Tallinn Town Hall

Excursion to the only surviving Gothic town hall in Northern Europe, serving Tallinn for more than 500 years. We will see a large historical exhibition and plunge into the days of the Hanseatic League.

The town hall stands on the square, where the market has been buzzing since time immemorial. The management of the Lower, commercial and craftsmanship city was regulated by the Lübeck city law, according to which power belonged to the magistrate. The seat of the magistrate was the Town Hall. The late 14th and 15th centuries were the golden age of Tallinn. It was through Revel as the easternmost city of the Hanseatic Union of trading cities of Northern Europe that there was a rapid trade between Europe and Novgorod. Tallinn flourished. Almost all of its civil buildings and churches, for which Tallinn is so rich and famous, got their appearance during this period.

The present size and appearance of the Town Hall acquired in 1402-1404. The building reflected the grandeur, power and wealth of a prosperous city. In 1530, a weather vane was installed on the towers of the Town Hall, which the townspeople began to call Old Thomas. City guard Thomas has been guarding the city for almost 500 years. An excellent example of the high level of forged products of Tallinn masters are the waters in the form of dragon heads in 1627.

The basement hall of the Town Hall was used as a wine cellar. The excise tax on wine gave a large income to the city treasury. In the Middle Ages, wine was considered a valuable drink, consumed only during great holidays. Now there is a museum exposition in this hall. We will be able to see the first weather vane of the Town Hall "Old Thomas", which stood on the tower for 400 years, wax figures of city residents - Burgers and servants in costumes of different centuries. Also, a model of the city of Reval in 1530, as well as models of the Harju Gate, which have not survived until now, and buildings that burned down during the bombing of the city in 1944, a model of the house of a wealthy merchant of the 15th century and an exhibition of goods on the trade of which Tallinn became rich.

The room above the basement, the trading room in the old books was also called a wine cellar, although it was probably used to store other goods. Now on its wall we can see a detailed map of the Hanseatic League. The most luxurious rooms are on the main floor of the Town Hall. This is the burgher and ratman halls. We will climb the old stairs to see with our own eyes the honor and pride of the venerable trading city.

The burgher hall in the Middle Ages was a room for feasts, receptions, celebrations. Traveling musicians and actors performed here. The tables in the hall were full of treats. At the reception of the Master of the Order of Hermann von Bruggenei in 1536, the main dish was fried deer. 3 bulls, 22 goats, 11 birds, 111 chickens were roasted. The snack was ham, sausages, cheeses, tongues and several varieties of fish. The musicians raised the mood, 49 barrels of beer were foaming between the tables, claret and rainwein, southern wines and malvasia were offered. Above the door leading to the magistrate’s hall is an inscription with a reminder: “From the summer of the Lord 1651.” Ratman, whoever you are, when you enter this house to do your duty, leave behind the threshold all personal disturbances: anger, resentment, enmity, friendship, flattery; dedicate yourself and your concerns to society, for whether you are just or unjust, you will face the Lord’s judgment.

Now the walls of the burgher hall are decorated with copies of Dutch tapestries from 1547 with scenes from the life of King Solomon. These are beautiful examples of Renaissance textiles. There's plenty of light in the burgher hall. Columns bearing Gothic vaults are decorated with the original painting of the 15th century – the Fish Tail. Above the tapestries hang the city coats of arms: the Big coat of arms - 3 leopard lions, and the Small coat of arms of Reval, as the city was then called.

The magistrate's hall is the most important room of the Town Hall. The city magistrate was going here. All laws and decisions relating to the city were adopted in the hall, in accordance with Lübeck law. In the 15th century, the magistrate consisted of 14 ratmans and 4 burgomasters. The position was unpaid, lifelong and very honorable. These people were selected from the members of the Great Merchant Guild, which in turn included German merchants who had their own house, wife and ship. The magistrate had both political and military and judicial powers, so the magistrate's hall was often used as a courtroom. This appointment is emphasized by the red color of the walls and paintings with judicial themes.

The oldest exhibit of the hall is 2 carved sidewalls of the bench of the Ratmans, dating back to 1374. They were carved for the previous magistrate's building. On one sidewall we see the plot of a medieval legend about the romantic love of the daughter of the Irish King Isolde and the Breton Prince Tristan. Another sidewall depicts Samson tearing the lion's mouth. In the building of the Town Hall we can visit the kitchen and the treasury, and in summer the 4th floor opens, where in the Hanseatic time there were huge warehouses - a holy place for every merchant, and now - the exposition of the museum.

Guide services. Tickets are purchased separately.

Entrance ticket to the Town Hall 5 €, preferential -3 €. Family ticket 2 adults + 2 children-10 €