During this week’s Old Town Days, Vene Street’s Bremen Tower, in times ancient used as a prison, is, for the first time ever, opened up for visitors.
Prison Tower grants wonderful vista of Tallinn Old Town
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The tower, sitting opposite of Tallinn Chess House, is unique by not originally having any doors at all, on ground level – just the big fat walls and a tiny window in the ceiling. «The worst of the prisoners, whose crimes were the severest, were let down by the opening in the ceiling. The ground floor conditions being dark, damp and really ban in every way, it usually took just a couple of years for the criminals to grow quite feeble. They didn’t let anybody die there, however, as in that case the guards would have been tasked with descending into the hellhole and cleaning up the corpse. Thus, prisoners were pulled out of there – moribund, yet alive,» shared a volunteer, working the tower – as a guide.
Tricky to access
Those with less severe penalties sat on 2nd floor. Not a bed of roses, either, as they were chained to the walls. Luckily, the chains were a couple of metres long, movements to the food hole (in the door) and toilet hole (in the floor) still possible. On 3rd floor, guards were stationed. Equipped with fireplaces. Fourth floor – the roof, was surrounded by a wall and served as a protection facility. Today, a wonderful new view opens on the Old Town, from between the «cogged» openings of the wall. Thus, one opening provides a glance at Sleeping Beauty castle’s tower, another reveals insides of the Nikolai Church bell tower at Vene Street.
According to Boris Dubovik, Cultural Goods Board’s heritage conservation head, use of the tower has thus far been hindered by its peculiar construction. Namely, the staircase leading to second floor ends where the staircase ought to lead to third floor. Instead, there is a gaping hole. A ladder, extended by volunteers, help those interested keep on climbing. From third to fourth floor, the «usual» old town steep staircase offers its help.
Now, Mr Dubovik has completed a project of opening the tower for visitors, full time. «It is not possible to use a removable staircase, for constant use. Therefore, our project foresees possibilities to ascend to third floor via a staircase in the adjoining building. Which does have a door, now walled up. This door opened up, Rescue Board will grant permission for people to access upper parts of the tower,» said Mr Dubovik.
Re-opened in 2015
The Bremen Tower may be re-opened in 2015, as Heritage Conservation’s next year’s priority is access to Bastion Tunnels, under water until now. «Then, Bastion Tunnels and Virgin Tower works are completed; Bremen Tower, in all probability opened up in 2015,» thinks the heritage worker.
And so, after Old Town Days, the tower doors are shut again. Therefore, Mr Dubovik advises all to go pay a visit. As time alone can tell when the next chance comes around.