St Mary's Cathedral

St Mary’s Cathedral, also known as the Dome Church, is thought to be the oldest church in Tallinn, though historians still debate its origins and construction date. The first documented mention of the church appears in 1233, and it’s tied to a rather grim episode. During a violent clash, the Sword Brethren, a militant order of warrior monks, slaughtered the Danish king’s subjects and laid their bodies at the foot of the altar. This chilling event went down in history as the “bloodbath.” Not exactly a peaceful beginning. The cathedral was consecrated in 1240 by Danish King Valdemar II. Over the centuries, its appearance remained largely unchanged, apart from the addition of a baroque bell tower in the 17th century. Tragedy struck in 1684, when a fire ravaged much of the building. As a result, very little of the original medieval structure has survived. The church’s interior is relatively modest, but two features stand out. First, the grand organ, built in 1913, is one of the most powerful in Estonia. Second, the church serves as the final resting place for several notable figures. Among them is Ivan Krusenstern, the first Russian navigator to circumnavigate the globe, back in 1803.