One of the oldest monuments in Tartu is the sculpture of the great Russian general Barclay de Tolly. This majestic monument stands on Jüri Kooli Street in the Old Town, near the Town Hall Square. The monument is surrounded by a metal fence, and nearby in a small park there is a resting area with benches.

Barclay de Tolly came from a Baltic noble family. Mikhail Bogdanovich, born as Michael Andreas, became particularly famous during the Patriotic War of 1812, fighting against Napoleon's army. He ended his military career with the rank of General Field Marshal and was awarded more than twenty decorations, becoming the second full cavalier of the Order of Saint George.

The monument to Barclay de Tolly in Tartu was unveiled in 1849. It was created by the Russian sculptor Vasily Ivanovich Demut-Malinovsky and architect Apollon Feodosievich Shchedrin. The funds for the installation of the monument were raised by the officers of Barclay de Tolly's regiment. Initially, the square in front of the monument was paved with cobblestones, but it was later transformed into a cozy park.

The General Field Marshal is depicted in a ceremonial uniform with a cloak over his shoulder. At the bottom of the pedestal are captured trophies obtained by the general. Two plaques with inscriptions are also attached to the pedestal: 'To General Field Marshal Prince Barclay de Tolly.' The monument is included in the register of monuments of Estonia and is protected by the state.