Raeapteek (Town Hall Pharmacy), Tallinn

The Town Hall Pharmacy (Raeapteek) stands as one of Europe's oldest continuously operating pharmacies, maintaining its presence within the same historic building since the early 15th century. It holds the distinction of being both Tallinn's oldest commercial enterprise and its oldest medical institution. The earliest known visual representation of the Town-Hall Pharmacy can be traced back to an oil painting by Oldekop, depicting Tallinn's Town Hall Square in 1800. Photographs capturing the building's facade date back to 1889.

The precise founding date of the pharmacy remains uncertain among historians, but the oldest available records reveal that by 1422, the Town Hall Pharmacy had already changed hands twice. Some scholars suggest that its inception could be dated to 1415.

Within a town council's ledger, an entry by a chemist named Nuclawes mentions that the pharmacy's proprietors consisted of ten esteemed individuals, with the majority holding positions as aldermen. Subsequent documents, originating after 1422, indicate that the first pharmacist, Johann Molner, took charge, and medicinal products were already being dispensed at the pharmacy during the latter part of the 15th century.

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Sight Name: Raeapteek (Town Hall Pharmacy)
Sight Location: Tallinn, Estonia (See walking tours in Tallinn)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

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