Tartu Old Observatory
Tartu Tähetorn
An observatory completed in 1810 and the starting point of the UNESCO World Heritage Struve Geodetic Arc. Visitors can see antique telescopes.
The Tartu Old Observatory was built in 1810 on the east side of Toome Hill. The famous astronomer Struve worked here and led the survey of the Struve Geodetic Arc, which stretches from northern Norway to the Black Sea. The observatory, as its starting point, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It now operates as a museum, displaying 19th-century refracting telescopes, astronomical instruments and the history of geodesy. Visitors can tour the domed observation room, and stargazing events are sometimes held at night. Admission is cheap. It is generally open from Tuesday to Sunday and can be visited together with the cathedral ruins and the university museum.
Opening hours
About Tue–Sun 11:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- University of Tartu Main Building
- Tartu Town Hall Square & Kissing Students
- Toome Hill
- St John's Church, Tartu
- Tartu Art Museum (Leaning House)
- Tartu Cathedral & University of Tartu Museum
- KGB Cells Museum
- University of Tartu Botanical Gardens