Churches and burials
· Vanalinn
Burial Vaults of St Nicholas’ Church
The burial vaults beneath St Nicholas’ formed a hierarchical city of the dead for Tallinn’s wealthy families.
Burial inside St Nicholas’ was an honour and a privilege. Wealthy families and brotherhoods established vaults in which the position of the dead reflected their rank among the living. Memorials, coats of arms and grave slabs continued to proclaim family status after death. Dense burial inside the church also created problems of smell and health. Beneath the ceremonial floor lay a crowded and carefully ordered world of the dead.
Practical information
Address: Niguliste 3
Not every vault is open to visitors. Examine the grave slabs and floor: visible markers reveal the church’s former role as a burial space.