Description
Named after King Olaf II of Norway, the Church of St Olaf is said to have been first built in the 12th Century. It was the spiritual centre for Tallinn’s Scandinavian community even before Denmark conquered Tallinn in 1219. The church is thought to have been the tallest building in the world from 1549 to 1625, before its tower burned down. Nowadays, it is the tallest church in the Baltics – 123,7 m from the ground. The most likely reason for building such a high tower was navigational – helping ships find their way to Tallinn’s harbour. Today, you can get a great view of the town and bay from the tower’s viewing platform 60 meters up. You can also see Estonia’s oldest surviving sundial in St Mary’s Chapel which dates back to 1602. From 1944 until 1991, the Soviet KGB used St Olaf’s church spire as a radio tower and a surveillance platform.
Our postcards are handmade from 100% recycled paper and printed with our letterpress on both sides.
