An Enduring Capital |
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 Alexander Nevinsky Russian Church
Old town view
Old town walls
St Nicholas Church
Catherine Ist Palace
Town Hall Square
Rocca Al Mare Open Air Museum
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Welcomed by cornflower-blue skies the colour of Estonia’s national flower, this medieval haven, still encapsulated in a time warp, beckoned with a siren-like fascination. Today, the impressive walls, interspersed with twenty seven striking coned towers, originally sixty six, stand as a barrier against the modernity of the outer city. Tallinn is a city in three parts, the ancient citadel, where Toompea Castle sits surveying the old medieval town at it feet whilst life beyond, in the modern city, appears oblivious to its historic nucleus. The nobles inhabited the citadel, out of bounds to the merchants who lived in the medieval town below, and each sector was governed separately. Over the centuries, Tallinn has been conquered by many of its neighbours and flourished as a trading centre when a member of the Hanseatic League. Today its maze of narrow streets, intriguing rooftops and spires are a magnet for the curious. Despite decades of communist rule there is little sign of that legacy now and Tallinn is a thriving modern city with a well educated population. Tallinn is also only one and a half hours away from Helsinki by ferry.
A whole day could be spent in the medieval town itself but there is time to see other sights, such as Rocca al Mare open air museum.
Town Hall Square above St Bridget's Convent right Folk dancers at the Open Air Museum left |
The Ancient Citadel. The whole citadel was a fortress with Toompea Castle, a smaller fortress, within the whole. Dominating the area is the showy, modern Alexander Nevinsky Russian Orthodox Church. The austere Luthern Cathedral of Estonia, St Mary the Virgin (also known as the Dome Church or Toomkirik) AND the oldest church in Tallinn sits close by. Magnificent views down over the old town and beyond can be enjoyed from two viewing platforms. The Old Town. A whole day could be spent exploring the web of narrow streets in this section alone but, if time is of the essence, head for the Town Hall Square (Raekoja Plats). Also the location of Tourist Information. The town hall is the only medieval town hall still preserved in Northern Europe. Here also is the Town Hall Pharmacy (Reaepteek), one of the oldest continuously running pharmacies in Europe, and free admission to a small museum. The medieval Holy Spirit Church (Püha Vaimu Kirik) has an impressive later Baroque spire and St Nicholas’s Church (Niguliste), centre of the market area, was the fortified church of the merchants. For typical façades of merchant houses in the Hanseatic period notice the ‘Three Sisters’ (now hotel) in Pikk Street. A short section of the walls and three towers are open to the public and dumpy sea defence, ‘Fat Margaret’s Tower’ still gazes seaward. For a respite from exploration visit ‘Maiassmor Kohvik’ Tallinn’s oldest tea house. Further Afield. Rocca al Mare for the ‘Estonian Open Air Museum’. A fascinating collection of genuine old Estonian wooden houses in a country setting by the sea. For a delicious lunch and good beer, aim for the on site old wooden inn ‘Kolu Körts’. Kadriorg Park is a pleasant place to stroll. View the small house used by Peter the Great and his wife Catherine 1st and the small Kadriorg Palace built by Peter for his wife, now an art museum. This palace was used as the Presidential Palace, before the larger,1938 building next door. Many other older buildings are also scattered around the park. St Bridget’s Convent housed both monks and nuns for 140 years before being burnt down in the 16th century. It would be four hundred years before a new convent was built in the 20th century. The Song Festival Ground is a huge outdoor auditorium where Estonia’s renowned singing festivals take place; when as many as 33,000 singers have been gathered here. The Botanical Gardens nurture the richest collection of plants in Estonia with around 8,000 species. Useful links: Tourist Information ; general information
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