Page 66 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

64 EST ONIA REGION B Y REGION

1 Town Hall modest museum with a small Its whitewashed exterior
Tallinna raekoda selection of historical exhibits includes the oldest public clock
including medical instruments in Tallinn, with carvings dating
Raekoja plats 1. Map 1 C2. Tel 645
7900. @ 5, 40. v 1, 2, 3, 4. Open Jul– and curative treatments. Ask from 1684. The stepped gable
to try the spiced wine, which is topped by a striking Baroque
Aug: 10am–4pm Mon–Sat; Sep–Jun:
by appointment. Tower: May–Aug: was a popular purchase in tower. The spire was nearly
11am–6pm daily. & 8 - medieval times. According to des troyed by fire in 2002,
∑ tallinn.ee/raekoda a local legend, marzipan was but was restored within a year.
accidentally created here and Inside, the church is a treasure
One of the most revered named Martin’s Bread. trove of religious artifacts and
symbols of Tallinn, the Town Hall architecture, from the
dates back to 1404. Its high- magni ficently intricate Baroque
pitched roof is suppor ted by pews to the Renaissance-era
two tall gables and a late- pulpit. The sublime altar
Renaissance spire crowns triptych, The Descent of the Holy
the slender octagonal tower. Ghost (1483), by Lübeck artist
The narrow windows and Berndt Notke, is the main
crenellated parapet complete highlight. The church holds a
the building’s impressive special place in Estonian history,
appearance. Facing Town Hall as the first Estonian-language
Square, a vaulted arcade runs sermons were delivered here in
along the north façade, where a 1535 following the Reformation.
small café puts out tables in the
summer. Inside, it is possible to
see the Citizens’ Hall and the 4 Great Guild Hall
Council Hall, although most Suurgildi hoone
visitors head straight for the Pikk jalg 17. Map 1 C2. Tel 696 8690.
tower and the 115-step ascent @ 5, 40. v 1, 2, 3, 4. Open May–Sep:
to the top.
10am–6pm daily; Oct–Apr: 10am–
Graceful Baroque tower of the Holy 6pm Thu–Tue. & =
Spirit Church ∑ ajaloomuuseum.ee
2 Town Hall
Pharmacy 3 Holy Spirit One of the most important
Raeapteek Church buildings in medieval Tallinn, the
Pühavaimu kirik Great Guild Hall was constructed
Raekoja plats 11. Map 1 C2.
Tel 5887 5701. @ 5, 40. v 1, 2, 3, 4. Pühavaimu 2. Map 1 C2. Tel 646 4430. in 1417. It was owned by a
Open 10am–6pm Mon–Sat. = @ 5, 40. v 1, 2, 3, 4. Open Oct–Apr: powerful union of wealthy
∑ raeapteek.ee 10am–2pm Mon–Fri; May–Sep: 9am– merchants. The building holds
a significant place in the city’s
5pm Mon–Sat. & 5 1pm Sun (in
The Town Hall Pharmacy is English); 6pm Mon (music hour). history. It was mainly used as the
famed for being one of the ∑ eelk.ee/tallinna.puhavaimu gather ing place for its members
oldest pharmacies in Europe. but at times it was also rented
The building’s exterior dates The 13th-century Holy Spirit out for wedding parties and
back to the 17th century, Church is one of the most court sessions. It was the
but there is evidence that a beautiful churches in Tallinn. starting as well as the end point
pharmacy existed on the site as The Gothic building served as of most festive processions in
long ago as 1422. In one corner the Town Hall chapel before Tallinn. The late Gothic building
of the shop’s interior there is a being converted into a church. has retained its original appear-
ance through the centuries,
although the windows were
remodelled in the 1890s.
The Great Guild Hall’s majestic
interior provides a perfect setting
for a branch of the Estonian
History Museum (see also p82).
The museum’s collection of
historical artifacts covers Estonian
history from the Stone Age to the
mid-19th century in fine detail.
The exhibits, which include
everything from jewellery to
weaponry, are accompanied by
explanatory texts in Estonian,
Interior of the Town Hall Pharmacy, with well-stocked shelves Russian and English.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp296–7 and pp314–16