Medieval monuments are a valuable part of the architectural heritage of Estonia. A special place is occupied Tartu Janowska Church, primarily due to decorative details made of baked clay – terracotta. Originally the number was over 1000. For the entire period of Church history the terracotta sculptures are preserved, not all, but quite a large number of these figurines a whole and we can observe them today.

While terracotta was well-known and widely used material in the middle ages, among the buildings erected at that time, there will be no facilities that could compete with Janowski Church in magnitude and high level of execution of the sculptures in this technique. Due to this feature, the Church is a prominent architectural monument across the Western Gothic.

Throughout its history the Church was repeatedly destroyed and restored, but its medieval appearance is easily recognisable today. Janowska the Church is a three-nave building with a powerful Western tower. Since the Church is not built on a single plan, your final look she got after repeated interventions and reconstructions, as well as disasters. The exact date of commencement and progress of construction is unknown. Sources tells that in 1323 the ward or even the Church itself already existed. Archaeological excavations have helped to restore and Supplement the history of the Church.

For example, it became clear that the history of the buildings of the Church goes back centuries further than it may seem in appearance of sacral buildings. Discovered during excavations fragments of longitudinal wooden buildings date from the 12-13th centuries On such findings is difficult to judge about the external appearance of the building, however, it is known that it was a Christian Church that existed before the conquest and total Christianization of Estonia in the 13th century

It is likely that in the architecture, built in the second half of the 14th century Church, was distinguished by powerful Western tower. The Western portal of the building was adorned with a decorative pediment, in which there were 15 sculptures. In the centre of the composition there was a Jesus who lived as Mary, John the Baptist and the 12 apostles. This composition represents the scene of the last judgment and the prayer-intercession for the people before Jesus Christ the mother of God, the Baptist and the apostles.

Richly were decorated interior of the Church, especially the Central part. Unfortunately, up to now has only small remnants of former beauty. Uniquely decorated, the main wall between the arches and the top of the window parts of the parish premises. In the rows of niches, creating illusory Tripoli are sitting sculpture under canopies in the center - pieces in the crowns and scepters. Samples of similar exclusive design of the main wall can be found only in English Gothic. A significant role belongs to the Terra-cotta sculptures in the design of the end walls of the Central nave of the Church building.

Lübeck chapel, built much later, was a long and difficult way in its construction. The result was erected dogsbodies room, which was connected with the nave by a large portal.

Severely damaged the Church during the Northern war, and during the second world war after the RAID on Tartu Soviet bombers Janowska Church burned down.

With 1989 begins the restoration of the Church. Repair and restoration work, at intervals, was conducted in 2005. In the summer of 2005 took place the opening ceremony of the restored Janowski Church.