Tallinn Cathedral

Tallinn Cathedral

Tallinn Cathedral is a church located on Toompea Hill in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It was founded by Germans in the 13th century and is the oldest church in Tallinn and Estonia, as well as the only surviving building on Toompea Hill after the great fire of the 17th century. Originally a Roman Catholic cathedral, it became Lutheran in 1561 and now belongs to the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Tallinn Cathedral is an iconic domed church in Estonia. As the country's principal Lutheran church, it was built before 1233. Due to continuous renovations and reconstructions, the church displays a blend of architectural styles. Its significance lies in the fact that its main structure dates back to the 14th century, while its Baroque spire was added in the late 1770s.

Historically, the church was built for the German-speaking Estonian elite. Upon entering through its grand gates, visitors will find a wealth of finely crafted weapons from the 17th to the 20th centuries, as well as stone carvings dating from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Notable figures buried here include Pontus de la Gardie, who commanded Swedish forces during the Great Northern War; Adam Johann von Krusenstern, a Baltic German admiral who led Russia’s first global expedition; and the Scottish-born Admiral Samuel Greig of Fife, rumored to have been a lover of Catherine the Great.

St Mary's Cathedral, Tallinn

Must-visit reason: Estonia’s most famous domed church

Continent: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region: Estonia

Province/State: Harju County

City: Tallinn