'The Kissing Students' sculpture and fountain

About

The Kissing Students sculpture and fountain is a beloved landmark at the heart of Tartu’s historic town‑hall square. Designed by renowned Estonian sculptor Mati Karmin and unveiled in 1998, it features a bronze pair of graduates—male and female—kissing beneath a fountain that was originally installed in 1948. The statue has grown into a symbol of Tartu’s vibrant student culture, as the city hosts Estonia’s oldest university, the University of Tartu. The sculpture sits in front of the Raekoja Hall (Town Hall) building, making it a natural meeting point for locals and visitors alike. A recent renovation added mosaic tiles around the fountain, each etched with the name of one of Tartu’s sister cities, such as Oslo, Nuremberg, and Trondheim, reinforcing the city’s international ties. As a public art installation and free‑entry attraction, the Kissing Students fountain welcomes everyone from curious tourists to university students, offering a picturesque backdrop for photographs and a spot to admire the gentle art of motion. While the fountain itself is open to the public at all hours, visitors are encouraged to arrive during daylight to capture the full color of the bronze figures and the shimmering water. Nothing is required to visit—no tickets, no reservations, and no admission fee—making the Kissing Students a perfect stop on any walking tour of Tartu’s medieval Old Town. Contact information for the plaza’s management can be found on the official Visittartu website: +372 744 2111 or via email at info@visittartu.com. The site also offers additional resources for touring the surrounding historic streets and buildings.