Field trips

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Estonian National Museum, Antonius' Yard

SCHEDULE:

9.00 Bus departs from Viljandi to Tartu.

10.00-12.00 Guided tour of the Estonian National Museum

Through the Estonina National Museum’s exhibitions one can take a look at Estonians’ everyday lives in different periods. Interactive displays offer hands-on experience; it is possible to observe what an Estonian home looks like, explore Estonian cuisine and make oneself familiar with local dress, language and customs. Attention is also paid to the cultures of other nations, especially those of the Finno-Ugric peoples.

12.00-13.00 Lunch at the museum restaurant

13.30-15.00 Tour of the workshops of Antonius' yard

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Antonius' Yard, a true cultural gem nestled in the historic Jaani quarter of Tartu's old town.This charming courtyard holds centuries of history, having once been the bustling center for Tartu's guilds of craftsmen and artisans. It is the historic heart of hands-on creativity in the city. Today, the yard is home to a vibrant community of contemporary designers and master craftsmen. A tour here offers a unique opportunity to witness their work firsthand and even order custom pieces

15.00 - 17.00 Time to explore Tartu's old town on your own.

17.00 Bus departs from Tartu to Viljandi

Heimtali Museum, Mulgimaa Experience Centre, Mulgi Brewery

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SCHEDULE:
9.00 Bus departs from Viljandi to Heimtali.

9.15-11.15 Guided tour of the Heimtali Museum

Heimtali Museum is a distinctive cultural destination brought to life through the vision of renowned textile artist, Anu Raud. The museum is formally situated within a beautifully preserved former village schoolhouse, a structure that dates back to the year 1864, lending a profound sense of history to the grounds.

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Museum´s permanent exhibition offers a compelling glimpse into the past, detailing school customs from nearly 200 years ago, alongside a valuable collection of old documents and local agricultural tools. Of particular note is the exceptionally rich collection of national textiles, complemented by an extensive specialist library focused on folk art, home culture, and general art history.

12.00-14.00 Lunch and guided tour at Mulgi Experience Center

Mulgi Experience Center is a premier destination dedicated to introducing the rich heritage of the Mulgi region in an unusually modern and highly attractive manner.

The Center is built upon the dynamic principle that its narrative is never fully complete. The core content is designed to be fully interactive, featuring an exposition that is constantly developing and regularly renewed to ensure fresh discoveries with every visit. Crucially, alongside this technological interactivity, there is carefully preserved and exhibited traditional structural solutions and original milieu elements, creating a harmonious blend of past and future. Furthermore, your visit offers the optimal opportunity to savor and appreciate authentic traditional Mulgi dishes, completing this immersive cultural experience.

14.30-15.30 Visit to Mulgi Brewery and Taproom

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It is an exclusive opportunity to access the core production areas. You will gain a thorough understanding of the specialized techniques and carefully guarded secrets that define authentic Mulgi beer making. Your visit will conclude with the highly anticipated opportunity to sample a selection of our finest craft beers.

15.30 Bus departs to Viljandi

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Võromaa, a southeastern Estonian region, is renowned for its unique Võro language and rich cultural heritage. Locals cherish their traditions, from ancient songs and dances to handcrafted wooden carvings and woven textiles.

SCHEDULE:
8:00-9:00 Viljandi-Lapetkume village

9:00-10:00 Visit to the Muru Wool Factory
A small, modern wool factory with combing technology, where you can have wool from your own animals made into wool, combed tape and various yarns, or buy ready-made products. https://villavabrikmv.ee/en/

10.00-11.00 Lapetkume village-Võru

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11.00-12.30 Introduction to Võru National Costumes by Vilve Oja and an introduction of Old Võru County by Külli Eichenbaum in Vana-Võromaa Ideekoda https://www.ideekoda.ee/loovmeistrid/vana-voromaa-kasituu-mtu/

12.30-12.45 A stroll to NAMM restorani

12.45-13.45 Lunch at NAMM restoran

13.45-14.15 Võru-Süvahavva

14.15-15.15 Visit to the Süvahavva Nature Farm
A tour of the herb garden – in the farmyard garden, visitors can learn about tea and culinary herbs and their uses in everyday life. https://syvahavva.ee/

15.15-16.15 Süvahavva-Tsooru

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16.15-17.45 Visit to the Tsooru Pottery Factory
The only company in the world that produces traditional Seto pottery made of clay. All products are crafted from high-quality clay mined in Southern Estonia.

17.45-19.15 Tsooru-Viljandi

Kihnu, a small island in the Baltic Sea, is a UNESCO-listed cultural space known for preserving its unique traditions and way of life. The island is famous for its vibrant folk costumes, traditional dances, and the central role of women in maintaining its cultural heritage.

SCHEDULE:
6:10-8:30 Viljandi-Munalaid harbour

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8:30-9:35 1hr:05 min ferry ride with "Kihnu Virve" from Munalaid to Kihnu.

9:35-10:00 A walk to the Kihnu map. Introduction to the island. Transportation arrives.

Coffee break

10:00-10:10 Ride from Harbor to Lohu household with an open truck.

10:10-10:30 Visit to Lohu craft store, where the hosts sell their winter handicrafts in a small homeyard cafe/shop.

10:30-10:40 Truckride Lohu-Kihnu Lighthouse

10:40-11:10 Visit to the Kihnu Lighthouse with the opportunity to climb to the top. https://www.kultuuriruum.ee/en/tuletorn-eng/

11:10-11:25 Lighthouse-church

11:25-11:40 Visit to the church

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11:40-12:50 Visit to the Kihnu Museum and a tour of the large exhibits shed located in the museum courtyard. https://kihnumuuseum.ee/

12:50-13:00 Museum-Rannametsa household

13:00-13:45 Lunch at Rannametsa household.
This household accommodates three generations of one fishermans family. Your lunch consists of a fish soup from an early morning catch, continued by freshly smoked fish straight from the oven and touched up by coffe, local traditional whitebread and homemade seasonal jam as dessert.

13:45-14:00 An introduction to the chests of the Rannametsa women.
Historycally familys used to keep their textile and drystore supplies in a well ventilated shed that was an important part of a traditional houshold ensemble in Estonia. Kihnu women are know to keep this tradition alive and each women on the island still has it own chest to keep all their treasures in.

14:00-14:15 Visit to the Kihnu Kaubamaja village store located at Urga household.
This store offers you anything from local crafts to a variety of textile supplies. https://kihnukaubamaja.com/

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14.30-15.00 Kihnu traditional dance workshop

15.00-15.45 Three Friends: “Kihnu Kalur, Sadama Guesthouse, and Kihnu Craft” – a look at how we truly operate on this small island.
The hostess introduces the collaboration of these three businesses under one roof.

15.45-15.55 A short walk (500m) to the harbor, stops at the Njäputüe shop and at the harbor market.

16.15-17.20 Kihnu-Munalaid

17.20-19.30 Munalaid harbor-Viljandi