Looming above the Old Town from its prominent place on Lai street, Oleviste Church (St Olaf’s) was first mentioned in 1267 and named in honour of King Olaf II of Norway, who was canonized for massacring pagans in Scandinavia. This slab-towered Gothic structure would not be particularly eye-catching were it not for the height of its spire, which reaches 124m and used to be even taller.

According to local legend, the citizens of Tallinn wanted the church to have the highest spire in the world in order to attract passing ships and bring in trade. Whether Tallinn’s prosperity in the Middle Ages had anything to do with the visibility of the church spire is not known, but between 1625 and 1820 the church burnt down eight times after being struck by lightning.

Occupying a niche low down on the rear exterior wall of the church is the tombstone of plague victim Johann Ballivi, an outstanding piece of fifteenth-century stone-carving, featuring a deliciously macabre depiction of a decaying body surrounded by delicately rendered mourners. The church’s unexceptional interior is the product of extensive renovation between 1829 and 1840.

Practical Info

Lai 50

Tower open: April - October daily 10:00 - 18:00

Tickets: €5