5 Museums in Voru County That You Shouldn't Miss

The museum features the home of Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald (1803-1882), a physician and the founder of Estonian national literature, in Voru and gives a good overview of his activities. His living quarters reflect the interior design typical of the time; the garden house accommodates literary exposition. In the storehouse there is an exhibition of art inspired by Kreutzwald’s writings, reprints and translations of his works. The stable features different vehicles and the fairy-tale room several ethnographic objects. There are also a cellar, sauna, well, garden and an arbour in the museum complex. The activity room is designed for handicraft, drawing and constructing.

The Moniste Museum is the oldest open-air museum in Estonia; here you can light a fire in a Stone Age tepee or practice archery, slinging or lassoing. You can also learn how to make bone and earthenware objects, weave fishing nets and fabric, grind grain or bake a loaf of Stone Age bread. The threshing barn dating back to Czarist times features the interior of the 19th century building, tools, household utensils and clothing. The farmhouse from the times of the first Republic of Estonia exhibits the tools that blacksmiths used, horse necessaries, handicraft tools, national costumes, folk music instruments, etc. You can also try what farm works felt like at that time.

A very interesting and informative permanent exhibition gives you a profound overview of Voru County from the Stone Age to the present day. The exposition of archaeological findings and ethnographic objects, a Seto hut, a tailor's and shoemaker's workshop, the corner of Kriisa organ masters, a room from a manor house and a forest brother’s bunker form the interiors of the museum. In the exhibition halls the museum the shows its collections and organises art and handicraft exhibitions as well as photo and book exhibitions.

The Seto Museum offers an opportunity to learn the unique history and culture of Setomaa through having a look at the family life, traditions and customs of Seto families in Obinitsa. The display is especially focused on the period from 1920 to 1940.The cosy exposition of the small museum features objects collected from the neighbouring villages. The handicraft collection of Seto women is very unique: it includes colourful towels used to decorate the corner where the icon stood, decorative towels and national costumes. You can also visit archeological display and a typical Seto small chapel (tsasson).You can get tourist information on Setomaa and the Polva and Voru Counties and use the internet in our Tourist Information Point. You can also buy Seto handicrafts, books, CDs and DVDs in the Seto language or about the Setos here.

Voru Town Gallery focuses on promoting art and cultural activities in Voru, on introducing professional art and organising exhibitions and exhibition-sales.For expositions the gallery mostly uses the balcony lobby on the 1st floor of the Voru Community Centre, called Kannel, and the room in front of the small hall. There are also exhibitions in the lobby of the ground floor. All rooms are equipped with modern spotlights that move along buses.