St John’s Lutheran Church


Built in 1816, St John's in Valga holds the distinction of being the only oval-plan church in Estonia. Its other claim to fame is a rare 19th-century organ, the work of famed German organ-builder Friedrich Ladegast, and still in working order.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Valga Museum

0.23 MILES

Housed in a handsome art nouveau building that dates to 1911, and has served as both a theatre and a bank, this museum focuses on the local area, with…

2. Valga Prison Camp Cemetery

1.68 MILES

An estimated 29,000 Russians died at the Nazi POW camp Stalag-351, which was located in converted stables at Priimetsa on Valga’s outskirts. Most died of…

3. Sangaste Castle

12.62 MILES

British castle-spotters might experience déjà vu gazing on this majestic red-brick manor house, with its architectural debts to Windsor and Balmoral…

4. St Andrew's Lutheran Church

14.91 MILES

It's thought that the name Sangaste might derive from the Latin phrase Sanguis Christi (Blood of Christ), referring to a relic kept in Sangaste's original…

5. Karula National Park

18.02 MILES

Fairies, ghosts and witches abound in the 123 sq km of wooded hills, small lakes and ancient stone burial mounds that form Karula National Park, at least…

6. Pühajärv

24.43 MILES

According to legend, 3.5km-long, 8.5m-deep Pühajärv (Holy Lake) was formed from the tears of the mothers who lost their sons in a battle of the Kalevipoeg…

7. Beach

24.5 MILES

The popular sandy beach on the northeastern shore of Pühajärv has waterslides, a swimming pontoon, a cafe and lifeguards in summer.

8. Energy Column

25.61 MILES

If energy levels are low, recharge at this odd bear-covered totem pole. It was erected in 1992 to mark the long-held belief of psychics that this area…