Barges are unique wooden trading vessels that, in Estonia, sailed the inland waters for more than 600 years – from the 14th until the middle of the 20th century. This contributed greatly to the prosperity of several Estonian towns, especially Tartu. When the Hanseatic League dominated trade across the Baltic and North Seas during the 14th-16th century, the barges heading for Novgorod carried mainly salt, cloth, beer, sweet wine and oriental spices. On the return, they brought furs, honey and wax.

Most of the sailing barges were lost in the turmoil of the two world wars, when they were requisitioned as military landing ships. The last of the historic barges could be seen sailing on Lake Peipus in the middle of the 20th century.

‘Jõmmu’ was built based on the historic barges that sailed in the region and is now the only example of its kind in the world. The barge was launched in the spring of 2006.

In October 2020, a new centre Lodjakoda was opened by the River Emajõgi where visitors can study the history of barges, how they were built and what they were used for. They can try old-fashioned barge-related work, craft a barge model and much more. The centre operates as a shipbuilding centre, theme park, museum, conference centre and exhibition space with a café, Viking and barge tours and a harbour. During winter, the barge ‘Jõmmu’ is also housed in the centre.