10 Churches & Cathedrals in Tartu County That You Shouldn't Miss

An orthodox congregation was established in Tartu in 1845 and Priest Joosep Shestakovski (1856-1888) initiated the building of an orthodox church. Tartu Saint George the Martyr Church was built using donations from the congregation and it was consecrated in the honour of Saint George by Bishop of Riga and Mitav Benjamin.Interesting facts:- the Saint George Church in Tartu was also the first place where Patriarch of Russia Alexy II worked after his graduation from the clerical academy.

The Apostolic Orthodox Church was built from 1899 to 1901 and consecrated on 5 May 1905 to celebrate Jesus going to Jerusalem. The activities of the Orthodox congregation were terminated in 1961 and the church was used as the warehouse of a collective farm. In the 1980s, Rannu State Farm decided to make amends for the injustice and restored the church. Rannu Congregation of the Estonian New Apostolic Church uses the building today.

You are welcome to admire the Gothic red brick house of God (architect Wilhelm Schilling). The Church of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the only Roman Catholic church in Tartu. The cornerstone was placed in 1862 and the church was consecrated in 1899. You will find the painting "Virgin Mary with Jesus" (1905) by Ernst Friedrich von Liphardt and a large crucifix carved of lime tree (1935) in the high-vaulted church.Interesting facts:- even Tsar Nicholas II donated 3000 roubles for the construction of the church in 1894 when Priest Friedrich Zhyskar started raising funds for building the church.

A grand and stylish pseudo-gothic brick church (architects Viktor Johann Gottlieb Schroter, Georg Hellat) greets you right next to the site of the first general song festival of Estonia. In the church, you can admire Johann Koler's altar painting 'Inviting Christ' (1897) and enjoy concerts in the hall that has room for up to 3000 people.Interesting facts:- WG Eisenschmidt, one of the first Estonian pastors, was the first pastor of the congregation and he served them for 53 years;- St Peter’s Church has a 19th century organ with 22 registers.

Come and marvel at the unique silhouette of this beautiful art nouveau church (architect Eliel Saarinen). Tartu St Paul’s Church is one of the most outstanding 20th century sacral buildings in Estonia (1915, consecrated in 1917). You can admire the altar (1923) with the group of marble sculptures ‘Come to me, all ye who are weary and burdened’ by Amandus Adamson. The bells made in Ruhrland in 1923 ring in the tower of St Paul’s Church and a there is also a shop of Christian literature and symbols in the church.Interesting facts:- one of the wings of the church was used by the Estonian Museum of Sports for almost 40 years.

Tartu St Luke’s Church is a modern sacral building (architect Indrek Allmann), which is located in the Toomemagi area.Interesting facts:- Tartu St Luke’s Church was declared the best new building in Tartu in 2002;- the church is located on the site that used to belong to the famous professor of surgery Zoege von Manteuffel.

Come and take look at the modern and spacious church of the Tartu Salem Baptist Congregation (architect Maarja Nummert). The church was opened on 28 June 1988 with a concert and thanksgiving service. You are welcome to enjoy concerts in the church hall that has great acoustics and space for almost 400 people. Interesting facts:- the only baroque organ in Tartu is in the Tartu Salem Baptist Church;- the church offers accommodation to travellers.