St. Olaf's Church, Medieval Gothic church in Kesklinn, Estonia
St. Olaf is a Gothic religious building in Kesklinn and reaches 123.7 meters with its tower, making it the tallest structure in the Baltic region. The interior shows tall pointed vaults and slender pillars that draw the eye upward.
The building was first mentioned in 1267 when Queen Margaret of Denmark granted patronage rights to a convent. Lightning strikes destroyed the tower spire repeatedly, particularly severe in 1625 and 1820.
The building serves as a house of worship for a Baptist congregation and connects daily faith with medieval walls. During services, the room fills with song, and the tall Gothic windows let light fall on the benches.
An observation platform at 60 meters opens from April to November and offers views over the old town and the harbor. The narrow spiral stairs in the tower require good physical condition for the climb.
The tower once served as a landmark for ships approaching the harbor and helped captains find the entrance. Today a weather vane on the top marks the wind direction over the city.
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