Built in 1809 just after the Tartu University's reopening, this grand, neo-classical structure is the symbol of Estonia's biggest brain factory. The building holds three main attractions for visitors. Among Estonia's oldest museums, the University of Tartu Art Museum, displays plaster cast copies of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures as well as the not-to-miss 'Chamber of Mummies'. The exhibition "From Ancient and Forgotten Times. The Things Necessary for a Good Life" focuses on objects that take us on a brief cultural journey through time and space. Perhaps the objects reverently made by people who lived in ancient times can also help us understand their way of thinking, which is not so unfamiliar to us, the people of the 21st century – the wish to be beautiful and prosperous, possess power and a home, to entertain and revitalise the soul.
The museum also offers tours of the fabulously decorated Assembly Hall (Aula) and the building's weirdest feature, the Student Lock-up where, in the 19th Century, students were incarcerated for minor offences. The punishment for returning a library book late was 2 days. Insulting a cloakroom attendant would get you 5 days, and duelling, 3 weeks. Cartoons and graffiti the students scribbled still cover the walls. You can experience a complete virtual tour of the university by logging on to  www.ut.ee/virtualtour.