Tartu. Square of the Town Hall

This webcam is located in the beautiful city of Tartu, the second largest city of Estonia, and shows us the city’s central square with the building of the Town Hall. Tartu Town Hall Square is the trapeze-shaped central square, surrounded by classical buildings. The current town hall is the third building that has been erected on that spot. In the 18th century, the square was the location of the most important market in the city – der Grosse Markt (or the Great Market).

The Town Hall of Tartu was built in Classic style with strong Baroque features and is one of the most important symbols of the present-day city. A prison and a weigh house were located on the ground floor of the Town Hall, while the government worked on the upper floors. You can listen to the chiming clocks in the tower of the Town Hall every day at noon, 6 pm and 9 pm. Its 18 bells were manufactured in the bell foundry in Karlsruhe (Germany). Since 1998 it has been adorned by the beautiful fountain known as the Kissing Students. By the way, National Geographic has placed Tartu on the top of the list of the most attractive cities in Southern Estonia.

The square has been severely damaged during the Second World War. Almost all houses in its southern part were demolished, including the beautiful stone bridge with two triumphal arches.