Squares and markets
· Vanalinn
Medieval Meat Market
The medieval meat market brought slaughter, fresh meat and serious hygiene problems directly into the street.
Meat reached medieval townspeople in a far more visible way than it does today. Animals were brought to market, butchers worked in public, and blood, waste and powerful smells formed part of the streetscape. Meat spoiled quickly, forcing the town to regulate sales and cleanliness. The former meat market recalls the narrow boundary between everyday food supply, the danger of disease and the maintenance of public order.
Practical information
Address: Vana turg
Notice the narrow passages and courtyard entrances around the Old Market. Imagine stalls here before refrigeration and modern drainage existed.