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Church or chapel · 1150

St. Olaf's Church

St. Olaf's Church

St Olaf's in Tallinn, first mentioned in 1267, is named after the Norwegian king and saint Olav. Legend says the townspeople wanted the tallest church in the world, but a curse killed anyone who finished it. A stranger offered to build it for a huge sum, or for nothing if they could learn his name. A spy heard his wife sing it in a lullaby, and as he fixed the cross on top they shouted, 'Olev, the cross is crooked!' He fell to his death, a toad and a snake crawling from his mouth. From 1944 to 1991 the KGB used its spire as a radio and surveillance tower.

Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today

Eesti keeles

1267. aastal esmamainitud Tallinna Oleviste kirik on nime saanud Norra kuninga ja pühaku Olavi järgi. Legendi järgi tahtsid linlased maailma kõrgeimat kirikut, kuid needus tappis igaühe, kes selle valmis ehitab. Võõras mees pakkus end ehitajaks suure tasu eest või tasuta, kui linlased tema nime teada saavad. Salakuulaja kuulis, kuidas mehe naine nime hällilaulus laulis, ja kui too risti torni tippu kinnitas, hüüti alt: „Olev, rist on viltu!“ Mees kukkus surnuks ja tema suust roomasid välja kärnkonn ja madu. 1944–1991 kasutas KGB torni raadio- ja jälgimistornina.

Map of the area around St. Olaf's Church
59.44139° N, 24.74778° E · Map: Maa- ja Ruumiamet

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Olaf%27s_Church,_Tallinn ↗

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