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

Tartu is an ancient Baltic city, where one-fifth of the population are students. Young people seek here from different regions of Europe to obtain prestigious education in one of the most eminent and strong institutions of higher education in the Baltic States. But not only his university is proud of Tartu, except for him, there are preserved buildings of the Middle Ages, crooked streets and cobblestone streets, museums are functioning, and hotels and restaurants welcome their guests cordially.

Geographical position

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

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

How to get to Tartu?

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

With other Estonian cities, Tartu has an established bus service. The small building of the bus station is right in the center of the city.

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

Weather in Tartu

Many locals and guests of the city believe that the weather in Tartu (Estonia) is better than in the neighboring counties of the country. Winter is usually mild, summer is not hot. The average air temperature in winter is -5 ºС, in summer - +18 ºС. But recently there has been a trend towards higher temperatures. In the summer days, air sometimes warms up to +35 ºС, and in winter the thermometer's column is less and less below the zero degree mark.

History

The history of Tartu is from the 5th century AD, when the settlement of the Estonians, named "Tarbatu", settled here. In 1030, these lands were conquered by the Russian state, and the city became known as Yuryev.

The settlement was raided many times by local tribes and in 1224 it was conquered by the German order of the swordsmen who gave the city a different name - Dorpat. The next three-odd centuries, he remained German.

In 1625 the city passed to the Swedes, five years later a high school was opened here, which became the base for the creation of the now famous university.

After the end of the Northern War (1721), Dorpat was part of the Russian Empire. Since 1883, Yuryev has come to be called again.

Its present name was given to the city of Tartu in 1919, at the same time it became part of the Republic of Estonia.

Hotels in Tartu

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

It can be a stylish five-star boutique hotel "Antonius", located opposite the University of Tartu or a cozy villa "Margareta", decorated in the Art Nouveau style. Also worth mentioning is 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, which testifies to the reigning here A pleasant atmosphere, despite the apparent simplicity of the institution.

The main attractions of the city

The center of Tartu is a typical old city, similar to many other cities with narrow cobblestone streets and adjoining houses. In its center is the Town Hall Square, on which the Town Hall building dominates.

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

Here at all times scientific discoveries were made, great scientists worked, the teaching staff for other educational institutions was preparing, and just the students were studying. Today the university does not lose its importance, having a large scientific base and a complex of auxiliary institutions.

The 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 sculpture of enamored students at the Town Hall Square, the building of the main building of the university, a "falling house" and an arched bridge that connects the two banks of the Emajõgi River.

Also monuments of the history of the city are the two churches of the Middle Ages: Dome and Jaan.

Recreation and entertainment

Perhaps, one of the most visited places in Tartu, according to tourists' reviews, is the scientific and entertainment center AH-HAA. Visitors here are waiting for interactive attractions, a planetarium, scientific expositions and a theater. The same popularity won the water park "Aura" with its own health center, many slides and pools.

No less attractive are walking along the streets of the Old City on foot or by boat along the main water artery of Tartu. In summer, you can enjoy the beauty of the flowering Botanical Garden outside and inside the greenhouses, in which you can see not only exotic plants, but also turtles.

Fans of shopping will appreciate the large shopping complexes that can be visited by the whole family.

Tartu (Estonia) is a city in which you need to come only once, then to dream of coming back here again.