Old Anatomical Theatre

One of the symbolic buildings of the University of Tartu, the classical Old Anatomical Theatre building, was built according to the project of Johann Wilhelm Krause from 1803 to 1805 at the top of the former Karl Gustav Bastion. The building acquired its current appearance as a result of three construction stages – it was further complemented in the years 1825-1827 and 1856-1860. The first construction phase of the building is a low-domed classical rotunda, which housed the anatomical theater and was said to have been adorned with murals by the university’s drawing teacher Karl August Senff after completion. With the second construction phase, two-story arched wing buildings were added around the rotunda according to Krause’s design, which were further extended in the third construction phase according to the project of architect K. Rathaus. In addition to the exterior of the building, many details and the floor plan have been preserved in the interior. The building was used by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Tartu until 1999.

Photo: Kevin Loigu.