St. John’s Church in Tartu

The Gothic-style St. John’s Church, Tartu, dating back to the 14th century, is one of the oldest churches in Estonia and stands out for its unique terracotta sculptures, which are considered rare throughout Europe.

Originally, the church had more than 1,000 handmade terracotta figures, around 200 of which have survived. Each sculpture is unique, which has led to speculation that they may depict the residents of Tartu at the time or other important figures.

The tower of St. John’s Church offers a wonderful view over the entire historic Old Town of Tartu. The tower houses two bronze bells, Peter and Paul.

Tartu