A dispute has arisen in Estonia over the name of the Tsar's Road — ERR
In Estonia, there is a discussion underway regarding the name of a new local history tour route, which has been proposed to be called the “Tsar’s Road.” The idea has already sparked a debate about the appropriateness of this term and its historical context.
The “Tsar’s Road” was conceived as a cultural tourism route between Narva and Tartu, passing through points of interest and cultural landmarks; the name was proposed because Russian rulers once traveled along this route.
The proposed name has drawn criticism for emphasizing Estonia’s time as part of the Russian Empire and for seeming, at the very least, odd given the current geopolitical circumstances.
The initiator of the idea, Narva City Council Chairman Urbo Vaarman, argues that “Tsar’s Road” is a clear and vivid name for foreign tourists, and that “we shouldn’t take things to the point of absurdity” when evaluating the past in relation to the present. At the same time, he says that it is not essential to name the project exactly that—if a name that is just as vivid can be found.
The project’s original name also has other supporters, who argue that historical aspects can be presented with appropriate explanations.
At the same time, former Tallinn Mayor Katri Raig believes that the name “Tsar’s Road,” which emphasizes Russian rulers, is inappropriate under the current circumstances, and furthermore, it is not entirely accurate from a historical standpoint, since they typically traveled from St. Petersburg to Narva and from there to Tallinn, continuing on by sea to Europe or back to the capital; they visited Tartu much less frequently.
This was reported by ERR.
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