Tartu Cathedral ruins

Tartu County · Estonia

Tartu Cathedral ruins, Estonia
Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee via Wikimedia Commons

Good to know

Best time to go
May–September
Accessibility
limited
Coordinates
Open in maps

The towering brick ruins of this medieval cathedral crown Toome hill above central Tartu. Built by the bishops from the thirteenth century, it was among the largest Gothic churches in the region before the Reformation and later wars left it roofless. Part of the surviving choir was rebuilt to house the university's history museum, while the twin west towers can be climbed for views. The wooded hilltop park around the ruins holds student traditions, bridges and monuments, making it a favourite spot for walks.

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