Oskar Lutsu majamuuseum

About the museum

Oskar Lutsu family home on Riia tänav was completed at the end of 1936, shortly before the writer’s 50th birthday. The functionalist house, designed by the architect Arnold Matteus with an oriel storey, was the Luts family’s home for almost 17 years. Together with his wife Valentina and their son, the family laid out an ornamental garden and vegetable beds on the plot and planted apple trees; on the yard side there is a veranda, in front of which is a seating area with a circular flowerbed. Before moving into his house, Luts had changed residence eight times.

After the writer’s death in 1953, his widow Valentina Luts opened a memorial exhibition in the family home, which proved very popular. In 1962, by decision of the Tartu city government, the Oskar Lutsu memoriaalmuuseum (Oskar Luts Memorial Museum) was established in the house, and the first permanent display opened on 22 March 1964.

The current permanent exhibition “Kirjanik Oskar Luts: elu ja kujutluse piiril” (Writer Oskar Luts: Between Life and Imagination) takes visitors to the first floor, where Luts’s study furnished with original objects, a “Tartu room” depicting the town in the 1930s and a characters’ room are located. In the characters’ room three childhood legends meet, among them the story “Kevade” (Spring). Admission to the house museum is free for individual visitors.

Highlights

• Oskar Luts’s study furnished with original objects
• “Tartu room” showing the town in the 1930s
• Characters’ room with the stories of “Kevade” (Spring)
• Functionalist villa designed by Arnold Matteus
• Ornamental garden
• Free admission

Permanent exhibition

• Kirjanik Oskar Luts: elu ja kujutluse piiril – Permanent exhibition on the first floor: Oskar Luts’s study, the “Tartu room” and the characters’ room, where three childhood legends meet, among them the story “Kevade” (Spring).

Founded

1962

Operated by

Tartu Linnaajaloo Muuseumid

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free for individual visitors. The Museum Card also gives access to other exhibitions of the Tartu Linnamuuseum (Tartu City Museum).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair users can reach the museum garden, but entry into the house is made difficult by steps.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum offers museum lessons and workshops for schools.

Getting there & parking

The museum is a three-minute drive or about a 20-minute walk from the city centre.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum garden can be rented by a group for an open-air event (1 hour, €20).

Plan your visit