Tallinn - Suurgildi hoone

Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, is situated on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. It is only 80 kilometres south of Helsinki. From the 13th century until the first half of the 20th century Tallinn was known as Reval.

The first recorded claim over the place was laid by Denmark after a raid in 1219 led by Valdemar II. In 1227, the Order of the Brothers of the Sword conquered Reval and three years later recruited 200 Westphalian and Lower Saxon merchants from Gotland, who settled below the castle and were granted freedom of customs and land. In 1238 Reval fell back to Denmark, Under renewed Danish rule, the city rapidly grew in size and economic importance. In 1248, the Danish king granted it the Lübische Stadtrecht (town charter). Due to the strategic location, its port became a significant trade hub, especially in the 14–16th centuries when Tallinn grew in importance as the northernmost member city of the Hanseatic League.

The king of Denmark sold Reval along with other land possessions in northern Estonia to the Teutonic Knights in 1346.

The Tallinn Great Guild was founded around 1325. The most influential merchants were united in this guild. Only married rich merchants or goldsmiths who owned a house could become members of the guild. Unmarried merchants could only become members of the Brotherhood of Blackheads.

The late Gothic house of the Great Guild was built in 1410.
Religious ceremonies, concerts, theatre performances as well as festivities and drinking parties took place here.

Since 1952, the Great Guild Hall has been the building of the Estonian History Museum.