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Tallinn's tiny Old Town, the most impressive in all of the Baltic states, has romantic towers, ankle-wrenching cobblestone streets, cozy nooks, city-wall cafés, and a dozen other attractions—all within 1 square km (½ square mile). In the 1990s, Vanalinn (the lower Old Town)—historically the domain of traders, artisans, and ordin
Tallinn's tiny Old Town, the most impressive in all of the Baltic states, has romantic towers, ankle-wrenching cobblestone streets, cozy nooks, city-wall cafés, and a dozen other attractions—all within 1 square km (½ square mile). In the 1990s, Vanalinn (the lower Old T
Tallinn's tiny Old Town, the most impressive in all of the Baltic states, has romantic towers, ankle-wrenching cobblesto
Tallinn's tiny Old Town, the most impressive in all of the Baltic states, has romantic towers, ankle-wrenching cobblestone streets, cozy nooks, city-wall cafés, and a dozen other attractions—all within 1 square km (½ square mile). In the 1990s, Vanalinn (the lower Old Town)—historically the domain of traders, artisans, and ordinary citizens—sprouted glitzy neon signs in otherwise charming alleys and sights. The stately, sedate Toompea (Upper Town), a hillock that was the site of the original Estonian settlement, is on the burial mound of Kalev, the epic hero of Estonia. Toompea Castle, crowning the hill, is now the seat of the country's parliament and is not open to visitors. Summer visitors can experience the unforgettable white nights, when the sun never completely sets.
Tallinn's Town Hall Square has a long history of intrigue, executions, and salt (Tallinn's main export in the Middle Ages). You can tour the only surviving Gothic town hall in northern Europe. Old Thomas, its weather vane, has been atop the town hall since 1530. Near the center of the square, an L-shape stone marks the site of a 17th-century execution, where a priest was beheaded for killing a waitress who had offered him a rock-hard omelet. Across the square stands the town apothecary, which dates from 1422.
Raekoja plats 11, Tallinn, Harju, 10146, Estonia
645-7900-town hall
Sight Details
Rate Includes: Town Hall €4, Town Hall Mon.–Sat. 10–4
The early-20th-century Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was originally a symbol of the centuries of Russification endured by Estonia. The cathedral has 11 bells, including the city's largest, which weighs 15 tons.
Tallinn's towering Lutheran cathedral was established sometime before 1233 and consecrated in 1240. It is well known for its many gravestones dating from the 13th through the 18th centuries. Notable figures buried here include Pontus De la Gardie, a Swedish military officer; Sophia Gyllenhelm, daughter of Swedish King Johann III; and Adam Johan von Krusenstern, a Baltic-German admiral who became the first to lead a Russian global expedition. Entry to the cathedral is restricted during services and concerts. The tower, offering a panoramic view of Tallinn's Old Town, is a popular attraction in its own right. A Wednesday vespers service with organ music is held at 5 pm, and organ concerts are offered on Saturday at noon (donation required).
The stocky guardian of the northernmost point of the Old Town, Paks Margareeta (Fat Margaret) is a 16th-century fortification, allegedly named for a particularly hefty cannon it contained. Now it houses the Maritime Museum and a roof with a view of the Old Town. Also part of the Maritime Museum is the historic Seaplane Harbour at Vesilennuki tee 6, as well as two historic ships.
A 15-minute taxi ride from the center, the 207-acre Open-Air Ethnographic Museum provides a breath of fresh air and an informative look into Estonia's past, from farm architecture to World War II–era deportations.
Vabaõhumuuseumi 12, Tallinn, Harju, 13521, Estonia
The baroque palace, built by Peter the Great in 1718 and named after his wife, Catherine I, merits a visit not just for its impressive and thorough exhibition of 16th- to 20th-century art, but also for the palace's architectural beauty and manicured gardens. Kadriorg Palace offers a glimpse into history, with Estonian and European masterpieces from, among other places, Russia, Italy, and the Netherlands. It is surrounded by several interesting side buildings, such as a kitchen building and a summer cottage.
A. Weizenbergi tn. 37, Tallinn, Harju, 10127, Estonia
At the southern end of the Old Town looms this magnificent, six-story fortifications tower (the name is Low German for "peek in the kitchen"), so called because during the 15th century one could peer into the kitchens of lower town houses from here. The tower is now a museum for Tallinn’s fortifications, including medieval firepower and historical aspects of crime and punishment. It is interconnected with underground bastion passages, the Carved Stone Museum, the Maiden’s Tower museum café, as well as two other towers. From its sixth floor you can enjoy beautiful views of the city.
The 13th-century Church of St. Nicholas, part of the Estonian Art Museum, is famed for its fragment of a treasured frieze, Bernt Notke's (1440–1509) Danse Macabre, a haunting depiction of death.
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