Events

To make this conference a memorable event, we extend a warm welcome to all participants to partake in the conference dinner and various excursions and day trips! While the conference dinner is a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in Estonian history and discover our national tastes, the conference excursions will provide you with the chance to explore the many wonders that our capital city Tallinn has to offer. In addition to that, if you're looking to soak up the sun while wandering through Estonian nature, then the day trips might just be for you!

Please note that in order to participate in the conference dinner, excursions, and day trips, you must pre-register
 

Tallinn sightseeing tour on 26 August (duration 3h and the tour will be completed half by bus (1.5h), half on foot (1.5h)) 

This 3-hour guided coach and walking tour weaves through the medieval town and its major attractions, making it (without a doubt) one of the best ways to see Tallinn!

During the sightseeing tour, your guide will lead you to the most interesting and rich sections of the city: from the green and luscious fields of Kadriorg Park to the historically and culturally significant districts of the Song Festival Grounds and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town. While exploring the different areas of the city, your tour guide will provide you running commentary and interesting and fun facts on Estonian history and contemporary life.

The tour begins with a scenic coach drive to the famous Kadriorg Park which is the home to the wonderful, Baroque-style Kadriorg Palace. The tour then continues to the seaside district of Pirita, passing by the 600-year-old ruins of the Pirita Convent. On our way to Pirita, we will also make a stop at the popular and renowned Tallinn Song Festival Grounds. The venue is a popular location for various national and international events, such as the Estonian Song Festival. 

Did you know? The famous arch of the Song Festival Grounds can hold up to 15,000 singers and there is enough room for 100,000 people in the area for viewers.

The walking part of the tour covers the Old Town, proceeding across Toompea Hill, stopping at the Parliament Building, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Dome Church, and the Patkuli and Kohtu viewing platforms. The tour then leads to the narrow, winding streets of the Lower Town, stopping at the local Raeapteek apothecary, which is the oldest working pharmacy in Europe with records dating back to 1422. 

The tour will conclude at the Tallinn Town Hall, the only surviving Gothic town hall in Northern Europe, constructed in the early 14th century. This guided coach and walking tour is a great way for first-time visitors to get to know this medieval city!

Photo: Tallinn Song Festival Grounds, visitestonia.com

 

Cooking workshop "Chocolate Sweets with an Estonian touch" on 26 August (duration 3x45 min) 

Come and learn about the secrets of chocolate in Tallinn University's Science Kitchen! In the workshop, you will learn how to make truffles and chocolate candies with an Estonian touch - how to flavour ganache, prepare candy cones, fill truffles, or hand roll the candies. To top it off, we will decorate the truffles with various toppings. The sweetness of the workshop is nicely balanced by a refreshing smoothie that will be made on our kitchen's unique smoothie bike. To make this workshop a lasting memory, all participants will get their own box of sweets to take with them.

Photo: Tallinn University Science Kitchen, tlu.ee

KUMU art museum tour on 27 August (duration 2h)

Guided tour to the KUMU art museum. Opened in 2006, KUMU aims to preserve and interpret Estonian art from the 18th century to the present day. Price includes the museum ticket and participation in the guided tour. Starting time is 16.00 (duration 2h). NB! The minimum number of participants is 15 persons. (https://kumu.ekm.ee/en/)

Photo: KUMU art museum, kumu..ekm.ee

Kadriorg Art Museum tour on 27 August (duration 2h)

Guided tour to the Kadriorg Art Museum, which is the only museum in Estonia devoted to early European and Russian art. Price includes the museum ticket and participation in the guided tour. Starting time is 16.00 (duration 2h). NB! The minimum number of participants is 15 persons. (https://kadriorumuuseum.ekm.ee/en/)

Photo: Kadriorg Art Museum, puhkuseestis.ee

Tallinn Old Town excursion (duration 2h) 

Walking tour to ancient and medieval Tallinn and its surroundings. The excursion visits a series of historical buildings and historically and culturally significant sights. Tour fee covers participation in the guided tour and entrance to St. Mary's Cathedral. 

Places you will visit: Viru Gate, Tallinn Town Hall, St. Nicholas Church, Short Leg Gate Tower, Toompea (limestone hill in the central part of the city of Tallinn.

Starting time is 17.00. Starting point for the tour is Tallinna University. NB! The minimum number of participants is 20 persons.

Photo by Kaupo Kalda, visittallinn.ee

Tallinn Walking Tour and Europe's oldest pharmacy Raeapteek (duration 2h)

Walking tour in the old town and visit Raeapteek, which is Europe's oldest pharmacy, continuously operating in the same premises. Although the exact date of its establishment is unknown, the first written records in a town council notebook date from 1422. Thus, in 2022, Raeapteek will celebrate 600 years since its first mention!

The Raeapteek is considered to be the oldest health institution still operating in Estonia. There have been periods where the pharmacist was also a medical expert and a town doctor. The Raeapteek was not only a place to buy medicine, people went there to get advice about treatments and spiritual assistance. The Raeapteek is the oldest company in Tallinn still operating in the same premises. Paper, ink, sealing wax, dyes, tobacco, pipes, playing cards, torches, fabrics, gunpowder, salt, spices and sweets were also sold there.

Today, Raeapteek works hand in hand with the museum, which is supported by the city of Tallinn. In the museum room, you can see pharmacy supplies and some symbols typical of a medieval pharmacy. For example, a crocodile hanging from the ceiling emphasized the mystery of pharmacy work in the Middle Ages and protected both the pharmacist and their property. The current symbol – the snake with a goblet – was only introduced in the 20th century.

The guide in pharmacy takes the group for a tour in the museum, and explains Medieval treating methods. Group will have a claret degustation in cellar hall.

Photo: raeapteek.ee

 Day trip to Lahemaa national park on 31 August (duration 8h)

The day trip to Lahemaa is a most wonderful opportunity to explore Estonia's oldest and one of the biggest national parks. 

Estonia's largest national park is an interesting mix of coastal bluffs, dense forest, 7000 year old bogs, 18th century manor houses, and numerous lakes, rivers and waterfalls. Located on the northern coast of Estonia, Lahemaa is perfect for a hiking trip and nature watching. Well-restored typical Baltic manorial estates give you an overview of the life of aristocracy. Palmse manor is the showpiece of Lahemaa. The 18th century baroque house, open to the public, is filled with period furniture, and you can wander the landscaped grounds to see the 17th century distillery, hotel and granary. Palmse Manor is one of the grandest baroque mansions in Estonia. Sagadi Manor was built in the 18th century and was one of the few mansions in Estonia to be decorated in rococo style. It has been preserved together with its extension and classic facade dating back to 18th century. The rooms have been carefully restored and refurnished. The complex is extraordinary for its unity: lots of outbuildings with repaired roads, parkways, park and ponds. The first written record of Vihula manor in Lahemaa National Park dates back to 1501, owned by the Danish baron Hans von Lode. The manor was damaged by fire during the Great Northern War, after which it was purchased by the Wekebros, who bequeathed it to their daughter's family, the von Helffreichs. It has since been fully restored and renovated, and now houses a fine restaurant and luxury spa hotel.

Itinerary:
Depart for Lahemaa. Short stop at Käsmu.
Depart for Palmse Manor. Guided tour at Palmse Manor (1h). Lunch at Palmse Tavern.
Depart for Sagadi Manor and Vihula Manor complex.
Short walk in Viru Bog
Return to Tallinn

Photo: Viru Bog, puhkaeestis.ee

CANCELLED tours and excursions

Haunted Old Town – Tallinn Ghost and Legends Walking Tour (duration 2h) 

Join this walking tour on the haunted streets of the Tallinn Old Town to get to know the city’s dark side. Best to be enjoyed in the evenings, especially during the dark seasons, when our ancestors souls are awake and look for ways to connect. Listen to spooky stories, eerie myths and ancient legends while exploring the city's medieval streets. While there will be no shortage of ghost stories during this tour, it will often be hard to separate the fact from the fiction, as some true tales from history can be even more surreal and unsettling that made of legends. Are skin-salesman Pontus and the Mummy of St Nicholas church merely fairy tales or real historical fact?

 

Day trip to the Western Coast and Haapsalu on 31 August (duration 8h)

Explore the hidden wonders amidst the wilderness, picturesque summer resort Haapsalu, its popular old town full of galleries and cafes and Haapsalu Episcopal Castle. West Estonia is characterized by vast expanses of land, peace of mind and fresh sea air, bays abounding in birds, juniper fields, pine trees and people toughened by the sea breeze on the coast.

Haapsalu city center is characterized by a miniature town hall and romantic wooden dwelling houses. By the seaside Promenade stands Kuursaal, one of the finest wooden buildings in Estonia, which houses a summer restaurant. Haapsalu Castle is an architectural gem built in the 13th century, which until the end of the 17th century was the seat of power of the local authorities. This is one of the best-preserved castles in Estonia and home to the most famous ghost in Estonia – the White Lady!

There is a museum on medieval history in the main castle, through which you can also get to the southern cathedral, first mentioned in writing in 1279. The museum provides an overview of Haapsalu’s early history and the living environment of the medieval castle in a traditional and hands-on format. The dim atmosphere of the castle rooms helps to create an engaging experience of a medieval world through artefacts and interactive exhibits. The 700-meter path across two storeys of the castle is an exciting journey of discovery in a medieval architectural environment, suitable for visitors of all ages.

Guided tour to Keila Joa and Arvo Pärt Center (duration 7h)

Day tour offers spectacular coastal limestone cliffs in Türisalu and Keila-Joa waterfall. The waterfall is 6 meters in height and tens of meters in width, being thus the third most powerful waterfall in Estonia.

You will stop at the picturesque Keila-Joa Manor where there is a guided tour. Next stop is The Arvo Pärt Centre. Building has an interesting architecture, which is in line with Arvo Pärt's creative nature. Arvo Pärt is one of those composers whose work has significantly changed our understanding of music.