Religious heritage of Tartu (Estonia), European Capital of Culture for 2024
Tartu is Estonia's second-largest city and has been home to the country's most prestigious university since the 17th century. As a student city, cultural offerings abound in Tartu and will reach their peak after being designated one of three European Capitals of Culture for 2024. In this list, we've compiled the most interesting sacred places to visit in and around the old town.
Tartu Cathedral is an excellent example of brick-Gothic religious architecture from Medieval Livonia. The construction of the church began in the 13th century and continued until the beginning of the 16th century. However, a few decades after its completion, the Livonian War (1558 - 1583) broke out and the church was devastated. In the 1760s, the towers on the front façade were removed because of the risk of collapse. The rest of the building was reinforced but preserved in its ruined state. Today it has become one of Tartu's main cultural attractions, hosting concerts, exhibitions and other events. It also houses the University of Tartu Museum.
St John’s is another not-to-be-missed religious building. This Gothic building, built in the 13th century, is one of the oldest surviving churches in Tartu and in the whole of Estonia. But, what makes this place even more special, are the 700-year-old terracotta sculptures that decorate the exterior and interior of the building. Originally there were more than 1,000 figurines, each one different from the others. Many of them are nowadays kept in repositories to prevent their deterioration. Visitors can enjoy a great panoramic view of the historic centre of Tartu from the platform at the top of the church tower.
St Paul’s Church is Estonia’s only Art Nouveau sacred building. It was completed and consecrated in 1917. The church was partially damaged by a fire during the Second World War but completely restored by 1966. Both its original design and its restoration are the work of Finnish architects: E. Saarinen (who completed the design in 1913) and M. Nieminen and K. Järvinen, who took inspiration for the restoration from Saarinen's original design. The church has a columbarium and a crypt. Visitors can climb to the top of its 102.9-metre tower and browse through its bookshop.
The Cathedral of the Dormition of Our Lady, more commonly known as Uspenski Cathedral, is the seat of the Orthodox Bishop of Tartu. The first Uspenski Cathedral was built between 1752 and 1754 by the order of Peter the Great, the first Emperor of all Russia. The current building was constructed between 1776 and 1782 after a fire destroyed the previous one. The new church was designed by Paul Spekle according to an early Russian Baroque style.
If we look at the contemporary sacred buildings in Tartu, one of the most remarkable is the St Luke's Church of the Estonian Methodist Church. This church was declared the best new building in Tartu in 2002, in the context of the annual prize awarded by the city council of Tartu. St Luke’s was designed by Estonian architect Indrek Allmann.
St Peter’s is an elegant neo-Gothic church built between 1883-1884. It was designed by architect Viktor Schröter. The west tower and spires were added in 1903 according to the designs of Georg Hellat. In its also neo-Gothic interior, visitors can admire Johann Köler's altar painting "Inviting Christ" (1897). The church also preserves an organ from the 19th century.
St George’s Orthodox church was built between 1868 and 1870. During the Second World War, the church was practically razed to the ground by bombs. The tower collapsed and only the walls of the original Byzantine church remained standing. The church was rebuilt and reconsecrated in 1945.
The Immaculate Conception church is a red brick neo-Gothic temple designed by Wilhelm Schilling. It is the only Roman Catholic church in Tartu. It has a vaulted interior with stained glass windows. The altar painting 'Virgin Mary with Jesus' dates from 1905.
