Church of the Holy Spirit
Pühavaimu kirik
A small 14th-century white-walled church beside the Town Hall, with a 17th-century painted wooden clock on its exterior, said to be Tallinn's oldest public clock.
The Church of the Holy Spirit was built in the 14th century. It originally served as the chapel of the Town Hall and the church of an almshouse, and it is the only church in Tallinn whose exterior has remained largely unchanged since the 14th century. A painted wooden clock dating from the 17th century hangs on its outer wall. It is considered the oldest public clock in Tallinn and is a popular spot for photographs. The interior is small but exquisite. It contains the Holy Spirit Altar, made in 1483 by the workshop of Bernt Notke, a Baroque pulpit, and painted scenes from the Bible on the wooden gallery. The first sermon on the Estonian-language Lutheran catechism of the 16th century was delivered here. Entry costs about 2 to 5 euros (confirm on site), and visitors are not admitted during Sunday morning services. It lies about 50 metres from Town Hall Square.
Opening hours
Mon–Sat, about 09:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Great Guild Hall (Estonian History Museum)
- Town Hall Square & Tallinn Town Hall
- St. Catherine's Passage
- Kohtuotsa & Patkuli Viewing Platforms
- St. Olaf's Church
- St. Nicholas' Church (Niguliste Museum)
- Tallinn City Walls
- Viru Gate