It was rebuilt in the late 19th century by Baron Arved von Nolcken, modeled on the royal residence of Balmoral in Scotland.

Five rooms on the first floor house the Eduard Tubin museum, which documents his accomplishments as a music composer and conductor.

Alatskivi Castle is surrounded by various ancillary buildings and a forested park of 130 hectares (320 acres) area, the largest in Tartu County.

[6][3] After nationalization occurred in 1919, the castle complex was taken over by the government under the Ministry of Agriculture[3] and became a school, cavalry barracks, state controlled farm land, council offices, cinema and library.

[8] The castle is built to an asymmetrical plan, with single- and double-storied wings, turrets and a slate roof.

It hosts seminars, training programmes and small conferences, and is fitted with three meeting rooms and dining facilities.

[9] The initial exhibits are of members of the Tartu school who studied with Tubin, including Heino Eller, Eduard Oja, Alfred Karindi, Olav Roots, and Karl Leichter.