Excursions on the 26th of April

Excursions will start 14.00 from the hotel Dorpat, the longest of these will be the first choice – to the Lake Peipus and the Old Believers. But all will be back before dinner-time at 19.00.

1. The Old Believers Tour at Lake Peipus

Hotel Dorpat – The Old Believers Prayer house near lake Peipus – Old Believers Museum – visit of Alatskivi manor.
The Old Believers are religious refugees from Russia who opposed the official teachings of the Russian Orthodox Church and settled in Estonia in the 17th century. They opened up to the visitors quite recently, and their “row-village” is exotic even to Estonians. Alatskivi is a restored manor, first mentioned in the middle of the 16th century. It has belonged to many notable Swedes and Baltic Germans. In 1753 it was sold to the Stackelbergs, in the middle of the 19th century the manor went into family of the Nolckens. The main building in Neo-Gothic style was erected in 1880-85 by Arved von Nolcken. In its details, it is a copy of the Balmoral castle in Scotland. Now the manor houses a restaurant and a museum. Light meal will be a part of this bus-excursion. It is (at least) three nations, three different cultures and extremely complex histories – all in one tour! Excursion will be led by the greatest patriot and master-guide of Tartu, a Finnish woman Elina Aro who is capable of injecting positive energy into anybody.
Minimum number of participants: 10

2. Look at Tartu from another perspective

Sailing with the unique Peipsi Barge (www.lodi.ee). When the Hanseatic League dominated trade across the Baltic and North Seas during the 14th-16th century, Peipsi barges carried mainly salt, beer, sweet wine and oriental spices, but also furs, honey, wax, etc. In 2004, people interested in the rebirth of this ancient ship, started to construct the barge, using old techniques (but it has also all contemporary comforts – incl. wifi). You will hear about Tartu, history and nature and ship construction. The trip is not physically demanding, except it takes one somewhat high step to get to the ship, but one is advised to wear warm clothes and a hat. There are no numbered seats but everyone will find something to sit on. In case of rain (or if you get cold), it is possible to sit inside the barge’s “belly”. In addition there are blankets and “barge-sweaters” on the barge for guests to wear. A light meal and warm beverages will be provided.
Minimum number of participants: 10. Maximum: 30. Total time: about 3 hours

3. City Excursion in Tartu

Incl. the visit to Tartu Observatory (ca 1,5 h walking + Observatory). You will hear facts and fictions about Tartu and its inhabitants now and in the past. The Tartu Observatory was once the biggest observatory in the world, and from here just one family (the Struves – four generations of astronomers) gave many of the European and American leading astronomers. The ESSSAT member and at one time astrophysicist in Tartu Enn Kasak will add a personal touch to this excursion.

4. City Excursion: Religious Sites in Tartu

A walk (ca 1,5 hours) in the central part of town, with emphasis on religious sites (pagan, Lutheran, Orthodox, Catholic). Do you know where Adolf von Harnack lived? How many different Orthodox churches there are in Estonia? Excursion will be led by Ph.D. cand. in church history Ursula Haava from Faculty of Theology, University of Tartu.

Registration to the excursions will be during your registration at the conference site. But it would be helpful if you indicate your interest by email already earlier (annekull@hotmail.com).