Tartu Kaubahoov, Historical market hall in central Tartu, Estonia
The market hall stretched between Poe Street and Kauba Street along the Emajõgi River, featuring 128 Tuscan-style columns arranged in a rectangular pattern. It contained roughly 40 shops and an open courtyard where traveling merchants could spend the night.
The building was constructed between 1816 and 1819 under Governor-General Filippo Paulucci and designed by architect Georg Friedrich Geist. It replaced wooden shops that previously stood near Raekoja Plats.
The marketplace became known locally as 'Venepoed' (Russian shops) because merchants from Russia sold tobacco, leather, salt, and herring here. This mix of traders and goods shaped how the place felt and who came to visit.
The complex was easily accessible, sitting directly between two main streets along the river. It was busiest after dark when most merchants set up their goods and the courtyard filled with visitors and overnight guests.
Mart Jänes opened one of the Baltic region's largest clothing stores within this complex. The shop attracted rural visitors who typically avoided more expensive shops in town.
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