{"id":16,"date":"2024-04-04T07:32:58","date_gmt":"2024-04-04T04:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/eaj-conference\/about-tartu\/"},"modified":"2024-04-04T07:33:45","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T04:33:45","slug":"about-tartu","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/eaj-conference\/about-tartu\/","title":{"rendered":"About Tartu"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tTartu<\/b><\/span>\u00a0is the second-largest city in\u00a0Estonia, after the political and financial capital,\u00a0Tallinn.\u00a0Tartu lies on the\u00a0Emaj\u00f5gi\u00a0river, which connects the two largest lakes in Estonia,\u00a0Lake V\u00f5rtsj\u00e4rv\u00a0and\u00a0Lake Peipsi. Tartu has a\u00a0population of around 100,000 in an area of 154 square kilometres.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tTartu, which is considered the \u201ccapital of Southern Estonia\u201d,\u00a0is also often considered the intellectual centre of Estonia, <\/span>especially as it is home to the nation\u2019s oldest and most renowned university, the\u00a0University of Tartu.\u00a0Tartu incorporates\u00a0the\u00a0Supreme Court of Estonia, the\u00a0Ministry of Education and Research, the\u00a0Estonian National Museum\u00a0and the oldest Estonian-language theatre,\u00a0Vanemuine. It is also the birthplace of the\u00a0Estonian Song Festival.\n<\/p>\n

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\n\tTartu will be the\u00a0European Capital of Culture\u00a0in 2024<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

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\n\tArchitecture and sights<\/strong><\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe architecture and city planning of historical Tartu mainly go back to the pre-independence period, with Germans forming the upper and middle classes of society, who\u00a0therefore appointed\u00a0many architects, professors and local politicians.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe most notable sights\u00a0are the old\u00a0Lutheran\u00a0St. John\u2019s Church, the 18th-century\u00a0town hall, the university building, ruins of the 13th-century\u00a0cathedral, the botanical garden, the main shopping street, many buildings around the town hall square and\u00a0Barclay Square.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe historical slum area called Supilinn (Soup Town<\/i>) is located on the bank of river Emaj\u00f5gi, near the town centre. At the moment Supilinn is being rapidly renovated, undergoing a slow transformation from the historic slum into a prestigious high-class neighborhood. The active community embodied by the Supilinn Society is committed to preserving the heritage.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Second World War destroyed large parts of the city centre and during the Soviet occupation, many new buildings were erected \u2013 notably the new Vanemuine Theater. The effects of the war are still witnessed by the relative abundance of parks and greenery in the historic centre. Typical Soviet-style neighbourhoods of blocks of high-rise flats were built between World War II and the restoration of Estonian independence in 1991, the largest such district being\u00a0Annelinn. Presently, Tartu is also known for several modern buildings of the \u201csteel, concrete and glass\u201d variation, but has managed to retain a mix of old and new buildings in the town centre.\n<\/p>\n

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\n\tThe main building of the University of Tartu. Photo: Ivar Leidus.<\/em><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe University of Tartu main building<\/strong> is a gem of classical architecture in Estonia. The building was constructed in 1804\u20131809 according to the designs of the University architect Professor Johann Wilhelm Krause.\u00a0All important events in the life of the university have been celebrated in its main hall since then. The good acoustics of the hall have made it a popular venue for concerts and conferences. You can visit the main hall and the former lock-up room on the attic floor of the building, both of which are considered pearls of classicistic architecture in Estonia, through the\u00a0University of Tartu Art Museum<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

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