The Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe has launched a programme of „European cities of Reformation“ to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. To date, 102 cities in 17 European countries are part of the programme. The initiative promotes the rich interplay of art, culture and spirituality and encourages historical experiences and tourism in the cities of the Reformation.
The member church of the CPCE in Estonia is the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Reformation reached Estonia in the early 1520s. In 2017 the CPCE designated the Estonian capital of Tallinn and Tartu as Reformation Cities on the basis of a joint application by the local city authorities and the Lutheran Church.
The European Union selected Tartu as Capital of Culture 2024 in recognition of the city‘s rich cultural heritage, dynamic arts scene and innovative approach to culture. This year, Tartu and Tartu County will have the opportunity to present its unique multi-ethnic history, art, music and other cultural areas to the whole of Europe. The Capital of Culture title will bring a series of events, festivals and exhibitions that will shape the urban space and enliven cultural life in and around Tartu.
Tartu is the oldest city in Estonia, first mentioned as a city in 1030. Today, Tartu is the second largest city after Tallinn and an important part of Europe’s cultural heritage.
The University of Tartu, founded in 1632 by King Gustav II Adolf, is one of the oldest universities in Northern and Eastern Europe, making Tartu a centre of education and research in Estonia and underlining the city’s cultural importance.
The congregations of Estonia’s traditional cultural centre hope that Tartu, one of the three European Capitals of Culture in 2024, will also be experienced as a vibrant and dynamic centre of religious life in Estonia.
