Tallinn Town Hall
59.43709166666724.745469444444Koordinaten: 59 ° 26 ' 14 " N, 24 ° 44' 44" O
The Tallinn Town Hall ( Tallinna Raekoda estonian ) is one of the landmarks of the Estonian capital Tallinn. It is the center of the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History
About the location and appearance of the first town hall in Tallinn, there are only guesses. A city council has existed since the 13th century. The existence of a town hall ( consistorium ) is, however, only mentioned in documents in 1322. On today's point and in its present form, the Town Hall was built 1402-1404. It is the only surviving town hall in Gothic style in northern Europe. The City Council of Tallinn headed from there to 1970 the fortunes of the city before he moved into a modern building.
Description
The massive two-storey building is still very committed to the late Gothic style of the Middle Ages. The main façade located on the main square is crowned by a battlement. At her two gargoyles are attached in the form of dragon heads. The works from 1627 are from the coppersmith Daniel Pöppel.
There is a slim, octagonal tower on the east side. His peak was in 1628 set up a spire in the style of the late Renaissance. On top of the tower is located since 1530, the most famous weather vane of Tallinn, the " Old Thomas" ( Vana Toomas ). The figure, which was formerly gilt, represents a trooper holding a flag in his hand. In the 64 m high tower one of the oldest bells in the Baltics is attached, formerly served as a fire alarm in the city.
The ground floor of the city hall is dominated by a achtjochigen archway that opens to the Town Hall Square. He offered protection from rain or snow, housed in the history of the town hall but also stalls and shops. Behind the portico were the storage and basement of the building and the wine warehouse of the City Council.
Interiors
The first floor included the actual representation expenses and meeting rooms of the Town Hall. About an entrance on the right side of the building opens onto a stone staircase in the two-aisled Bürgersaal ( also called the " vestibule "). The arches rest on slender octagonal columns. They are painted with a herringbone pattern colorful. The historic tapestries from Flanders arrived in Tallinn in 1548, are now in the City Museum. Two of them show scenes from the life of King Solomon.
From the Civil hall a door leads into the council chamber, the historic chambers of the City Council of Tallinn. He decided to end the Hanseatic period after lübischem law. The medieval Council stalls obtained tackle themes of medieval literature and Christian symbolism in his carving. On the side panel of a Council stalls is the representation of Tristan and Isolde, which originated around 1370. Furthermore, represented Samson killing the lion and Samson and Delilah. Below a picture of Aristotle is shown with the courtesan Phyllis, made around 1435.
During the renovation in the 17th century, eight lunettes were attached with text legends about Biblical themes of Lübeck painter Johann Aken had made in 1667. There were a baroque frieze with hunting scenes of the famous Tallinn Art Schnitzer Elert Thiele (1665/1667) as well as floral and ornamental motifs from the carving workshop of Joachim Armbrust ( 1696 ).
Town Hall Square
The Town Hall Square ( Town Hall Square ) is still bustling center of Tallinn's Old Town, the so-called " lower city ". In the Middle Ages it was square and place for big celebrations such as the processions, the merchant brotherhoods, weapons games as well as Carnival and May Day celebrations. The town hall square was also the pillory in the city. A wooden figure of Schnitzmeisters Elert Thiele was erected here in 1664. From a certain point of the town square, you can see all five main churches of Tallinn.
Directly opposite the Town Hall is the Tallinn Town Hall Pharmacy from the 15th century, one of Europe's oldest pharmacies. Other historic buildings testify to the prosperity medieval Tallinn, which was already in 1284 joined the Hanseatic League.