Psst! You didn’t hear it from me, but rumor has it that Wes Anderson plans to film in Tartu in 2025. Does that make you wonder what locations he might be filming at? It sure made me wonder. So, armed with my superstar photography equipment (an iPhone 12 mini) and a friend I convinced to model in exchange for food, I started my journey to explore Tartu! My aim was to find locations that would make Wes Anderson proud. The list is unexpected, so keep scrolling.
1 – University of Tartu Botanical Garden
This is one of the more popular and well known locations in Tartu. Even on a biting cold winter day, the controlled environment inside the “sets” of the Botanical Garden presented itself as the most perfect location for a green evening.
2 – Karlova
The cultural region in the cultural capital of Estonia, Karlova boasts multiple art schools and countless street arts that could probably become its own dedicated blog. For now, here’s a piece of Karlova that no self-respecting photographer would fail to take advantage of.
3 – The Gunpowder Cellar
The cellar with the highest pub ceiling in the world (Guinness Book of World Records) just had to make the list. If you’re not visiting this location for its aesthetic, you should definitely visit for the experience.
4 – Kesklinn
You already know of the Kesklinn area. Anyone who has been to Tartu has been to the Kesklinn area (also known as the city center). You might have even admired the symmetry of the Town Hall, but did you know about the beautiful walls in shades of pastels all around the center and the tiny artworks that complement them? There is much to be discovered in this small area, even when you don’t know what you’re looking for.
5 – Spargel
While many cafes in Tartu are just as aesthetically worthy, the old-world beauty of Spargel cafe needs to be mentioned. The cafe is as appealing inside as it is outside, and I would recommend adding it to your itinerary when visiting Tartu.
6 – Suppilinn
Probably “the location” I would mention if somebody asked for a Wes Anderson-inspired photoshoot. Supilinn is a residential neighborhood and most likely to be missed by visitors, especially if you’re not an explorer like me. If you ever plan to walk around this area, then bring your superstar photography equipment along because you’re not going to want to miss the beauty that is Supilinn.
7 – Tartu Art Museum
I have to mention here how many people I know who have stood at this exact same place and missed the leaning house of the Tartu Art Museum. Also called the Pisa Tower of Tartu, this building was saved from tilting over by setting up poles to support it from falling. The poles are gone, and now this building houses art galleries which I would recommend visiting at least once during your stay in Tartu. For all other days, don’t miss out on an interesting piece of history when you’re in Kesklinn next time.
I want to give a special shoutout to Mattia for being a great model while knowing nothing about modeling. I truly enjoyed taking pictures for this blog, and here’s me hoping that you can also appreciate the smaller enchantments of Tartu with me.
All photos belong to the author.
