Squares and markets
· Vanalinn
Medieval Weigh House
The medieval weigh house checked market goods and protected confidence in Tallinn’s trade.
The weigh house on Town Hall Square was where the weight of merchandise became official. Accurate measures were essential to a Hanseatic city, because dishonest weighing harmed buyers, merchants and the city’s reputation. Inspection was therefore part of municipal order, not merely a technical service. The building has disappeared, but its former site recalls how Tallinn’s prosperity depended on trust, rules and constant supervision.
Practical information
Address: Raekoja plats
The building no longer survives. Look across the open square and imagine goods being unloaded, weighed and inspected during a busy market day.