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Haunted House in Talliin

Forestwood

As the Schnauzer begins barking at the Trick and Treaters brave enough to go out in the storm, I am reminded of another creepy tail and wonder about the activities that might occur at a location on the other side of the world.

The Devil’s Window (Rataskaevu 16)

There is a house at No. 16 Rataskaevu Street, across from the Cat’s Well, in Talliin, Estonia, and if you are observant, you might notice something odd – one of the windows on the top floor is bricked up from the inside, and it has false curtains painted on the inside.

  • Estonia
    Estonia
  • Talliin
    Talliin

Many centuries ago, a mysterious, cloaked man approached the owner of this 15th-century manor and offered to pay him a huge sum of money for the use of a particular room, on the very upper floor of the house – on the condition that he was granted complete privacy whilst he was there. He emphasized complete privacy. The landlord needed the money and consented to this request. The house was located at 16 Rataskaevu Street, in Talliin’s Old Town.

That night, neighbours reported hearing a tremendous thundering on the stairs, with loud noises coming from the flat. This made certain people very curious and the landlord’s servant couldn’t resist a peek inside.

The Legend of the Devil’s Wedding

Precisely at one o’clock, the sound abruptly stopped, as if the party had simply vanished. The next day the landlord‘s servant, who had been spying through the keyhole, was found mortally ill. Before dying, the servant claimed to have seen the Devil himself having a wedding party in the flat.

From that day on, unexplained party noises have occasionally been heard from the room late at night, even when no one is there. Eventually, the owner bricked up the room’s window to stop the reports.

The neighbour who owns a sushi restaurant did inform us that, during the recent, extensive remodelling of the building numerous artefacts were found hidden in the walls, including coins, documents and, in one wall in the back of the restaurant in what’s now the employees’ room, human bones.

Source: Trip Advisor and Hidden Talliin.com

This legend seemed appropriate to recount on the spookiest night of the year, Halloween. My visit to this location ended at 5pm, so I cannot confirm nor deny this as the Devil’s hangout. Why not visit one day and see for yourself?

  • estonia
  • Talliin
    Talliin

Find more Halloween tales, here

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Published by Forestwood

A philosophic Aussie writes here at StPA, one who will readily admit to loving Scandinavia. I'm interested in global politics and what drives us to be who we are. Scratch the surface and you'll find a practical Environmentalist with an egalitarian bent, trying to unleash a little creativity via the written word. Scandinavian culture, literature and traditions are close to my heart, even though I'm Australian. Travel and courteous discussions greatly broaden the mind, so I travel if I can and am always up for a vigorous, respectful discussion. I'm an avid reader, a writer and I enjoy photography and crafts, particularly traditional art forms. I hope you'll find 'Something to Ponder About,' in my WordPress Community.

37 thoughts on “Haunted House in Talliin”

    1. Yeh I know. I pretty much feel the same, however – I was invited to two adult Halloween parties this year. And that is a first for me for Halloween parties. I didn’t dress up, so it was just a nice reason to get together with others.

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  2. I’m kinda with M-R on this one. I’ve never liked it but it’s my daughter’s favourite time of year. She has her ‘skellie’ frock all ready 🙂 🙂 Each to his own, although this year there’ll be lots of keeping one’s own to oneself! 😦

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    1. I do sympathise and don’t really like Halloween as it is not our tradition. It is a modern one. Having said that, the street was alive tonight – everyone was out partying like there was no tomorrow. Having been restricted in activities has been the cause for such exuberance and abandon, I think. My kids are not into it either and when two masked kids arrived at the door, my daughter jumped out of her skin. Our exterior light was off, Jo, so why they stuck around, I have no idea. But then, I didn’t get the significance of the two people dressed as Tyrannosaurus rex either. I think people just use Halloween as an excuse to dress up.

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      1. Yes, people are ready for a bit of fun. It’s just got dark here so we’re listening for the doorbell, but I suspect it won’t happen. 😦 All those sweets going spare 🙂

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    1. Oh what a shame you didn’t know the story, Sarah. You are lucky to have visited that fascinating city twice. You were visiting as a tourist? What did you like about it?

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      1. Oh gosh, so much to like! The very intact homogenous feel to the architecture of the Old Town, the views from the walls, the modern art gallery, the food (some excellent restaurants there), the atmosphere of the Old Town Days festival that was happening during my first visit … !

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      4. For me being winter, it was all those things, plus the Christmas tree and the smell of roasted chestnuts on the streets. A wonderful city.

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    1. I didn’t get a real creepy feeling at all from this building but Talliin is so old, it has the potential for those kinds of emotions. I find the city walls and narrow streets so fascinating. So different to my world. You really should visit one day.

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  6. Ooooooh, spooky story… Thank you for sharing, Amanda 🙂

    I understand how Halloween can seem a bit awkward in Australia… Here, fall is a much better backdrop for the spooky tradition, than your spring.With days getting shorter and shorter, temperature dropping and trees losing their leaves, to me Halloween is just a fun time of year. 🙂

    *Big hugs* from Chéri and I xx

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    1. Hi Cyranny, You could be right about the weather playing a part in the atmosphere of Halloween, and I didn’t think about that previously.
      Mind you, the neighbourhood came alive last night, and not even a severe thunderstorm stopped anyone. As soon as the rain eased, they were out. Australians seem to have a slightly different take on the Halloween theme, using it as any excuse to dress up in any costume. I even saw two Tyrannosaurus Rex (Rexes?) outside my door! Fun. I hope you had a lovely fun evening too?

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    1. Sometimes I get a vibe about a building and old towns like these are filled with the potential for this kind of emotion. I did not get a bad feeling about this building but mind you, I didn’t enter it. There was a building in Iceland out in the country, which my friend told me was haunted, and I got a really creepy feeling about that one.

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  8. The photos from Tallinn were interesting. We wouldn’t have tried to go there in the early 80s.

    Only two children will come for Halloween candy tonight, but they will be wearing costumes. John and I probably will not know what characters they are portraying, and they will have to enlighten us.

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    1. Ah so the kids are into those superpowered costume by the sounds of it. I wouldn’t have a clue either.
      Good point about Talliin being closed off prior to Glasnost. My parents did go into East Germany in the late seventies and the atmostphere by all accounts was austere and very militarised. In some ways, the old towns may have been inadvertantly be preserved.

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  9. (roaring with laughter* The idea of Halloween is bad enough in modern Australia . . . but you managed to take it to my home town of Tallinn !!! Lordie !!! Now my childhood home was on Kaupmehe Street just 15-20 minutes child-footing from the Old Town. Mom’s hairdresser was on Pikk Street with Tallinn’s best chocolate shop opposite . . . and if one walked back thru’ the arcade to Town Hall Square one could buy bananas ! . Bananas in Northern Europe !!!! My very, very, very favourite place in the world ! Oh, I do remember Rataskaevu Street but would have run a million miles an hour if one said anything ghostly !!!! Talking to Mr Google . . . this place seems to sport rather a fashionable restaurant these days . . . ! Thank you for the photos . . .and many memories . . .

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    1. A fashionable restaurant – there were several around that spot. And why not? It attracts tourists after all. It was so much fun visiting Talliin, although we almost died from a snow slip. I loved your description of the old town. You should write a few more posts on your memories. I would love to read them.

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    1. Complete lockdown wuth borders open seem a little contradictory. Our borders are still closed but we can move freely within our state. No cases. Interesting how different countries deal with the pandemic differently.

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