The Great Guild building, built between 1407 and 1417, is the second largest secular medieval building in Tallinn. The building was designed to hold meetings.
The Great Guild united wealthy merchants and was called upon to protect their interests. The members of the guild elected the city head and the ratmans. A married merchant who had his own house in Tallinn could become a member of the guild. Not everyone could join the guild, only those who had decided to stay in Tallinn for good. In addition, a foreigner had to marry the widow of a guild member.
The large size of the building and its ornate appearance testify to the high level of wealth and influence of the guild members. The small coat of arms of Tallinn in the form of a white cross on a red background was also the coat of arms of the Grand Guild. In the area of Bursi (Exchange) Lane were the guild's auxiliary premises. On the side of Pikk Street there was the excise chamber and silver storage, and on the side of Lai Street there was the so-called "bride's chamber" and the servant's flat.
The facade of the Great Guild building is decorated with the coat of arms, and on the front door there is a lock dating back to 1430. The exterior and interior of the building have remained virtually unchanged since the 15th century.
The building of the Great Guild now houses the Estonian History Museum, which will reopen in June 2011. The museum has a permanent exhibition telling the history of the city from ancient times to the end of the 20th century. Films and interactive exhibitions will tell the story of our ancestors' struggle for survival over the last 11,000 years.
