Short tour: Explore the Dance of Death and other treasures of medieval art 04/07/2025 | 13:00

Join us at the Niguliste Museum during the Song and Dance Celebration week for a captivating short tour of Estonia’s medieval art treasures.

Discover the Dance of Death – a hauntingly beautiful masterpiece from the late 15th century, painted in the workshop of the renowned Lübeck master Bernt Notke. The tour also features magnificent altarpiece retables from the Netherlands and Northern Germany, alongside other medieval rarities. Uncover the meanings and rich stories behind these extraordinary works of art.

The monumental Dance of Death in the Niguliste Museum is the world’s only surviving medieval Dance Macabre painted on canvas. The magnificent late-medieval altarpiece retables, originating from Europe’s art centres of the time, visually reflect the artistic taste and the cult of saints among the inhabitants of the prosperous Hanseatic city of Tallinn. Also, discover the treasures of the Silver Chamber, a rare collection of historic silverware from Tallinn’s trade and artisan guilds, as well as the Brotherhood of the Blackheads, showcasing the skills of 15th- to 20th-century craftsmen and the wealth of the city.

Estonian Book 500: Relics, a major exhibition to mark 500 years since the publication of the first book in Estonian, is dedicated to the enduring power of songs and poetry. The exhibition invites you to explore the rich heritage of Estonian book culture through a remarkable collection of rare manuscripts, early prints, and literary treasures. Discover how literature and singing have united Estonians across centuries, shaping their cultural heritage.

Come and experience how history and modernity meet in the heart of Tallinn Old Town!

The historic Niguliste church tower, lift and sky deck

Ride the glass lift up the historic Niguliste church tower and rise nearly 50 metres above the city. At the top, the sky deck opens up to breathtaking panoramic views of Tallinn’s medieval Old Town, the shimmering bay, and the modern skyline beyond.

From this exceptional vantage point, you can take in the beauty of past and present merging before your eyes. Feel the vibrant buzz of the Song and Dance Celebration in the streets below – and if you look closely, you might even spot the week’s main event venues, the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds and the Kalev Central Stadium.

During the Estonian Song and Dance Celebration week, the branches of the Art Museum of Estonia invite visitors to special tours. From July 2 to July 4, each of the five museums will offer two engaging short tours every day: at 1 p.m. in English and 3 p.m. in Estonian. From July 5 to July 6, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., you’ll also have a rare chance to visit the roof terraces of the museums.