Valga Muuseum

About the museum

Valga Museum has been housed in the Säde House since 1957. The building was constructed in 1911 to the design of Georg Hellat (1870–1943), the first professional Estonian architect, for the Estonian cultural society Valga Seltskondlik Ühendus “Säde” (founded 1902). From 1911 to 1948 the Säde theatre operated in the house, and it also contained a hotel, banks, shops, a restaurant, society rooms and a 600-seat hall. The building suffered fires in 1920, 1948 and 1988 but has survived; the last renovation took place in 1999. The Valga branch of the National Archives is in the second wing of the house.

The permanent exhibition presents the history and development of Valga as a railway junction, the story of the Orthodox churches, the deportations, the silver collection, and well-known people from Valga, among them Johannes Märtson, Marta Pärn and Alfred Neuland. Some ten exhibitions are held in the gallery each year.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition on the history of Valga from prehistory to the deportations
• Silver collection and the story of the railway and postal route
• Säde House, the society building designed by Georg Hellat in 1911
• Audio guide in Estonian, Russian, English, Finnish and Latvian
• Gallery with about ten exhibitions a year

Permanent exhibition

• Valga püsiekspositsioon – The permanent exhibition deals with the history of Valga: the prehistoric period (a pile settlement, spinning on a spindle), nature (a mammoth tooth), well-known people from Valga, the story of the Orthodox churches, the deportations, the silver collection, and the railway and postal route.

Admission & discounts

Also free: holders of an ICOM card, staff of Estonian museums (on proof), and one teacher accompanying a pupil group. The fee for photography and filming is agreed with the museum director.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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 enter the museum through either door, and most of the building can be moved around in by wheelchair. A lift with an audible signal system and raised numbers on the buttons serves the first, second and third floors. The toilets and a separate accessible toilet are in the first-floor foyer. The historic thresholds at the entrance to the banking hall can be difficult to cross by wheelchair, and exhibits in the staircase can be viewed from a wheelchair only from a limited distance from the staircase.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum shop sells yearbooks, printed matter and souvenirs.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit