Medieval architectural monuments are a valuable part of the architectural heritage of Estonia. It occupies a special place in Tartu Jaani Church, primarily due to the decorative details, made of baked clay - terra cotta. Initially, their number was more than 1000. Over the entire period of church history terracotta sculptures survived, not all, but still quite a number of these figures are whole and we can see them today.

Although terracotta has been known and widely used material in the medieval architecture, including buildings built at that time, there will be no structures that could compete with the St. John's Church in value and a high level of execution of the sculptures in the art. Thanks to this feature, the church is quite a significant architectural monument across the Western European Gothic.

Throughout its history, the church was repeatedly destroyed and restored, but its medieval appearance and is easy to guess today. Jaani Church is a three-nave structure with a strong western tower. Since the church is not built on a single plan, its final form, she received after repeated completions and reconstructions, as well as accidents. The exact date of the beginning and the promotion of the construction is unknown. Sources tells us that in 1323 the parish or the church itself has existed. Archaeological excavations have helped to restore and complete history of the church.

For example, it turned out that the history of the construction of the church goes back centuries much further than it may seem on the appearance of the sacred structure. Discovered during excavations fragments of longitudinal wooden buildings date back to the 12-13th centuries. As such findings difficult to judge the appearance of the building, but it is known that it was the Christian church, which existed before the conquest and total Christianization of Estonia in the 13th century.

It is likely that in the architectural appearance, built in the second half of the 14th century church, stood a strong western tower. The western portal is decorated with a decorative pediment, in which there were 15 sculptures. At the center of the composition was Jesus, which was surrounded by Mary, John the Baptist and the 12 apostles. This composition is a scene of the Last Judgment, and prayer-intercession for the people to Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, the Baptist and of the Apostles.

Richly decorated interiors were the church, especially the central part. Unfortunately, to have survived only small remnants of the former beauty. Uniquely decorated the wall between the main and upper arcades, window parts of the parish premises. In the ranks of the niches, creating an illusory Trefolev are sitting sculpture under canopy, in the center - a figure wearing a crown and scepter. Samples of this exclusive design of the main wall can be found only in the English Gothic style. A significant role is played by terracotta sculptures in the design of end walls of the central nave of the church building.

Lubeck chapel, an attached much later, has come a long and difficult way in its construction. As a result, it was built dvuhsvodchatoe room, which is combined with the main nave with a large portal.

The church was severely damaged during the Northern War, and during World War II after the attack on the Soviet bombers Tartu Jaani Church was burned.

Since 1989, it begins the restoration of the church. Repair and restoration work, with the periodicity were to 2005. In summer 2005, the opening ceremony of the restored St. John's Church.