Description of the attraction
The Town Hall Pharmacy, located in one of the buildings on Town Hall Square, is the oldest operating pharmacy in the world. The first mention of this institution dates back to 1422. According to these documents, Johann Molner was the first pharmacist. However, it is possible that the pharmacy started working even earlier. This pharmacy operates according to its intended purpose to this day.
Today, the pharmacy sells modern medicines and drugs. In addition, in the second hall of the pharmacy there is a museum hall, which presents drugs used in treatment in the Middle Ages. In the Middle Ages, pharmacy clients could buy remedies such as mummy juice, which is a mummy powder mixed with liquid; powder from burnt hedgehogs or bees; powder from bats and unicorn horns, and snake potion. In addition, it was possible to purchase earthworms, swallow nests, or even herbs or perfumes.
In addition to medicines, food products were also available: biscuits, sweets and marzipan. According to legend, the marzipan recipe was invented by local pharmacists. They put on an experiment of mixing different drugs, and as a result, one day they got marzipan. This delicacy is a hallmark of Tallinn, which you can buy for yourself or grab your friends as a souvenir.
The pharmacy also sold household goods. This institution sold paper, candles, ink, gunpowder, paints, spices. And when tobacco was delivered to Estonia, the town hall pharmacy became the first place of its sale.
Admission to the pharmacy and museum hall is free, and you can even treat yourself to marzipan at the checkout. The institution is open from 9 to 19 on weekdays, and from 9 to 17 on Saturday.
