Tartu (formerly known as Dorpat or Yuryev) is the second largest
city in Estonia with a population of 100,000. Tartu is a Hanseatic
city and university city. It is the oldest town in Estonia dating
back to 1030. Its ancient name “Tarbatu” was shortened to “Tartu” in
Estonian and to “Dorpat” in German. Although large parts of the city
were destroyed during World War II, Tartu still has a charming old
town surrounded by large parks (some of which were completely built
up neighborhoods before the war).
Tartu is located 185 km
southeast of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The Emajõgi River,
which connects the two largest lakes in Estonia, flows within the
city for 10 km.
Tourist Information Center, Raekoja plats
(part of the town hall building), +372 744 21 11, fax: +372 744 21
11, e-mail:
tartu@visitestonia.com. Sat 10: 00-17: 00, Sunday 10: 00-16: 00.
Located on the first floor of the Tartu Town Hall.
Language
Since Tartu is a student city, English is widely
understood. As usual, older people often speak only Estonian and
Russian.
The architecture and urban planning of historic Tartu mainly date
back to the pre-independence period, when the Germans form the upper
and middle classes of society and therefore many architects,
professors and local politicians are involved.
The most
famous are the old Lutheran church of St. John (Estonian: Jaani
Kirik, German: Johanneskirche), the 18th century town hall, the
university building, the 13th century cathedral ruins, botanical
gardens, the main shopping street, many buildings around the Town
Hall Square and Barclay Square.
The Supilinn (Soup Town) Slum
Historic District is located on the banks of the Emajõgi River,
close to the city center and is considered one of the few surviving
"poor" districts in 19th century Europe. Nowadays Supilinn is
rapidly renewing itself, undergoing a slow transformation from a
historic slum into a prestigious high-end area. The active community
embodied in the Supilinn Society is committed to preserving
heritage.
World War II destroyed much of the city center and
many new buildings were built during the Soviet occupation, in
particular the new theater Vanemuine. The aftermath of the war still
testifies to the relative abundance of parks and greenery in the
historic center. Typical Soviet-style blocks of flats were built
between World War II and the restoration of Estonian independence in
1991, the largest of which was Annelinn.
Today Tartu is also
known for several modern buildings in the “steel, concrete and
glass” variant, but it has managed to keep the mix of old and new
buildings in the city center. Notable examples include the Tigutorn
Tower and the Emajõe Center, built during the current independence
period; The tallest and second tallest towers in Tartu,
respectively. Tartu's large student population means that it has a
relatively thriving nightlife with many nightclubs, bars and
restaurants, including the world's highest-ceilinged pub in the
historic Tartu Gunpowder Cellar.
Every summer, Tartu hosts
the Hanseatic Days Festival (Estonian: Hansapäevad), dedicated to
its Hanseatic heritage. The festival includes activities such as
craft markets, history workshops and wrestling tournaments.