RAEAPTEEK

To the northeast of the square is the superb Raeapteek (pharmacy) historic in old Tallinn. It dates back to 1422 (its current façade was redone in the th century). It opened its doors 70 years before Christopher Columbus discovered America. This makes this building one of the oldest shops in the world. Pills and syrups have replaced nerval horn powder and herbal decoctions, but the idea remains the same. The arms of the Burchart family, the first owner of this pharmacy, are still visible above the door. In 1725, Peter the Great called Burchart at his bedside in the hope that he would administrât him a cure, but he died before the arrival of the famous pharmacist. A few steps from the pharmacy, you will notice a large "L" shaped in pavés. It marks the location where a priest was beheaded in 1694. He had beaten a young waitress to death who would have served a hard omelet like the sole on his own expression.