Jakob Hurda monument in Otepää

Jakob Hurt (1839 – 1907) was the first Estonian pastor who worked in Otepää from 1872 to 1880. He was a prominent figure of the Estonian national movement, a folklorist, and a linguist.

While working in Otepää, J. Hurt led the founding committee of both the Estonian Literary Society and the Estonian Alexander School as president. He promoted school life in the Otepää parish and modernized school buildings.

J. Hurt lived in the Otepää Church Manor for most of his years in Otepää, which is why a granite bust of Jakob Hurt was installed on the green area in front of the building on November 25, 1989. The author of the sculpture is Villu Jaanisoo.