Tartu Cathedral ruins

he surviving twin-towered ruins of Tartu Cathedral stand as one of the most prominent examples of medieval Brick Gothic architecture in Old Livonia. Construction began in the 13th century and continued through the early 16th century. At the time, Tartu Cathedral was considered the largest church building and the largest brick structure in Eastern Europe, and to this day it remains the largest medieval sacral building in Estonia. The three-nave basilican structure was originally covered with cross-ribbed vaults supported by octagonal pillars with corner shafts.

The massive westwork featuring twin towers – the upper sections of which have since been demolished – may have originally served a defensive function. In the 1760s, during fortification works on Toomemägi Hill, the upper stories of the tall twin towers were dismantled down to the ridge of the nave roof. Today, the towers are once again open to the public and house popular viewing platforms. The ruins of the nave and towers have been conserved and roofed, operating as part of the University of Tartu Museum. Tartu Cathedral is also one of the longest and most thoroughly studied buildings in the city.