The history of the Suure-Lähtru estate dates back to the end of the 16th century. During the centuries, it has belonged to several different aristocratic families. During much of the 20th century, the manor was used as a school house. The current building was completed in 1778, and was designed by Johann Andreas Jaenichen, while most of the stucco work was done by Johann Caspar Mohr, who was province architect of Estonia and who also designed the Stenbock house (the current seat of the Government of Estonia) in Tallinn. A fine rococo stair is still preserved in the house.
References:The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.