Tartu St. Paul’s Church is the only Estonian sacral building in the Art Nouveau style, as well as one of the most outstanding twentieth-century sacral buildings in Estonia. The church and its wing form one of the most remarkable ensembles of sacral architecture.
The church was designed by Finnish-American architect E. Saarinen in 1913; the construction was completed and the building was consecrated in 1917. The interior was finished in 1919.
There was a fire in the church during the Second World War. However, the congregation led its partial restoration, so it was re-consecrated in 1966.
The church was restored by M. Nieminen and K. Järvinen on the basis of E. Saarinen’s projects.
The church houses a columbarium, a crypt, and a bookstore. You can also visit the spire.