Why go
The council's duties explain why the Town Hall occupies such a commanding position on the old market square. Its members dealt with walls, security, courts, commerce and relations with other cities. Knowing this turns the building from a medieval landmark into evidence of how Lower Town governed itself.
The full story
Tallinn's medieval council grew from the legal rights confirmed to the city in 1248. Drawn from the merchant community, it met in or near the Town Hall and exercised authority across much more than the building itself. Councillors regulated trading, kept civic records, settled disputes and oversaw security. They also made decisions about the town wall and towers, a visible reminder that defence and commercial life were connected. The council represented Tallinn in negotiations with rulers and other towns, and managed obligations tied to the Hanseatic trading network. Even details of household conduct could fall under its rules. This breadth of authority helps explain the Town Hall's prominent place beside Raekoja plats: decisions made within its walls shaped the market immediately outside. Look at the square as a working civic space, then at the hall as the institution that organised it. The surviving building is a useful starting point for understanding the merchants of Lower Town and the power they held apart from Toompea's rulers.