Jaan Poska Gymnasium

In 2011, the Jaan Poska Gymnasium, with nearly 600 students, began its activities in a building where 104 years ago the Tartu Peace Treaty was signed – a peace agreement that ended the state of war between two countries and through which Estonia received its first international recognition de jure from Russia. The Estonian delegation was led by Jaan Poska, the then Foreign Minister of the Republic of Estonia. The significant building for national independence was commissioned to be built in 1859 by Baron Nolcken, who later sold it to Nikolai von Grote, and by the late 19th century, it became the headquarters of the Krasnoyarsk Regiment. During the War of Independence, both the Supreme Court and the Estonian National Museum showed interest in the building. After the signing of the peace treaty, the building came into the possession of the Supreme Court, which was located there until 1935 – thereafter, it housed the Tartu-Võru Peace Court. During World War II, the building suffered heavy damage and was restored as a school building after the war. For a long time, a vocational school was located in the building. From 2008 to 2011, the secondary school part of the M. Reiniku School operated here.

Photo: Evelin Kruus