Pretty hard to find, hidden in a small courtyard with a small sign pointing to the entrance upstairs. Well worth the trouble and the admission price. The monastery is small, and the lady looking after the museum was happy to give us information but we were in a bit of a hurry and opted to look at the place at our own pace. Very atmospheric, almost eerie in some of the areas, though spoiled in spots by traces of modernity like ill placed cables. Hard to imagine visiting a pristine medieval monastery right in the heart of tourist packed old town. Highly recommended!
My friend and I visited on 19th May. The lady was keen to explain about the history and was really helpful. Great acoustics when you go downstairs, and sufficient information about the monks who lived there. I would definitely recommend!
Tucked into a pleasant courtyard, I saw a lot of people snap a picture of the courtyard and not walk up the steps to the museum. They missed out. The monastery is small, but very atmospheric. The fact that it hasn't been overly restored for tourists is great; it's like something you'd picture in The Name of the Rose. The rooms are well preserved; the echoing chamber on the lower floor and the chapel in particular are even a bit eerie. You can walk through at your own pace for 5 Euros and the lady running the museum is happy to give you more information.
We had a guide. It seemed that you couldn’t get in just on your own, although there is a charge. It truly is splendid! It is Tallinn’s oldest intact building. It used to be a monastery but is now a museum. It was established by Dominican monks in 1246.
Visited this beautiful place at the end of the day, and the lady was keen to tell about each of the rooms once inhabited by the monks of the monastery. It was quite dark, so stepping into a couple of the rooms was done with a degree of apprehension, as I knew no- one else was there. On emerging back up the narrow stairway, the lady asked me if I had sang in the room below, as it was ‘good for energy’ because of the acoustics. Not being a singer, it was with with some reluctance, but because she was keen I did, and because I knew the building was empty, back down I went....I sing a very simple chant. The acoustics are simply amazing and transformed the poor sound that left me into something rather lovely! Do go, as a group and sing, or on your own, and be astounded.
