- Address: Pikk 26, 10133 Tallinn, Estonia;
- Site: filharmoonia.ee;
- Phone: +372 631 3199.
Walking in Tallinn, tourists must visit the House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads, located on Pikk street. It is a beautiful building with luxurious sculptural reliefs, which is a monument of the Renaissance.
What is the Brotherhood of Blackheads?
The legend says that the Brotherhood arose in 1399 and existed until the 1940s. The cause of its emergence was a peasant uprising, during which foreign merchants defended Tallinn. Members of the brotherhood adopted a charter - "Big Rights" in 1407, confirming the decision of merchants to provide merchants with an artillery unit.
The name of the brotherhood was given in honor of the chosen patron - Saint Mauritius, who was the black leader of the Roman legion. He was executed in 290 BC for refusing to persecute Christians, for he himself was an adherent of this religious trend. Members of the Brotherhood chose St. Mauritius because of their courage, so the black head of the Ethiopian was depicted on the coat of arms and other banners of the organization.
Initially, the organization rented premises in the building of the Great Guild, but as the Blackheads' brotherhood became more powerful, at the beginning of the 16th century it was forced out of the leased premises. Therefore, the organization needed its own building, which became the residential house located at the address - Pikk street, 26.
House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads in Tallinn - landmark city
The building was purchased from the rich ratman (member of the town hall) I. Fiant in 1531. The building was rebuilt several times, and as a result, it acquired a hall in front of the front, where warehouse premises were usually located. Later, another large hall was built, above which stood an octagonal pylon.
An amazing feature of the House of Blackheads is that on one of the columns that divide the hall, the date of construction of the Roman numerals is carved. A very large reconstruction of the building was carried out in 1597 by the Tallinn master Arent Passer. Although the old system of openings was preserved, the facade was designed according to the new trends in art. Therefore, the general appearance of the building retained Gothic, but the decor refers to the Netherlands Renaissance.
The oldest elements of the design preserved side plates (1575), as well as ancient ethics, located above the windows of the second floor. In the stone facade are inscribed various inscriptions, like "Lord, helping Always" and "God is my helper". There are also coats of arms of Hanseatic representatives, various bas-reliefs and portrait sculptures. A beautiful carved door was made in the 40s of the 17th century by Berent Heistman.
In 1908, the interior is reconstructed, after which the style of decoration is recognized as neoclassicism. Gradually, the Brotherhood of the Great Guild begins to expand, so they buy neighboring buildings, for example, the house of the former guild of St. Olai. After the reconstruction works in 1922, all the buildings were combined into one. At the present time, the House of Blackheads (Tallinn) is used as a venue for concerts and exhibitions, because the Brotherhood itself fled to Germany.
When visiting the sights, tourists get acquainted with the history of the Baltic States, and learn about the Brotherhood of Blackheads closer, as here are preserved photographs and pictures of the happy life of unmarried merchants. In the building there are several rooms - White, Basement, brothers, as well as a fireplace room.
Tourists can not only sign up for excursions, but also do chasing a happy coin. For this, a pattern and a hammer are used, with which the ornament is knocked out on both sides. Those who are interested in the history of the House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads, detailed information can be found in special booklets.
How to get there?
The House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads is located in the Old Town, it can be reached on foot 10 minutes from the railway station. To do this, turn right, go through the park, which is located on the Tower Square, and then keep the path to the Old City.