Monument to Gustav II Adolf tartu

Monument to Gustav II Adolf

The founder of the University of Tartu is considered to be the Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus II also known in English as Gustav II Adolf. In 1632, the monarch ordered the establishment of an educational institution in Livonia, Academia Gustaviana, which became the prototype of the current main university of Estonia. At the time of its foundation, Academia Gustaviana was the second university in Sweden after Uppsala University, which was named Universitas Gustaviana.

History of the Monument

In memory of the founder of the University of Tartu, a small memorial has been erected in the city. A bronze sculpture of the king stands in a small park near the building of the former university church. The monument to Gustav II Adolf is set on a tall granite pedestal. Around it, benches are placed for resting.

The current monument to the Swedish king in Tartu was installed in 1992. It was created by Elisabet Thibelius-Maiden. The sculpture was installed at the initiative of the Tartu city authorities with the support of the Swedish side. It is noteworthy that this is the second monument to Gustavus Adolphus II in the city – the first appeared in the early 20th century.

The first monument to Gustavus Adolphus II in Tartu was created by Otto Strandman. The sculpture stood in the courtyard of the main building of the University of Tartu since 1928. However, on May 15, 1950, the monument fell victim to the Soviet authorities, who were actively fighting against symbols of foreign ideology. The monument was destroyed, and its renewed version appeared only after the restoration of Estonia’s independence.

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Other Interesting Sites

  • One of the most beautiful places in the student capital is the Tartu Botanical Garden. It is especially lovely here on summer days with good weather.
  • One of the most unique monuments in Tartu is the monument to Friedebert Tuglas. It is located in the city center, in a park next to the Emajõgi River.
  • We also recommend checking out other landmarks in Tartu. In this small city, there are a lot of interesting things for everyone.