offers its visitors 

an opportunity for active rest. In addition to the Tartu 

Festival Arena, the Recreational Park also includes 

the Tähtvere Sports Park and the Simpel Skatepark. 

During the winter, the grounds have a ski and skate 

rental; during the summer, the rollerskate rental. 

OÜ Uppsala Maja 

phone +372 736 1535 

Jaani 7 

www.uppsalamaja.ee 

The city’s oldest, 250-year old wooden house is the 

home to the information centre that promotes Tartu’s 

twin town Uppsala and Sweden. The Uppsala House 

has an art gallery and rooms for meetings and festive 

events.

34 35 

Tampere House Foundation, OÜ Tampere Maja 

phone +372 738 6300 

Jaani 4 

www.tamperemaja.ee 

The Tampere House is the Tartu and Tampere cultural 

and cooperation centre. The house (built in 1737) also 

hosts a gallery, a guesthouse and a sauna. We organize 

exhibitions, literature evenings, concerts, theatre 

plays, and mediate information about Finland. 

Tartu Music Festival Foundation 

phone +372 740 7748 

Tiigi 11 

www.festival.tartu.ee 

The Tartu Music Festival Foundation was established 

in 2003 by the City of Tartu and the Estonian Music 

Academy for supporting musical development in 

Tartu and offering musical experiences to both the 

citizens and visitors to the city. The goal of the Tartu 

Music Festival’s projects is to support the identity of 

the city in a well-planned and systematic way, shaping 

the city’s image with attractive cultural events. 

The larger projects that have been undertaken so 

far have been the gala concert “Armastame Head 

Muusikat” (“We Love Good Music”) in August 2003, 

the author song festival “Mailaul” (“May Song”) in May 

2004 and 2005, and the author gala of Olav Ehala at 

the Tartu Festival Arena in August 2005. 

Tartu County Tourism Foundation 

phone +372 744 2111 


www.visittartu.com 

The Tartu County Tourism Foundation coordinates 

tourism-related cooperation in the City and County 

of Tartu: the activities include the tourism-related 

marketing of Tartu County; the design of the area’s 

tourism products, and the motivation of the companies 

offering tourism services; participation in the 

tourism fairs; initiating and participating in tourismrelated 

projects; the collection, systematization and 

dissemination of tourism information. The tasks of 

the Tartu Tourism Info Centre are to distribute free 

and unbiased tourism information, to collect statistics, 

and to update the tourism information database 

www.visitestonia.com of the City and County of Tartu 

and the Tourism Development Centre; also, the sale 

of publications and souvenirs, and responding to information 

requests. The Tartu County Tourism Foundation 

was established by the Tartu City Government 

and the Association of Local Municipalities of Tartu 

County in 1999. 

Tartu Folk High School Training Centre Foundation 

phone +372 736 1540 

Pepleri 4 

www.rahvaylikool.ee 

The Tartu Folk High School Training Centre is an adult 

training centre that carries the traditions of Nordic 

folk high schools. The main activities of the Folk 

High School are the advanced and free education 

training for adults, organizing cultural events, and 

project-based activities. The Folk High School’s motto 

is: learning is fun! Everyone who wants to develop or 

train themselves is welcome. 

Cultural Endowment of Tartu 

phone +372 744 1500 


www.kultuurkapital.ee 

The Cultural Endowment of Tartu is a charity fund 

founded by the City of Tartu to support cultural, scientific, 

education and sports projects and the creative 

persons in those fields. Both companies and private 

persons can create sub-funds to the Cultural Endowment 

and the donator is naturally the one to determine 

the sub-fund’s direction. We also collect additional 

money for existing sub-funds and good initiatives and 

our goal is to help support the development of culture 

and the studying youth. Good ideas, initiatives and 

young people should never go without support. 

Tartu St. John’s Church Foundation 

phone +372 744 2229 

Lutsu 16-3 

Tartu St. John’s (Jaani) Church Foundation was established 

in1998 by the representatives of the Republic 

of Estonia, the City of Tartu, the Tartu deanery of the 

Estonian Evangelic Lutheran Church (EELK), the Tartu 

University congregation of the EELK, and the Tartu St. 

John’s congregation of the EELK. The foundation was 

established for financing the projects for the restoration 

of Tartu St. John’s Church, its later use and preservation. 

Tartu St. John’s Chuch was reopened in the 

summer of 2005.

36 37 

Youth Centres of the City of Tartu 

Municipal Centres 

Anne Youth Centre 

Mon-Fri 9-20 

phone +372 746 1763, +372 5566 8282 

fax +372 746 1762 

Uus 56 

www.annenk.tartu.ee 

info@annenk.tartu.ee 

The Anne Youth Centre is like its main visitors – a 

bit rambunctious, happy teenager who is active in 

initiating ideas and eager in their implementation. 

The multimedia lab offers activities to fans of computers, 

photography, videos and music; the climbing 

wall in AegRuum demands a physical effort and this 

can be complemented by the adventure and traffic 

trips by the Anne Youth Centre. The AegRuum is a 

leisure room renovated by the youngsters and the 

employees themselves for both playing and reading, 

surfing the internet and brewing tea in the kitchen 

corner. The doors of the Youth Info Centre are open 

to both youngsters and parents for questions about 

many things. Those who are interested can also participate 

in the groups organized by various non-profit 

organizations. 

Children and Youth Centre “Lille Maja” 

Mon-Fri 9-20 

phone +372 736 1689 

Lille 9 

www.lille.tartu.ee 

The Lille Maja is a youth institution that has been active 

in the field already since the 1950s. Today’s Lille 

Maja gives the youth the chance to participate in 

cultural, work, health promotional, and commercially 

developing activities. In cooperation with youngsters 

and youth associations, the Lille Maja initiates and 

carries out projects, distributes information, organizes 

training – thereby providing youngsters with 

diverse activities for their free time. The building is 

home to numerous youth hobby clubs and the basement 

floor hosts the youth room opened by the NGO 

Creative Centre. 

Centres Managed by the Non-profit Sector 

Youth Centre KOHT 

Mon-Fri 14-20 

phone +372 742 2052, +372 5568 5989 

Pepleri 10 

www.koht.ee 

noortekeskus@koht.ee 

We are “KOHT” – the “PLACE” – where you can spend 

fun time, participate in hobby groups and join the 

events. We are the PLACE for working with youngsters, 

for practising project writing skills and gaining 

international youth work experiences. This is the 

PLACE to be! 

Tähe Centre for Youth and Children 

Mon-Fri 13-20 

phone +372 5563 5529 

Tähe 101 

www.tartu.ee/taheklubi 

The Tähe Centre for Youth and Children is active since 

2001. We offer youngsters the activities they like 

and find interesting. In 2004 we opened a children’s 

centre in the same building and this has become a 

popular playing location for children between the 

ages 7-12, organizing many diverse events and trips. 

The Tähe Centre for Youth and Children also hosts the 

hiking club, dance group, computer group, art group, 

and cooking club. 

Children’s and Youth Centre “Öökull” 

Thu-Sat 16-21, Sun 12-16 

phone +372 738 0350, +372 5340 9211 

Uus 56 

www.ank.ee/ookyll 

ookyll@ank.ee 

“Öökull” awaits all youngsters who want to spend time 

in an interesting and purposeful way. Here you can 

find new friends, try your hand at cooking and drumplaying, 

participate in various groups, have adventures 

and go hiking, and also take part in numerous 

camps, events and other undertakings. The instructors 

are young, cool and active people. Self-actualization 

also includes the opportunity to do volunteer 

work both in the centre and abroad.

38 39 

Creative Centre 

Mon-Fri 14-19 

phone +372 5622 4717 

Lille 9 

www.loovkeskus.ee 

The Creative Centre gives all young and youthful 

people the chance to get acquainted with all sorts of 

modern creative activities. The Open Arts Room offers 

the chance to sculpt, paint and do handicraft. The 

Tales From The Land and the Sea is a monthly travel 

and hiking evening where participants are informed 

of all sorts of travel opportunities and the different 

lands and peoples. The Theatre Corner awaits all 

daydreamers and fairytale lovers. The Cooking Club 

tries out and creates new recipes. The Game Corner is 

a place for the hardest of all jobs: learning and teaching 

various games. 

Tartu Christian Home 

Mon-Fri 16-20 

phone +372 734 4023 

Koidu 13 

www.teehead.org/kristlikkodu 

koidukodu@hot.ee 

In addition to functioning as an orphanage, the Tartu 

Christian Home also offers many public and group 

activities, such as sewing, woodworking and computer 

groups and children’s learning support group. 

There are also regular training sessions for young job 

seekers. 

Youth Centre Urg 

Mon-Fri 15-20 

phone +372 734 6705, +372 5810 0762 

Pargi 8 

www.dragon.ee 

lers@dragon.ee 

“Urg” was created to jointly develop and maintain 

the high level of roleplaying games in Estonia. This 

requires the development of the single components 

that make up the roleplaying game: these are primarily 

the skills and knowledge that we can use during 

the games, such as the world and Estonian history 

and cultural history, national handicrafts, literature, 

music, dance, creative arts, theatre etc. It is difficult to 

find a field of activity that cannot be connected to the 

roleplaying games, because these games are like life 

itself: encompassing everything. 

Skatehall 

Mon-Fri 15-20 

phone +372 5214 701 

Võru 47E 

mario@elamussport.ee 

The Skatehall offers youngsters the year-long chance 

to do skateboarding and (roller)skating. 

Sports Facilities 

Tartu City Sports Bases 

Tamme Stadium 

phone +372 746 1062 

Kungla 1 

www.tartu.ee/spordibaasid 

The sports base offers the chance to deal with several 

sports. The stadium is mostly used as a football pitch: 

the territory includes a full-sized grass pitch and an 

artificial pitch. The welfare building includes the 

wrestling hall, general PE room and bicycle base. It is 

possible to play tennis on the open courts in summer 

and under the inflatable dome in winter. The stadium 

territory also includes open basketball courts, a 1 km 

long health route and a 600 m long asphalt route 

for bicycling and rollerskating. Children can use a 

playground. The Tamme Stadium is used as a regional 

public health sports centre. In the next 2-3 years, the 

Tamme Stadium football field and athletics stadium 

will be renovated and a new stand building will be 

constructed to enable the stadium to host international 

sporting events. 

Turu Street sports building 

phone +372 736 1685 

Turu 8 


The Turu Street sports building is mainly a youth 

sports centre with 4 different size halls, one general 

PE room and club rooms. It is possible to play basketball, 

volleyball, gymnastics and aesthetic group gymnastics, 

fencing, acrobatics, tennis and badminton.

40 

Visa Sports Hall 

phone +372 742 4583 

Ravila 80 


The Sports Hall is used mostly by tennis and badminton 

amateurs and also other ball game enthusiasts. It 

is possible to play table tennis and to box in the Hall. 

Annemõisa football pitch 


A football stadium with artificial covering. During the 

morning, the students of the surrounding schools use 

the stadium for PE lessons and during the evening 

the stadium is used by the football clubs of Tartu for 

practice. 

Sepa Street stadium 

Sepa 15a 

A grass stadium for football practice. 

Veski Sports Base 

Pilkuse village, Otepää parish 

A youth sports base near Otepää by the Kaarna Lake 

that can be used all year round. The most active usage 

period is during the summer and the users include 

Tartu’s sports clubs and various youth associations. 

Mäe-Kääraku Sports Base 

phone +372 746 1062 

Haanja parish, Võru County 

The Sports Base is used in summer to host youth 

sport camps. 

Businesses Related to Sport and Owned Partially by City of Tartu 

OÜ Tartu Veekeskus/Aura Centre 

Turu 10 

www.aurakeskus.ee 

Centres Managed by the Non-profit Sector 

Rowing and Paddling Centre (SAK) 

Ranna tee 3 

www.hot.ee/saktartu 

Ice Hall of Lõunakeskus 

Ringtee 75

This publication is supported by the 

EU ERDF programme Interreg IIIA 

Southern Finland and Estonia as part 

of the project “Saame kokku”.

Tartu's cultural institutions and organisations

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