St Nicholas’ Lutheran Church in Põltsamaa

Visited October 6, 2012

This is clearly a place I need to go back to. We were tired after our trip to Tartu, and only stopped for like half a second. But this church is actually attached to a castle. So yeah, going back for a better look!

This is St. Nicholas' Lutheran Church in Põltsamaa. The website says it was built in 1633, 1751 and 1952.

The last rebuild was after damage from World War II, and the congregation built it from the ruins.

And there is castle. I may have mentioned that! Põltsamaa's castle was built in 1272, and from 1570 and 1578, Livonia's King Magnus lived there. It was pillaged repeatedly through the centuries, and finally by Woldemar Johann von Lauw in the 18th century as a grand rococo-style palace. The church was built into its cannon tower, and both burned down in 1941 World War II.

Yep, definitely a trip back.

St. Anne's Church in Anna

Visited October 6, 2012

I know my project drives my wife nuts!

We were taking a little day trip to Tartu because she has never been.

And of course, on the way down, I yelled, "Look, a church!" and veered off the road to get pictures.

She of course thinks I am nuts.

St. Anne's Lutheran Church in Anna was built in 1780, although there has been a church at the site longer as is evidenced by the gravestones. Sadly, it was locked, so I couldn't get pictures of the inside, which is apparently beautiful.