Estonian Open Air Museum

Have you ever wondered how you would survive in a world with no smart devices, no running water, and not even any electricity? Step back in time and discover the fascinating, and at times harsh, daily lives of our ancestors at the Estonian Open Air Museum. This is a journey filled with survival tips, clever hacks, and ancient wisdom.

• How were threshing-barn dwellings (rehielamu) illuminated during long, dark winter nights when no one could even dream of a light switch?
• Why didn’t the old houses have chimneys, and how on earth did people survive without suffocating from the smoke?
• If a farm didn’t have a sauna, where and how did people take care of their personal hygiene?
• Before outdoor latrines even existed, where did people run when nature called?

The lives of our ancestors were guided by unwritten rules and agreements that seem unbelievable in today’s context.

• Why was a simple broom placed across the door enough to keep strangers away when leaving home, yet granary doors were strictly locked?
• Was that small opening in the roof meant only for ventilation, or was it actually used for something completely different?
• Why did the ancient Estonians create a kratt (a magical treasure-haunting creature), and how exactly did they breathe life into it?
• What was the tradition of ehal käimine (night-courting), and what strict rules had to be followed during these nocturnal visits?
• Who or what did our ancestors truly believe in?
• Who were the werewolves (libahundid) in reality?

How, why, and what for? All of these answers are hidden within our folklore and stories. If you want to discover how our ancestors lived in perfect harmony with nature and what wisdom we could still learn from them today, I look forward to welcoming you on this guided tour of the Open Air Museum!

Find ticket prices and museum opening hours here.