Põlva Peasantry Museum is a kind of open-air museum in southern Estonia. The museum is located in the village of Karilatsi next to the old post road Tartu - Võru. The territory of the Peasantry Museum is 5 hectares. The buildings of the former parish centre have been preserved here buildings of the former parish centre, built at the end of the 19th century. The museum was founded in the 1970s on the initiative and under the leadership of Kalju Kermas, with the help of pupils and teachers.
The main building of the museum is located in the premises of the former school, built in 1889. Due to the low number of pupils, the school was closed in 1971. Today, one can get acquainted with the old classroom in which old-fashioned lessons, a teacher's living room, a memorial room of the artist Vanda Johansoo and various exhibitions. The school complex also includes barns, a barn and a black bathhouse. A tower-shaped dwelling house was built later than the school itself, a tower-shaped dwelling for teachers was built. Today this building houses the museum's office.
In 1879, a barn was built to store grain in case of famine. A year later, a wooden house was built, which originally housed the parish hall township house and court, and later an almshouse.
In 1896 a new house of the parish administration was built, which now houses the village library. Not far from this house is the yard of the village blacksmith. In 1901 a windmill was built in Prangley village, which was moved to the museum grounds in 1974.
In the museum park there are about 100 name trees planted by figures of public life and culture. Also, the museum exhibits old agricultural machines, tools and implements, as well as vehicles.
In total, the Põlva Peasantry Museum has about 25,000 exhibits. The museum is constantly being changed and updated, with the aim of preserving the cultural heritage, as well as introducing tourists to the history and culture of Estonia. You can walk around the museum on your own or book a guide. The museum organises various masterclasses, as well as various themed events.
