Raeapteek

We had arrived a bit late to old town the first day, so most of the shops had just closed. So after shopping in the modern blocks, we went back to look at the antic shops and Raeapteek. It's the old city hall pharmacy that has been active since the beginning of the 15th century! The opening date varies from source to source, but it was most likely somewhere between 1415 and 1430. It was owned and run by a hungarian family, the Buchards for over 300 years. Apothecary Buchard was in fact so famous, he was called to the deathbed of Peter the 1st. Unfortunately, the tsar died while Buchard was on his way.

It's one of the oldest pharmacies in northern Europe and has never changed it's purpose. Until this day, you can still go and buy your medications in there! If you walk past the old counters, you'll come to a tiny museum filled with old-fashioned medications, tools and books. There were quite some interesting things to read and see.

In the medival Raeapteek, you could buy yourself fish-eye-powder, snake-juice, marmelade made of snakeskin, wool-extract, urine from a black cat and powder made of bat wings, But there used to be much more things to get in an apothecary shop. You could buy ammunition, card decks, fruit wines and tobacco. Talk about a wide selection!

Bottles with coloured liquds used to be a common sight in a pharmacy's windows. It was a symbol for pharmacies that had started back in Julius Caesar's days.

Some of the ingredients that were often used in treatments and medications.

Wood louse infusion, earth worms in oil and dried deer penises. Helpful? I'm doubtful. Bizarre? Definietly!

A real, stuffed crocodile hanging from the roof was completely normal during medival times. And with a purpose; to protect from thieves and tounderscore the mystery of the proffession.