Dominican Monastery is the oldest cloister in downtown Tallinn.

Monastery was founded in 1246. The structure of the building is that of a typical Catholic cloister. The most powerful building in the cloister complex is the church. St. Catherine’s Church is thought to have reached its present state at the end of the 14th century and in surface area was the largest downtown church of its time.

From the beginning of the monastery’s activities, there was an unofficial school on the premises. St. Catherine’s cloisters were extended and rebuilt many times, most recently in the 16th century.

The Reformation of 1525 shut down the cloisters’ functional activities, when the monks were forced into exile. In 1531, a fire started in the desecrated, empty church, leaving only ruins in its stead. Remaining standing today are the western wall of the cloisters’ church, containing two portals, an eastern portion of the southern wall, with part of three supporting pillars and window openings, and the lower part of the southeastern tower, as well as a section of the northern wall.

It now houses an exhibition on the stonemasonry of Tallinn, as well as temporary exhibits and concerts.