A Walk in Tartu – Shefali (India)

Let’s go for a walk, shall we?

But where should we meet? Well, the Kissing Students Fountain is a famous location in Tartu when it comes to choosing where to meet but let’s come up with something else. Let’s meet here at 17:00! ↓

Yuri Lotman was an outstanding scholar in the 20th century and a professor at the University of Tartu for many years. He studied Russian literature and culture. He was the founder of cultural semiotics as well as the Tartu-Moscow School of Semiotics. The idea of the sculpture, consisting of five 15-meter steel tubes, was inspired by the self-portrait of Yuri Lotman. This sculpture was unveiled in 2007.

However, I also have my own perception of this sculpture. We all have a few close and precious people in our lives. My interpretation of the sculpture is that each tube is that precious person and the structure of all the tubes showcases how intertwined our lives can be.

This sculpture is located near the University of Tartu Library (Est: Tartu Ülikool Raamatukogu). While still here, we can explore the library, too!. From manuscripts to books, the library has it all.

One cannot simply be around books and not smell them. Oh, and it only gets better when the books are old!

If you want to borrow a book from the library, search for it on ESTER and use the self-checkout system. Don’t forget to return the book on time! For your convenience, there is a 24-hour deposit machine right next to the library.

Let’s continue walking and explore the pre-Delta era. Before the birth of Delta Center, my classes used to take place at Juhan Liivi 2. I know that it is quite an old building but… “Old is Gold”!

The area around this building is very calm and peaceful. The chirping of birds, the sound of the wind, and the rustling of leaves on a breezy evening are worth it. 

Right across the Liivi 2 building, we can see the Devil’s Bridge. I like the Devil’s Bridge because it looks majestic at night. Walking downhill, we will cross the Angel’s Bridge. It is believed that if you make a wish when you walk across the Angel’s Bridge for the first time, it will definitely come true. It is also believed that your wish will come true if you make it while walking across the Angel’s Bridge backward. It’s time for you to make a wish, and I hope it comes true!

We are right behind the Town Hall now. When nothing goes right, go left. Let us go to the main building of the University of Tartu. Did you know that there is a prison cell located in the attic? In old times, if a student violated any rules, they had to spend a couple of days in this prison cell. The longest time that a student spent in that cell was four months.

Now, it’s time to take “the right turn”.

There are many cathedrals in Tartu. Out of all of them, I find the Tartu St. Virgin Mary’s Dormition Cathedral very different. The Naryshkin Baroque architecture is really appealing.

Just a few minutes away, there is the University of Tartu Botanical Garden. Let’s go there and relax with the ducks. The sky is turning pink and the day is about to meet the night.

In case you want to go for a walk alone (because why not?), here’s the route:

Oh, you can also trace this route at night. Tartu at night is simply majestic. I would like to call it “The Long Picturesque Nights of Tartu”. Tartu always has something special to offer to everyone. All you need to do is to get out of your room and go for a walk. Just stroll around and admire the serenity that the place has got to offer. Sometimes, even the usual routes when seen from a different perspective might surprise you.

I am in love with Tartu, are you?