Located on the slope of Tartu’s Toome Hill Park, the Gunpowder Cellar is a unique historical building that today operates as a restaurant.
The building was established in 1767 in a moat separating the bishop’s castle from the surrounding area, and it was used as a gunpowder cellar until 1809. Bricks from the ruins of the medieval St. Mary’s Church and the bishop’s castle walls were used for its construction. Thanks to its thick stone walls and underground location, the building was well-suited for storing gunpowder.
Later, the building was used as a beer cellar, and at the end of the 19th century, it was also used by the University of Tartu for scientific research, including studies on earthquakes and magnetic phenomena.
From 1982 to 1999, the Gunpowder Cellar operated as a well-known café-restaurant, and in 2000, it reopened as a pub.
The Gunpowder Cellar is unique for its 11-meter-high ceiling and is listed in the Guinness World Records as the pub with the highest ceiling.
Today, it is a popular meeting place offering good beer, hearty food, and live music in a historical setting.
