University of Tartu Museum

During the Livonian War, the Tartu Cathedral was destroyed and has not functioned as a place of worship since then. In the early 19th century, a library was built in the ruins of the ambulatory choir section and along the eastern side of the nave using intermediate floors, dividing the building into three levels. The interior of this period features a mix of neoclassical décor with elements of neo-Gothic style. The walls are articulated with pilasters and cornices, and the triforium zone is marked by niches. Originally, massive buttresses between the chapel bays supported the outer walls on the north and south sides. Today, the Tartu University Museum, which showcases the history of science and university education, operates within the cathedral.

Photo: Kevin Loigu