#80 Tartu, Estonia

1. The name of Tartu's Dome Hill (Estonian: Toomemägi) is derived from Dome Church (Estonian: Toomkirik) or Toom Cathedral of the area's bishopric. For that tome the cathedral was truly massive, being the largest religious building in all of the Liivimaa territory. Building of the cathedral began in the 13th century and was completed in 15th century as a triple - aisled basilica. 

In the course of the Reformation and Livonian War the church was damaged. The fire of 1624 completed the destruction. In 1807 the university library was built into the choral room of the church, which was housed there until 1982. Now the Tartu University History Museum is located there, and observing platforms have been renovated in the tower ruins. 

2. The statue of two writers, by Tiiu Kirsipuu, was constructed in 1999. 

The imaginary conversation between the Irish writer Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) and Estonian writer Eduard Vilde (1865-1933), depicted in the statue, might have taken place in the year 1892, but actually, the two men never did meet. A copy of sculpture was given as a gift from the town of Tartu to the Irish city of Galway in 2004. 

3. St. John's Church (Estonian: Jaani kirik) was probably built in the first third of the 14th century as a three-nave basilica. The church was damaged in in Russia-Livonian War in the 16th century ; lightning has set its spire of fire several times. Some of the church was destroyed in the Great Nordic War in 1708. In the 30's of the last century, the building was reconstructed in the classicistic style.

Date of Issue: May 6, 2011 - The Struve Geodetic Arc (UNESCO WHS)

Aitäh, Katja !

Sent on: September 27, 2011

Received on: October 3, 2011