St. Catherine's Monastery, Tallinn, Estonia

St. Catherine's Monastery or the Dominican Monastery is a former monastery and one of the oldest buildings in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It is located in the heart of Tallinn's Old Town district full of warehouses and merchants' houses. Its remains constitute one of two remaining medieval monastery complexes in Tallinn.

A Dominican monastery is known to have existed at the site since at least 1246. The site, between present-day Vene and Müürivahe streets, was chosen carefully so as to facilitate both the friar's ability to preach to a large audience, and to suit their business interests, as they are known to have traded in fish. The monastery also had a brewery, producing four types of beer. Throughout the Middle Ages, the monastery was renowned for its scholarship.

In 1524, during the Reformation, the monastery was destroyed. Only fragments remain of the original complex. Parts have been incorporated into the Roman Catholic St. Peter and St. Paul's Cathedral, and other parts, including a finely carved portal, are visible via St. Catherine's Passage (Katariina käik), connecting Vene and Müürivahe streets.

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User Reviews

Mark Ovod (3 years ago)
Cant comment on the museum but the yard outside was worth seeing.

Alvydas Kaškonas (3 years ago)
Oldest monastery in Tallinn, but the visit was disappointing because it was just several rooms and just few object to see. Library wasclosed. And paper guide it wasn't enough for information, there wasn't map on the paper guide what was a little bit tricky to go through museum.

Liz L (3 years ago)
Access via Müürivahe Tänav. Very disappointed. 5 euros to get in was robbery. A few rooms many displaying art which I considered innaproprraite for the former building use (near naked women , women floating in bags??!!). No map on laminated guide. Would recommend going instead to the cathedral on Vene 18, and paying 2 euros to access the cloister and courtyard. Much more atmospheric.

Arianna Delsante (3 years ago)
Nice but felt like not really worth 5 euros per person.

Anshu Varanasi (5 years ago)
Wonderful place, can get free entry with Tallinn card.

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