In historic Tallinn, inside the mighty fortress, there is a narrow, cobblestone street that leads from the center of town, where the market is, to the harbor. In the 13th century the passageway was named The Holy Spirit, and it was where the world met. Distinguished traders from the east mingled with those from the west, exchanging treasures from far way. This famous street is where Schlössle Hotel now resides.
Outside what are now the hotel’s doors, merchants congregated to do business and settle the affairs of the world. Strong boys carried goods off ships that came as far away as Africa. Gilded carriages, drawn by horses, transported nobles ready to buy whatever caught their eye. Furs, textiles, wines, and spices were the most prized possessions.
The building encasing the hotel itself dates back to the Middle Ages. Centuries ago it was the home for a distinguished patrician family. While the hotel’s amenities and services are better suited for modern times, its aesthetics and style pay homage to Tallinn’s golden years. Guests who step through the door can’t help but become enraptured with the feeling of power and prosperity.
Here, each of the rooms has its own personality, but there is one that far exceeds the rest.
Schlössle Hotel maintains exquisite details from the building’s past. Baroque windows, doorways framed in stone, and painted acanthus leaves on the ceiling, exude a feeling of opulence and excess. Each of the rooms has its own personality, but there is one that far exceeds the rest. Staying in the Presidential Suite, it would be easy to image oneself as the most successful trader in Europe.
Sure, in the 13th century this space was a storage room. A wooden beam above the top floor windows was used to hoist goods to the very top of the home so they were out of reach from the enemy in the case of a siege. Today, guests recline on beds stacked with fluffy pillows made from luxurious European fabrics and drink wine next to a wood burning sauna, perfectly lit by a butler. A well-known local florist named Peter Boeijkens arranges bouquets of flowers. Traditional Estonian sweets are placed on tables and next to beds; here, the experience is all about decadence.
Just as merchants would have held lavish gatherings in their homes during the Medieval age, guests in the Presidential Suite can do the same. Many world leaders including Prince Charles have stayed here and held important meetings. Others have chosen to throw private birthday parties with fortune tellers and crystal balls. Guests can even be brought to and from the property in a horse and carriage. It’s parked just outside the building on the ancient cobblestone streets.