Church of the Holy Spirit in Tallinn
The 14th-century Holy Spirit Church is a spectacular structure inside and out, from its wood interior to elaborate façade clock.
This radiantly white church with its distinctive octagonal tower stands just off Town Hall Square.
The elaborate painted clock on its façade is Tallinn's oldest public timepiece, dating to the late 17th century. But don't miss the carved wood interior which includes such treasures as a unique 15th century altar by the famous Lübeck artist Bernt Notke, and one of the oldest pulpits in Estonia, dating to 1597.
The church was originally founded as part of the neighbouring Holy Spirit Almshouse, which tended to the town's sick and elderly. Throughout medieval times it remained the primary church of the common folk. After the Reformation, it was here the first sermons were ever given in the Estonian language (as opposed to German), and a catechism published in 1535 by the church's pastor Johann Koell is thought to be the first book in Estonian.
Entrance is free with Tallinn Card.
TripAdvisor® Traveler Reviews
tripadvisor rating 4.5 of 5
based on 485 reviews
Lovely church with painted gallery!
tripadvisor rating 5 of 5Wonderful church with a painted gallery that tell so many of the Bible stories! It was the end of the season so they were out of English language literature, but the painted gallery was amazing... Read more comments
Interesting Church from the 1300s!
tripadvisor rating 4 of 5It is worth the small 1.50 Euro entry fee to see the inside of this church from the early 1300s! There is interesting art from many hundreds of years ago, plus the fee helps the maintenance. I was in... Read more comments
Delightful quiet and historic Church near the centre of Tallinn
tripadvisor rating 5 of 5There is a lovely atmosphere in this Church, which is steeped in history. One evening I went there for a wonderful Bach concert, with Kristiina Hoidre on the organ and Kirill Lissijenko on the... Read more comments
