1154 AD Tallinn is first mentioned by Arab geographer Abu Abdallah Muhammad al-Idrisi from Sicily in commentaries to his world atlas. The monks of Dominican order form Denmark establish 1246 AD ST Catherine's Monastery in Tallinn. The monastery is completed by the late 15th century. St Catherine's Monastery becomes an important centre of culture and education of medieval Livonia. The monastery maintains close contact with centres of learning in Europe like the Universities of Paris, Oxford, and Bologna. City of Tallinn owes the monks of Dominican Order its first school and library. Nevertheless, glorious history did not save the Monastery from the looters in turbulent years of Reformation. 1524 AD Monastery is looted 1525 AD Monastery is abandoned 1531 AD St. Catherine's Church of the Monastery as well its parts of east and north aisles are destroyed in fire. The barn/granary survives the fire almost intact. 1544 AD The former Monastery's granary is converted to city armoury (the arsenal). It is used in this capacity for two and a half centuries. Several noteworthy architectural elements are preserved from this era. To provide for the better lighting of the armoury shop on the first floor windows decorated with sculptured details are built in the southern wall. Two main entrances (portals) in the western facade are provided with massive oak doors. These doors are amongst the oldest in Tallinn as well as in the rest of Estonia and are also known for their unique decorative ironwork like the minuscule coat-of-arms. In the same period the city magistrate of Tallinn ordered a unique decoration for the city armoury. This is an inspiring motto in Latin derived from the ancient Romans - PRO ARIS ET FOCIS (for ritual and domestic fires). This motto was executed in carved stone, most of which was found in construction rubble during a recent renovation. This motto is currently exposed on the southern wall of monastery's church next to large slates of grave decorations. 1804 AD The City of Tallinn turns the armoury over to Imperial Russian Army. However, the Russian army did not use it for long. In the middle of the 19th century Tallinn was taken off the list of Russian fortifications and the armoury was sold to local merchants. Prior to WW II the building belonged first to the family of Girard de Soucanton and from 1869 onwards to the Koch family as well as the rest of Vene Street 12-14 block. 1938 AD The granary building's last mayor reconstruction (architect E. Jacoby) was performed to support the walls and improve the exterior. In this period the building was used to house a garage and a workshop in the ground floor and bureau and storage space in the rest of this building. The elevator built by Franz Krull Co connected the three floors. During the period of Soviet occupation the building housed a film prop workshop. Starting from 1950s archaeologists have studied the former Dominican Monastery complex. Ever since ideas were floated concerning the relocation of the workshops. However, matters were delayed Soviet style and Soviet Union came to the end before any of these plans came to fruition. 1993 AD The newly independent Republic of Estonia makes it possible to lease the building of former monastery's granary and now defunct workshop to the non-profit NGO Hereditas which was created in order to foster the conservation and renovation of the former Dominican monastery and develop the area as a multifunctional cultural centre. Stenhus LTD (architects U. Arike, historians B. Dubovik and R. Kangropool) produced the first conservation studies. 1994 AD Morgenstern LTD leased the former granary and renovated it to become cafe/restaurant Kloostri Ait (interior design Aivar Oja). Kloostri Ait became a well -loved dining spot in the 1990s. Utilising the biblical motto "Not of bread only" to celebrate its historical and monastic background. Kloostri Ait continued with this successful formula for ten years. 2004 AD Kloostri Ait was closed for renovation performed by Restor LTD (interior design Reet Saluvere). Developing business environment in Tallinn necessitated major upgrading of various restaurant facilities so that the popular restaurant could continue serving its clients the tasty meals as well as cultured environment for the years to come.
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