Page 120 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

118  EST ONIA REGION B Y REGION

e Tartu P Tartu University Main
Building
Best known for being home to the venerable Tartu University, Ülikooli 18. Tel 737 5384. Open 11am–
the city is frequently referred to as the intellectual capital of 5pm Mon–Fri. & 8 7 ∑ ut.ee
Estonia. The uni versity was founded in 1632 by King Gustav Finished in 1809, Tartu University
Adolphus of Sweden (1594–1632) and has played a major role Main Building (Tartu ülikooli
peahoone) is one of Estonia’s
in Estonian history ever since. With the second-largest finest Neo-Classical buildings. It
population in the country, Tartu has a thriving cultural scene contains the impressive Art
and exciting nightlife, and makes a convenient base from Museum, from where the
which to explore the southeast of the country. imposing Assembly Hall and the
far more amusing Lock-Up can
be visited. Unruly students were
confined to the Lock-Up as
punishment, and their doodles
and scribbles, which adorn its
walls, make for amusing reading.
R St John’s Church
Jaani 5. Tel 744 2229. Open May–
Sep: 10am–6pm Mon–Sat, 10am–
1pm Sun. & 5 11am Sun.
∑ jaanikirik.ee
Dating from 1330, St John’s
Church (Jaani kirik) was severely
damaged by bomb ing during
World War II. However, even after
Town Hall Square, with the Kissing Students Fountain in the centre extensive renovations and the
addition of a new spire in 1999,
P Town Hall Square pink Town Hall overlooking it the church remains one of the
Tartu’s historic centre is set from the top. The Great Fire of best examples of brick Gothic
around Town Hall Square 1775 burned down most of the architecture in Northern Europe.
(Raekoja plats), with the city and today the square’s Neo- Hundreds of elaborate
Emajõgi river in the front and Classical look is in sync with the terracotta figures, dating from
Toome-mägi (see pp120–21) just rest of the city centre. The the Middle Ages, adorn the
behind it. The gently slop ing famous Kissing Students church’s interior. It is believed
cobble-stoned square is dis- Fountain, in front of the Town that there were originally more
tinctly Neo-Classical, with the Hall, was erected in 1998. than 1,000 of them.

Tartu
1 Town Hall Square
2 Tartu University MAGASINI M U N G A
Main Building St John’s
Church
3 St John’s Church L U T S U JAANI VA B A
4 Tartu Art Museum M U N G A
5 Father and Son J A K O B I RÜÜTLI RÜÜTLI KOMPA NII
Statue L A I G I LD I GILD I D U S E P U I E S T E E Emajõgi
MA GI ST RI
Tartu University KÜÜTRI
Main Building
Tartu Art
TOOMEMÄGI Museum
Town
Hall Square R A E K O J A P L AT S
Riverboat Pier
Cathedral LO S S I 100 m (110 yards)
Ruins K Ü Ü N I POE Bus Station
Angel’s 320 m (350 yards)
Bridge
LO S S I
0 metres 150 Father and
Railway Station Son Statue
0 yards 150 1.5 km (1 mile) Devil’s
Bridge
Ü L I K O O L I Ü L I K O O L I
University
Estonian Observatory
National Museum
Tartu Airport
Key KGB Cells 3.5 km (2 miles)
Museum
Street-by-Street area VA L L I K R A AV I
see pp120–21
For keys to symbols see back flap
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