The Tallinn Town-Hall Apothecary is situated on the north side of the Town-Hall Square. The reason why and the precise time, when the apothecary was founded, is unknown. Some documents refer that the first chemist here was Johann Molner and that medicines were sold here already in the second half of the 15-th century,
First official records concerning the Tallinn Town-Hall Apothecary date back to 1422. In a town council`s notebook there is an entry by a chemist named Nuclawes. He declares the owners of the pharmacy to be ten honourable men, the majority of whom are aldermen.
As the pharmacy also offered candies and klaret (a sweetened, spiced rhein wine), it could be compared to a comfortable club of that time, offering entertainment to the citizens who could engage themselves in conversations and telling/listening to the city news.
In 1582, a former apprentice - John Burchart Belavary de Skyava - made a chemist and founded a dynasty of pharmacists that lasted ten generations.
Until 1635 vast construction and decoration works were done and all the buildings were gathered behind one facade. First thorough repair of the building was performed in 1663.
In 1688 Burchart the IV bought the pharmacy from the city council for 600 thalers and in 1690 the Burchart dynasty`s and Town-Hall Apothecary`s rights and obligations were confirmed with a privilege written by Swedish king Karl the XI.
In 1820 a home-museum was founded on the attic of the pharmacy by Burchart the XIII, who was a very talented and an artistic man.
The dynasty`s rule over the pharmacy came to an end in 1911, with the death of the last heir of the Burchart family. The heiresses decided to sell the pharmacy to C.R. Lehbert , ending thus the connections which had lasted for ten generations. During the Soviet regime the pharmacy was nationalised.
The Town-Hall Apothecary is the oldest healthcare institution and in a wider context, it is also the oldest commercial enterprise in Tallinn. It has resided in the same building almost for 600 years. This makes it a unique phenomenon amongst the pharmacies in Europe as well as in the whole world.
The coat of arms of the Burchart family with a crown holding griffin and a rose between lilies under it, is situated in the entrance hall of the building and dates from 1635.
The second floor with its different levels and staircases connecting them, is a clear evidence of the building once consisting of three different houses. In the room, situated above the grand erker, there are two dolomite pillars dating from the 17-th century. They are placed here during the last renovation and do not originate from the Town-Hall Apothecary. In the other room situated on the second floor, there is also a beautiful pillar, on which a stonemason has carved the date 1663 together with Burcharts` coat of arms. The most beautiful of the pillars on the second floor is in a room looking down to the courtyard. It is chamfered and on its socle decorations lion-heads and fruit garlands are depicted.
The first known picture of the Town-Hall Apothecary is an oil-painting by Oldekop, who has pictured the Town Hall square in the year 1800. First photos showing the building date from 1889.
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