The Estonian city of Tartu has been named the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2024
National Geographic magazine has named the city of Tartu the European Capital of Culture this year. This small and underrated city in Eastern Europe is the second largest in Estonia and hides many cultural and entertainment attractions.
What should you know and what can surprise tourists in Tartu? The Mirror found out.
Here, you can visit the restored Tartu Cathedral and climb one of the two towers to see panoramic views of the city. You can also explore the former Gunpowder Cellar, built by order of Catherine II, which later became a lecture hall at the university, where experiments with gunpowder were conducted. In addition, the city has an interesting institution listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the pub with the highest ceiling in the world.
It is noteworthy that Tartu is home to about 93,000 people, a quarter of whom are students. The university, built in the 17th century, is located in this city, making Tartu a lively and intellectual center of the country.
In Tartu, you can also visit historical sites with a dubious reputation, namely the KGB Camera Museum. This building was used during the 1940s and 50s, retaining its original appearance, providing an idea of what the cells, cellars, and corridors of the secret Soviet intelligence service looked like. In addition, you can see objects from the Gulag camps, plans for the deportation of the population, and information about the victims of the Soviet occupation, which ended in 1991.
In addition to its historical past, the city boasts a wonderful present. Numerous festivals and events are held in Tartu throughout the year, confirming the city's cultural status.
Some of the events that take place in Tartu:
- "The Art of Survival" - more than 300 different events that focus on the ideas of an environmentally friendly future and human interaction.
- A fun children's disco at the Illusion Club and Tartu Town Hall Square - the event starts on January 26 and continues with European DJs and local artists, including Púr Múdd, Merimell, YASMYN, Rozell, Eleryn Tiit, Inga Tislar, Kersten Kõrge, and Robert Kähr.