Venture out to the Onion Route along the edge of Lake **Peipus** in the Tartu county. This is the land of the Old Believers who live in long ribbon villages where every house has a garden full of onions. You can see the colorful wooden prayer houses and buy smoked fish from small smokehouses along the road. The lake itself is so large that it looks like a sea, with waves lapping against the sandy shores and reed beds. The **Alatskivi** castle looks like it was plucked from a fairy tale with its white towers and slate roofs. It sits in a large park near the lake and tells the story of the local nobility and their servants. The rolling hills around **Elva** provide a different landscape with pine forests and crystal clear swimming lakes. These lakes are hidden gems with small sandy beaches that are perfect for a private swim during your road trip. The **Emajõgi** river valley is a lush wetland where you can take a boat trip through the reeds and marshes. It is a county of high culture and deep rural roots where the university influence meets the simple life of the lake fishermen. The roads are a mix of forest tunnels and open lake views. You will find that the transition from the sophisticated city vibes to the humble lake villages happens in just a few miles.

Tartu (county) highlights

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The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Tartu (county)

Tartu county is the oldest city in the Baltics, first mentioned in the year 1030. It has been the cultural and intellectual center of the north. The biggest turning point happened in 1632, when the University of Tartu was founded by the **King of Sweden**. This made the region a hub for scientists and thinkers and today the old university buildings and the observatory are some of the most historic sites you can visit. In the 1800s, the region became the birthplace of the national identity. In 1869, the very first **National Song Festival** was held here, where thousands of people gathered to sing together for the first time. This tradition grew into a massive movement that eventually helped the country gain its independence. The city was also the site of a major peace treaty in 1920, where the new republic was officially recognized as an independent nation after centuries of foreign rule. Along the shores of the massive Lake **Peipus**, a different history lives on. Since the late 1600s, a group called the **Old Believers** has lived in quiet villages along the water, keeping their ancient religious traditions alive. They are famous for their unique houses and their vast onion gardens. Driving through this area today feels like a trip back in time, where the slow pace of life on the lake meets the grand history of the university hills.

Tartu (county)

Tartu (county) highlights

Part of these road trips

History of Tartu (county)

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