The height of the tower is 64 metres. To reach the bell chamber at the height of 34 metres, you have to take 115 steps on the spiral staircase. The medieval stairs are narrow and the steps are steep. Try it out, if you are fit!
Climbing the medieval stairs is a physical challenge! We do not recommend it to very old or overweight persons or people with very small children. The tower is not suitable for groups.
The history of Tallinn Town Hall Tower
The Town Hall Bell Tower was built 1402-1404. Town guards used to keep watch there in order to spot fire and other dangers. In case of fire they rung the alarm bell. The text on the alarm bell also warns of fire: “Glory to the God in the highest. Anno Domini 1586. Thou shalt keep thy fire and flame to protect the town against any harm.” The alarm bell was made by Hinrik Hartmann, the town’s cannon master in 1586.
The guard did not have to climb to the top to ring the bell: the bell rope ran from the top to the bottom through the holes drilled at the outer edge of the steps, which enabled the guard to pull the rope at the bottom of the tower.
Until the 20th century, the bell clapper was pulled from the rope. Nowadays the clapper is operated by the clock on the façade of the Town Hall by means of an electronic system. The bell rings on the hour, once for each hour of the time, so do not get startled!
Halfway up, there is a wooden floor substituting the stone stairs. In danger the wooden floor could be easily dismantled, thus making the staircase impassable. Therefore the bell tower also functioned as a safe hideaway.
At the height of 77 steps there was a toilet of the tower guard. It was connected to the toilet system of the building.
In 1530, a weather vane, the figure of a warrior was put on top of the spire. The figure was named Old Thomas by townsfolk. Old Thomas kept watch until 1944 when the spire of the tower was hit in the Soviet air raid. The burnt spire was reconstructed and a copy of Old Thomas erected in 1952. The spire was renovated in 1996. In the same year the third Old Thomas figure was put on top of the spire. The original, Old Thomas I from 1530 is displayed in Town Hall Cellar.