CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (PÜHA VAIMU KIRIK)

This church, located not far from the corner of Raeapteek, dates back to the ^13th century. Originally, it was part of the Hospice of the Holy Spirit, which helped the sick and elderly. For a long time afterwards, it was the town's main church, helping all the inhabitants. Later, it changed its identity again to become a Lutheran church. In the 1530s, the first sermons in Estonian were delivered here, replacing the German used until then. Through all these changes, the church retains an important place in Estonian culture. It was also in this place of worship that the famous Livonian chronicler Balthasar Russow taught at the end of the ^16th century.

The interior is richly decorated. The church boasts a unique Gothic work of art: a multi-paned carved wooden altar dating from 1483. Commissioned from the artist Bernt Notke, the altar is one of Estonia's most valuable medieval works of art. The front of the church is adorned with a remarkable clock. Designed in 1684, it is the oldest public clock in Tallinn. As for the bell tower, it boasts the oldest drone in the capital, cast in 1433.
For the record, this is the smallest medieval church in the city. Bonus: the visit is free for Tallinn Card holders. Entrance fees cover annual maintenance costs.