Visit a Haunted Hotel in Tallinn and Witness the Devil Himself
While Estonia may not be on most people’s “bucket lists,” as a place that’s steeped in spooky history and fascinating folktales, it certainly should be.
Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Europe sits Estonia, a relatively unassuming country which regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then it has remained fairly off-the-radar as far as world events go.
One famous tale tells the story of a well-known beast choosing a hotel in capital city Tallinn as his wedding location. The Devil’s wedding is said to have taken place at a hotel on Rataskaevu Street in the Old Town section of Tallinn a few hundred years ago.
According to legend, that particular establishment was constantly empty — so much so that its owner was about to end his life over the lack of business.
He had just tightened the rope around his neck, climbed on a chair, and ready to pull off his last stunt, when he heard a knock on the door. Yes, it was a customer. Yes, he needed a room. Yes, he would pay generously, but on one condition: he was to have complete privacy.
The owner agreed to everything.
Later that evening, hordes of guests started piling in, all clomping and clacking towards that one room rented by a stranger. It was by far the loudest, strangest party the hotel owner had ever seen or heard. There was so much dancing, the building shook.
The owner, unable to resist temptation, walked to the door of that room and peeked through the keyhole, only to bear witness to the Devil himself getting married. (Needless to add that if the rope didn’t kill the owner, a glimpse at Satan’s wedding party should have!)
Word spread quickly around town, and city council demanded that the room be walled up so that no one could enter it again.
Luckily, though, you can rent a room in this house even today …heck, you could build an entire movie around the wedding itself!
If you’re looking for a satanic or spooky shooting locale, why not skip the costly Hollywood setting and consider one of Tallinn’s haunted hotels — maybe even the very room where Satan took his vows?
Not only is this a fraction of the cost, shooting in a unique and new locale may even spur on some new movie or scene ideas as you tour the country’s unique urban and rural landscapes. You might want to peek through that keyhole — better yet, create a story of your own around that legend.
But do be prepared to hear party noises throughout the night, even if you’re the only guest staying there.
Whichever way you go, as a filmmaker, you are entitled to apply for several perks which Estonian Film Institute offers through its generous cash-rebate system. An application can be made for international production service or co-production to receive a cash rebate up to 30% on eligible production costs.