Monument to Nikolay Pirogov

The monument to Nikolay Pirogov in Tartu is located in the city center, close to the University of Tartu. The park where it is situated is very popular among today’s students, who gather at the base of the monument starting from spring. For young medical students, it has become a good tradition to spend time in the shadow of a great physician.

History of the Monument

The solemn unveiling of the Pirogov monument in Tartu took place in December 1952. A group of sculptors worked on its creation, including J. Raudsepp, P. Tarvas, A. Volberg, and M. Melder, though Raudsepp is most often mentioned in guidebooks and directories.

The monument features a bust of the surgeon mounted on a tall granite pedestal. The base of the pedestal displays the life years of Nikolay Pirogov and his name in Russian. At the lower part of the second section of the pedestal, there is a coat of arms with recognizable medical symbolism.

Pirogov’s connection with Estonia is tied to his years of work at the University of Tartu. Here, he prepared for his professorial activities, and afterward, he lectured on medicine for several years. Dr. Pirogov is known worldwide as an outstanding Russian surgeon.

Location on the Map

Other Points of Interest

• One of the ancient attractions in Tartu is the Devil’s Bridge, which was built for the 100th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty.
• Tartu also has a monument to Barclay de Tolly, a great Russian military leader who is buried in Estonia. Barclay’s military glory dates back to the era of the Russian Empire’s war with Napoleon.
• In the vicinity of Tartu lies the Estonian Aviation Museum. Many of the exhibits here can be viewed both from the outside and the inside.