Tallinn is the European capital home to Raeapteek, one of Europe’s oldest continuously operating pharmacies, established in 1422. The pharmacy occupies a historic site on the capital’s Town Hall Square.
Raeapteek is commonly translated as “Town Hall Pharmacy.” Historical records identify Johann Molner as its first known operator in 1422, although the exact origins of the business are sometimes discussed in connection with earlier local pharmacy activity.
Across the centuries, the pharmacy sold conventional medicines as well as historical remedies and ingredients. Its museum section presents old medical equipment, pharmaceutical containers and information about the history of pharmacy in Tallinn.
Raeapteek is not the same building as Tallinn Town Hall, even though both stand on the square. The pharmacy’s long operation also explains why it is frequently described as Europe’s oldest continuously operating pharmacy, though claims about the absolute oldest pharmacy can vary depending on how uninterrupted operation is defined.