Travel to Tallinn potx

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn
© 2009 Stig Albeck & Ventus Publishing ApS
Translation: Frances østerfelt
All rights and copyright relating to the content of this book
are the property of Onlibri, and/or its suppliers. Content from
ths book, may not be reproduced in any shape or form
without prior written permission from Onlibri.
Quoting this book is allowed when clear references are made,
in relation to reviews are allowed.
ISBN 978-87-7061-411-5
2nd edition

Pictures and illustrations in this book are reproduced according
to agreement with the following copyright owners
Stig Albeck.
The stated prices and opening hours are indicative and may
have be subject to change after this book was published.
OnLibri.com
Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

4

Kapiteloverskrift ONLIBRI
Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

5

A visit to Tallinn
A visit to Tallinn
www.tourism.tallinn.ee
www.visitestonia.com

Tallinn is unique in Europe because of its medieval
city centre. It has a special atmosphere created by
the many buildings dating back to the 15th and 16th
centuries when commerce brought great treasure to
the city.

The old Town Hall, St Olai Church, which was once
the tallest building in the world, and the more than
2-kilometre-long preserved city walls are just some
of Tallinn’s many attractions. The modern Tallinn,
with its parks, walking streets and shopping centres
lies just next to the old centre, and the short
distances can make an ordinary walk feel like time-
travel.

During the centuries, many different peoples have
ruled in the Tallinn area, and there is a lot to see
from different eras. The castles of the Teutonic
Order and magnificent Russian Baroque buildings
are found both in the city and along the coast of the
Finnish Bay.

Have a Nice Trip!

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

6

Historical Outline
Historical Outline

Tallinn was mentioned first time in connection with
the Danish fleet’s landing near Lyndanisse June
1219. Led by King Valdemar II, Denmark won a
battle at Tallinn. On this occasion, it is said, the
Danish flag, displaying a white cross on a red
background, fell from the sky and signalled a
reversal of fortune in favour of the Danes. The
Danes built a fortress on Toompea Hill, and
Andreas Sunesen, Bishop of Lund, became the first
regent of Tallinn.

In 1248, Erik IV gave Tallinn Lübeck city rights,
which helped forge the city’s commercial links with
the German cities on the Baltic. Later in the 13th
century, Tallinn became a member of the Hanseatic
League.

Tallinn’s attainment of city rights led to the
establishment of a local government in the small city,
which was strategically located in relation to the
trade between the German Hanse towns and Russia.

In 1346, the Danish king sold Tallinn and the
northern part of Estonia to the Teutonic Knights,
whose governor moved in at Toompea Hill as
representative of the Livonian part of the Order.
However, the local town government still continued
in its function. It consisted of some of Tallinn’s
wealthiest people, including many merchants.

During the following centuries, Tallinn continued to
progress. The city had become a transit destination,
which created jobs and economic growth. The
Danes destroyed one of Tallinn’s competitors, Visby
in Gothland, in 1361, which meant that Tallinn
became even more dominant in the area.

The increasing population consisted mainly of
people arriving from rural areas availing themselves
of job opportunities in workshops and with the
many merchants. With the addition of many new
institutional buildings, such as the Town Hall and
guild houses, the original 13th century town, grew
beyond the old wall, which protected only a small
area around the town hall square, and a new wall
was built . Following a large fire in 1433, a new wave
of expansion was initiated.

The 15th century was Tallinn’s pinnacle as Hanse
Town. Henceforth it gradually lost its significance.

During the Livonian war in 1558-1583, the Baltic
Powers fought over the Estonian territory. Tallinn
became Swedish in 1561, and later defended itself
against Russian invasion in 1557-1571 and in 1577.
Sweden made Estonia a dominion with Tallinn as
capital. The city progressed quickly; a grammar
school was established and books were printed in
Estonian.

Tallinn’s old part of town had survived the Livonian
War with minimal damages, but the plague of 1602-
1603 and the great fire on Toompea Hill in 1684
slowed down the city’s development.

The Great Nordic War in 1700-1721 was hard on
Tallinn. There was hunger and epidemics; in 1708-
1710 alone the population decreased from 10,000 to
2,000.

In 1710, the Russian Army conquered the city, but
the town government and rights were maintained
until the 19th century, when a more comprehensive
integration into the Russian empire began.

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Please click the advert
Tallinn

7

Historical Outline
Russia was investing heavily in Tallinn. Peter the
Great expanded the city’s harbour in 1714-1722, and
a shipyard was built. In the 19th century, factories
were built in the city, and in 1870 the Baltic railroad
connecting Tallinn with St Petersburg was
established. Tallinn bloomed economically and
culturally. Several new theatres were built, and the
population increased from 44,000 to 160,000
between 1881 and 1917.

The Estonian push for self-determination began
with the election of the first Estonian mayor of
Tallinn in 1906. At the beginning of 1918, when the
Russian Revolution had shaken the political
structure in Tallinn, Estonia declared its
independence, but was invaded by Germany shortly
after. Following World War I, the Republic of
Estonia was established with Tallinn as capital.

Lack of access to the Russian market had negative
consequences for Tallinn’s economy. Financial
growth did not resume until the end of the 1930s,
but in 1940 Estonia became the Estonian Soviet
Socialist Republic. In the period 1941-1944 Tallinn
was occupied by Germany, and many buildings were
destroyed in the bombardments, but the old part of
town escaped relatively unscathed.

Until Estonia’s independence in 1991, the country

was relatively wealthy. Tallinn experienced an
industrial boom when it was part of the Soviet
Union, and the population increased to ca. 500,000.
The 1980 Moscow Olympics sailing competitions
were held in the city. During the last couple of
decades, investment has increased again, and new
glass and steel constructions have been built. Large
areas have been developed, with business centres,
shops, hotels and other constructions creating a
strong contrast to the Old City, which has remained
almost unchanged since the Middle Ages.

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

8

Tour 1: Tallinn
Tour 1: Tallinn

1. Town Hall square/Raekoja Plats

Raekoja Plats
Town Hall is the centre of the lower part of the Old
Town. The cosy Town Hall Square is teeming with
life and, in the summer season, lots of pavement
cafés. The Square has traditionally been Tallinn’s
market place, and it was also there that public
executions were performed.

1b. Town Hall Apothecary/Raeapteek

Raekoja Plats 11
Across from Tallinn’s Town Hall lies the Town-Hall
Apothecary, which is one of the oldest apothecaries
in the world still being used for its original purpose.
It was mentioned for the first time in 1422.

2. Church of the Holy Ghost/Püha
Vaimu Kirik

Pühavaimu 2
www.eelk.ee/tallinna.puhavaimu
This church is the only surviving original church of
its kind. It was finished in its pure style in the 1360s;
only the spire is of a later date.

Much of the interior has been preserved, including
Berndt Notke’s famous altar from 1483 and several
Gothic woodcarvings. The Church Bell is from 1433,
which makes it the oldest church bell in Estonia,
and the Tower Clock was the first public clock in
Tallinn.

In 1531, the Church of the Holy Ghost became part
of Estonian history when the first sermon in the
Estonian language was held there.

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

9

Tour 1: Tallinn
3. Estonian Historical Museum – The
Great Guild Halll/Eesti Ajaloomuuseum
– Suurgildi hoone

Pikk 17
www.eam.ee
The Great Guild Hall was the second-largest secular
building in medieval Tallinn. It was built in the years
1407-1417 by the influential merchant guild, the
Great Guild, whose members for centuries were
part of Tallinn’s political and financial elite. The
house is preserved in its original state both inside
and outside, and today it houses the Estonian
Historical Museum, which covers Estonian history
from the earliest times to present-day.

4. Knuds Gilde/Kanuti Gild

Pikk 20
www.saal.ee
Knud’s Guild was originally a religious society,
which developed into a German guild for fine crafts.
Knud’s Guild was wealthy and it bought the two
neighbouring houses as well. In 1863-1864, the
present house was built in English Tudor style.

5. House of Blackheads/Mustpeade
Maja

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

10

Tour 1: Tallinn
Pikk 26
www.mustpeademaja.ee
The Blackheads was a brotherhood which prepared
its members for entrance into Tallinn’s wealthy and
influential merchant guild, the Great Guild. House
of Blackheads is from the 14th century, but it has
since been rebuilt. The facade is in Renaissance style
from 1597 with a beautiful door from 1640.

6. St Nicholas’ Orthodox Church/Püha
Nikolai Imetegija kirik (ȄȓȞȘȜȐȪ
ǿȐȭȠȖȠȓșȭ ǻȖȘȜșȎȭ ȅȡȒȜȠȐȜȞȤȎ)

Vene 24
www.stnicolas.narod.ru
This Russian Orthodox Church is located in the
Russian district. The name of the street is Vene,
which means “Russian Street”. As early as the 12th
century, there was a Russian market place in this
street. St Nicholas’ Orthodox Church was founded
in the 15th century, and the present Neo-Classicistic

building was built in 1822-1827. The church has
several altars and a beautiful iconostasis.

7. Tallinn City Museum Linnamuuseum

Vene 17
www.linnamuuseum.ee
Tallinn City Museum is located in a medieval
grocer’s shop. It depicts Tallinn’s history from the
13th century to present-day.

The museum has some interesting permanent
exhibitions on Tallinn in the Middle Ages, with
many preserved artefacts. There are also exhibitions
focusing on themes from later centuries. The City
museum is an excellent background introduction to
present-day Tallinn.

8.The Roman-Catholic Church/Rooma
Katoliku Kirik

Vene 18
www.katoliku.ee
This church is also called Church of Peter and Paul.
It was built as a Catholic church in 1844 on the spot
where the 13th century Dominican Monastery’s
dining hall had been. The building style of the
church is unique in Tallinn.
Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Please click the advert

Tallinn

11

Tour 1: Tallinn

9. Dominican Monastery
Museum/Dominiiklaste Kloostri
Muuseum
Vene 16
www.kloostri.ee
www.mauritanum.edu.ee
Tallinn Dominican Monastery is the oldest in the
city. It was founded in 1246, which also makes it
Tallinn’s oldest preserved building. The east wing,
Institutum Mauritanum, (Müürivahe 33), still has its
original interior. There is a library, a dormitory and a
chapel.

After the Reformation in 1525, the monastery was
closed and the buildings gradually decayed and
became ruinous. Today, the area is a museum, and
the old walls and the cloister Garth are some of the
most atmospheric places in the city.

10. Katarina (St Catherine)
Passage/Katariina Käik

Vene 12/Müürivahe
The atmospheric medieval Katarina Passage goes

through a mixed residential area with craft
workshops located in buildings from the 15th-17th
centuries. In the season artists can be seen at work
there.

© Deloitte & Touche LLP and affiliated entities.
360°
thinking
.
Discover the truth at www.deloitte.ca/careers
© Deloitte & Touche LLP and affiliated entities.
360°
thinking
.
Discover the truth at www.deloitte.ca/careers
© Deloitte & Touche LLP and affiliated entities.
360°
thinking
.
Discover the truth at www.deloitte.ca/careers
© Deloitte & Touche LLP and affiliated entities.
360°
thinking
.
Discover the truth at www.deloitte.ca/careers
Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

12

Tour 1: Tallinn
11. The Viru Gate Tallinn/Viru Värav

Viru
The Viru Gate was the east entrance in Tallinn’s
defence wall. The two beautiful towers flanking the
gate on each side of the road were built in 1345-
1355. The gate is a good example of the fortress-like
entrance often found in medieval city walls.

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

13

Tour 2: Tallinn
Tour 2: Tallinn

12. Kino Sõprus
Vana-Posti 8
www.kino.ee
Kino Sõprus opened in 1955 and the style is typical
of that period: a grand construction with a row of
columns at the entrance. The cinema was meant to
be seen as a cultural palace for the people.

13. St Michael’s Church/Rootsi-Mihkli
Kirik
Rüütsi 9
www.stmikael.ee

In the years 1526-1531, Tallinn’s Poorhouse was
built. After the Great Nordic War, the building was
given to the city’s Swedish parishioners, who
converted it into a church in 1733. During Estonia’s
time as a Soviet Republic, the church was used as a
sports facility, but it was later restored and reopened
as a Swedish church in 2002.

14. St Nikolai (St Nicholas)
Church/Niguliste Kirik

Niguliste 3
www.ekm.ee
Sankt Nikolai Church from the 13th century is one
of Tallinn’s large medieval buildings. It was built by
German merchants from Gothland. The church was
saved from being destroyed during the Reformation
because the priest blocked the doors so the mob
couldn’t get in. The High Altar was made in Lübeck
in 1482, and it is adorned by images of St Nikolai.

The church building was destroyed during World
War II, and again by a fire in 1982, but on both
occasions it was beautifully restored. Today, it
houses a part of the Estonian Museum of Art (Eesti
Kunstimuuseum). The museum exhibits church
architecture, and because of the excellent acoustics,
concerts are regularly held there.

15. Adamson-Eric Museum/Adamson-

Ericu-muuseum
Lühike Jalg 3
www.ekm.ee
Adamson-Eric was one of Estonia’s greatest and
most versatile 20th century artists. His primary art
form was painting, but he also designed jewellery
and furniture.

The Museum building is a medieval house that has
been rebuilt several times. During the centuries, it
has been used as workshop and as an ordinary
residence. The museum itself was founded in 1984
when several works by Adamson-Eric were donated
by his widow.

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Please click the advert
Tallinn

14

Tour 2: Tallinn
16. The Danish King’s Garden/Taani
Kuninga Aed

Lühike jalg 9A
According to legend, the army of the Danish King
was losing a battle in Estonia on 15 June 1219, when
suddenly a red flag with a white cross fell from the
sky, and the fortune of war turned. The Danes won

the battle, and the flag became the Danish national
flag, named “the Dannebrog”.
The Danish King’s Garden celebrates the event, said
to have occurred in Tallinn, every year on June 15.
17. Tower of the Virgin/Neitsitorn
Lühike jalg 9A
The square Tower of the Virgin was built at the end
of the 14th century as part of the city wall. It has
been destroyed and rebuilt several times, and today
there is a nice view of Tallinn’s centre and old part
of town from the café.

Increase your impact with MSM Executive Education
For more information, visit www.msm.nl or contact us at +31 43 38 70 808
or via
the globally networked management school
For more information, visit www.msm.nl or contact us at +31 43 38 70 808 or via
For almost 60 years Maastricht School of Management has been enhancing the management capacity
of professionals and organizations around the world through state-of-the-art management education.
Our broad range of Open Enrollment Executive Programs offers you a unique interactive, stimulating and
multicultural learning experience.
Be prepared for tomorrow’s management challenges and apply today.
Executive Education-170x115-B2.indd 1 18-08-11 15:13
Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

15

Tour 2: Tallinn
18. Kiek in de Kök

Kommandandi 2
www.linnamuuseum.ee
Kiek in de Kök was the strongest artillery tower in
Northern Europe. The 38-metre-tall tower was built
in the 15th century; it has a diameter of 17 metres
and the walls are 4 metres thick. From the tower it
was possible to peer into the kitchens of the
neighbouring buildings, hence its name, which
means “peep into the kitchen”.

The tower was damaged in the 16th century, but it
was rebuilt and used as a powder tower until the
20th century. Today the tower has been restored as
it was in the 17th century, with cannon balls still
lodged in the walls. Inside there is an exhibition on
Tallinn’s history and the major military events
between the 13th and 19th centuries.

19. Alexander Nevskij
Cathedral/Aleksander Nevski
Katedraal (ǮșȓȘȟȎțȒȞȜ-ǻȓȐȟȘȖȗ
ȟȜȏȜȞ)

Lossi Plats 10
www.hot.ee/nsobor
The Russian Orthodox Cathedral, (RussianǞǻǮǻǽ
ǍǸDzǷǾaǺDZǽǭ ǚDzǯǾǷǻǰǻ), from the year 1900, is
Tallinn’s largest cupola cathedral. It is located on
Toompea Hill, which makes it very prominent in the

city skyline.

The Cathedral was built under the Russian Tsar by
the architect Mikhail Preobrazhenski from the
nearby Russian city of St Petersburg. The richly
decorated church has some very exquisite Icons and
stained-glass windows.

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

16

Tour 2: Tallinn
The Cathedral is named in honour of St Alexander
Nevskij, who won the Battle of Lake Peipus, on the
border of Estonia and Russia, 5 April 1242. The
lake’s current name is

Peipsi järv/ǤȀDZǾǷǻDz ǻǴDzǽǻ. The battle was between
the Catholic crusaders of the Teutonic Order and
Orthodox Christians from Novgorod.

20. Toompea Castle/Toompea Loss

Lossi Plats 1
The Danes built Toompea Castle in 1219 on the
foundations of an Estonian fortress from the 10th
century. It is located 50 metres above the city, at the
top of Toompea Hill.

The castle was originally named Taani Linn,
“Danish Castle”, from which the city name, Tallinn,
is derived.

In 1773, the original castle was converted into a
residential castle in Rococo style. The Parliament
building by the castle was built in 1923 in Late-
Baroque style.

The 48-metre-tall tower, Long Hermann/Pikk
Hermann, was the first of the castle’s towers to be
used as prison. The other towers are all still standing,
except Stur den Kerl, which was torn down to make
room for the Rococo castle.

21. The Dome Church/Toomkirik

Toom-Kooli 6
www.eelk.ee/tallinna.toom
Tallinn’s Dome Church is Estonia’s most important
Protestant church, and it is one of the city’ three
medieval churches still in use. Its full name is The
Cathedral of St Mary the Virgin/Neitsi Maarja
Piiskoplik Toomkirik.

The Danes built the original wooden church in 1219,
and ten years later they started building the stone
church in the same spot. In 1433, the church was
expanded to become a Gothic cathedral.

Inside the church there are coats of arms, memorial
tablets and gravestones dating from the 13th to 18th
centuries. Several famous people lie buried there,
such as Admiral Adam-Johann von Krusenstern.

During a fire in 1684, the Dome Church was
destroyed, including the cultural treasures it held.
The church was rebuilt, and the Baroque tower was
added in 1779.

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Please click the advert
Tallinn

17

Tour 2: Tallinn
22. The Knighthood
House/Rüütelkonna hoone

Kiriku Plats 1
There were originally three different residences for
the Knighthood on Toompea, but when two of
them burned down and the third became too small,
they decided to build a new main house.

The building was designed by Georg Winterhalter
with heavy Renaissance inspiration, and it was built
in 1845-1848. The house has had several occupants

in addition to the Knighthood. The Land Parliament
used it for a period, and between 1920-1940 it
housed Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Between 1948-1992, the building functioned as the
Estonian National Library, and following that the
Art Museum of Estonia was briefly located there.

Get “Bookboon’s Free Media Advice”
Email
See the light!
The sooner you realize we are right,
the sooner your life will get better!
A bit over the top? Yes we know!
We are just that sure that we can make your
media activities more effective.
Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

18

Tour 2: Tallinn
23. Statskansliet/Riigikantselei

Rahukohtu 3
www.riigikantselei.ee
The Estonian State Chancellery, serving the
country’s Prime Minister and Government, is
located in the beautiful manor Stenbock
House/Stenbocki maja, built in 1787-1792.

The architect Johann Caspahr Mohr designed the
house in 1784, and it was originally meant as a
courthouse. The manor is named in honour of the
Swedish Count Jakob Pontus Stenbock, who
initiated the construction. Stenbock House was
taken over by the state in 1924, and after a
renovation it became home of the Estonian State
Chancellery on 6 September 2000.

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

19

Tour 3: Tallinn
Tour 3: Tallinn

24. Museum of
Occupations/Okupatsioonide
Muuseum
Toompea 8
www.okupatsioon.ee
This modern museum depicts Tallinn’s and
Estonia’s history from 1939 to 1991 from various
perspectives, such as the daily lives of the people.
This is the period when the country was occupied
by Germany, and later became part of the Soviet
Union.

25. Kaarli Church/Kaarli kirik

Toompuiestee 4
www.eelk.ee/tallinna.kaarli
Kaarli Church is of Swedish origin. There had been a
chapel in this location since the 16th century, but it
was the Swedes who build the first church there, and
they named it in honour of the Swedish King Karl XI.

The present church is of a later date. It was built in
the 1860s and is today regarded as one of the finest
19th century churches in Estonia

26. National Library of Estonia /Eesti
Rahvusraamatukogu

Tõnismägi
www.nlib.ee
The National Library of Estonia is one of Tallinn’s
most monumental buildings. Construction began at
the end of the Soviet era, and it is a splendid
example of this era’s grand, prestige-laden
constructions of public institutions.

The National Library, established in 1918, is
Estonia’s largest library. The present building is
from 1985-1993, designed by the modernistic
architect Raine Karp, who was behind many of
Tallinn’s largest construction works in the 1970s and
1980s.

27. Russian Theatre/Vene Teater
(ǾȡȟȟȘȖȗ ȠȓȎȠȞ)
Vabaduse väljak 5
www.veneteater.ee
Tallinn’s Russian Theatre has performances in
Russian. It is famous for having the most beautiful
interior of any theatre in the Baltic area. The walls
and ceiling in the audience hall are magnificently
decorated.

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Please click the advert
Tallinn

20

Tour 3: Tallinn
28. Museum of the Bank of
Estonia/Eesti Panga Muuseum

Estonia puiestee 13
www.bankofestonia.info
This museum focuses on the history of the Estonian
currency. Estonian coins and bank notes are the
major exhibits, but the history of the Bank of
Estonia is also depicted.

29. Estonian National
Opera/Rahvusooper Estonia
Estonia puiestee 4

www.opera.ee
In 1865, the forerunner to the Estonian National
Opera, the song and drama society “Estonia” was
established. In 1906, the society became a
professional theatre. The Theatre and Opera
Building was opened in 1924 and reopened in 1947
after having sustained damage in 1944. Today,
operas, operettas, ballets and musicals are all
performed there.

30. Church of Our Lady of
Kazan/Kasaani kirik (ǸȎȕȎțȟȘȖȗ
ȟȜȏȜȞ)
Liivalaia 38
This small wooden church building from 1721 is the
oldest in Tallinn. It has an elegant tower and cupola.
The church belongs to the Russian Othodox
Parishioners.

GO T -THE-ENERGY-TO-LEAD.COM
We believe that energy suppliers should be renewable, too. We are therefore looking for enthusiastic
new colleagues with plenty of ideas who want to join RWE in changing the world. Visit us online to find
out what we are offering and how we are working together to ensure the energy of the future.
Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

21

Tour 3: Tallinn
31. Tartu maantee 24

Tartu maantee 24/Liivalaia
In the 1950’s, many buildings in the Soviet Union
were constructed in the style called Stalin Gothic.
Tallinn has a modestly sized example of this style; a
residential building whose central part is adorned
with a spire and a red star on top.

32. The Bronze Soldier/Pronkssõdur

Filtri tee
The Bronze Soldier is a Soviet memorial from 1947 in
the form of a two-metre-tall equestrian statue. It was
erected in honour of the Soviet heroes in Estonia
during World War II. It was originally named
“Monument to the Liberators of Tallinn”/Tallinna
vabastajate monument, and it was placed in a more
central location in the city at Tõnismägi Square. In
2007, the monument was moved to its present location
at Tallinn’s Military Cemetery.

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

22

Tour 4: Tallinn
Tour 4: Tallinn

33. Tallinn City Wall/Tallinna linnamüür

Gümnaasiumi 3
In the Middle Ages, Tallinn was surrounded by
defence walls, which, apart from the wall itself,
consisted of the city gates and a total of 46 towers.
The wall was approximately 4 kilometres long, 16
metres high and 3 metres thick. More than 2
kilometres of the wall and 26 towers are still standing
today, and can be seen from many places in the city.

By the street Gümnaasiumi there is a renovated part
of the wall, including three towers named
Nunnatorn, Saunatorn and Kuldjala Torn. Visiting
this facility is like being transported back to the
Middle Ages.

A short walk’s distance to the southwest of the three
towers, the park Toompark is located. In Toompark
can be seen a small part of the city’s moat, and the
three bastions which functioned as an advanced
fortress outside the city walls.

34. Estonian Museum of Natural
History/Eesti Loodusmuuseum
Lai 29A
www.loodusmuuseum.ee
Estonian natural history, as well as that of other
parts of the world, is on display in this museum. It
has a large collection of flora and fauna from the
Estonian land and water areas. The permanent
exhibition includes Estonia’s geology and life on the

shores of the Baltic.

35. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic
Church/Ukraina kreeka-katoliku kiriku

Labpratooriumi 22
www.hot.ee/uke/kirikest.htm
This church is one of Tallinn’s newest and smallest.
It was established in 1994 in a secular building from
the Middle Ages, and it has a pleasant atmosphere
and beautiful works of art. The church is also a
cultural centre and meeting place for Ukrainians in
Tallinn

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Please click the advert
Tallinn

23

Tour 4: Tallinn
36. St Olai Church/Oleviste Kirik

Lai 50
www.olevisti.ee
St Olai Church was mentioned for the first time in
1267, but it is thought to have existed in the form of
a small chapel front the beginning of 13th century.
Around the year 1500, it had been built to an
impressive height of 159 metres, which made it the

world’s tallest building at that time. The height of
the church was a symbol of the wealth of Tallinn in
the 14th-17th centuries.

The church is thought to have been built so high
because it functioned as an icon as well as a
landmark for the city. St Olai has been struck by
lightning at least eight times, and it has burned
down three times. On each occasion it has been
rebuilt, and today the tower is 124 metres tall. The
oldest extant parts are the choir from 1425 and the
Chapel of Our Lady from 1521.

37. Hobuveski
Lai 47
From the 14th to the 18th centuries, this circular
house was a mill powered by horses. Visitors can
acquaint themselves with the kind of work that use
to take place there at a small exhibition. There are
also nice examples of stonework from the Gothic,
Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Contact us to hear more

Who is your target group?
And how can we reach them?
At Bookboon, you can segment the exact right
audience for your advertising campaign.
Our eBooks offer in-book advertising spot to reach
the right candidate.

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

24

Tour 4: Tallinn
38. Fat Margaret & Estonian Maritime
Museum/Paks Margareeta & Eesti
Meremuuseum

Pikk 70
www.meremuuseum.ee
The cannon tower, Fat Margaret, was built in the
16th century as part of Tallinn’s City wall to defend
the city and its harbour against attacks from the sea.
Fat Margaret is 20 metres tall with a diameter of 25
metres. There is a beautiful view of the Old City and
the harbour from the top of the tower.

Today, Fat Margaret houses the Estonian Maritime
Museum, which has an exposition on the country’s
maritime and fishing history. The exhibits include
finds from shipwrecks, fishing and diving equipment
and ship models.

39. The Mine Museum/Miinimuuseum
Uus 37
www.meremuuseum.ee
Navigating the Baltic Sea has often been a perilous
undertaking because of mines. Several countries

have launched mines in the area, and ships have
been lost after hitting them. The Mine Museum
exhibits mines that have been deactivated after
having been fished out of the sea. The Mine
Museum is located in a gunpowder depot from 1748.

40. Estonian Museum of
Architecture/Eesti
Arhitektuurimuuseum
Ahtri 2
www.arhitektuurimuuseum.ee
The Architecture Museum focuses on the
development of Estonian architecture. It displays
many examples, including a miniature of Tallinn.
There are also varying exhibitions on architectural
themes. The museum building is a beautiful
industrial building from 1908 known as Roterman’s
Salt Storage. The building was restored and
furnished in 1995-1996.

41. Church of St Simeon and the
Prophetess Hannah/Püha Siimeoni ja
naisprohvet Hanna kirik
Ahtri 5
www.eoc.ee
This church is rather small and delicate compared to
Tallinn’s large stone churches. It is an Orthodox
church built by sailors in 1752-1755, and it is situated
close to the harbour. At the time of its construction,
the church lay on the edge of the water, but the new

harbour area has since been filled up.

The church used to have an onion dome, which is
now lost. During the Soviet era it was used as a
sports facility, but today it serves its original
religious purpose.

42. Byens Hal/Linnahall

Download free ebooks at bookboon.com
Tallinn

25

Tour 4: Tallinn
Mere pst 20
www.linnahall.ee
When Moscow and the Soviet Union were to hold
the Olympic Games in 1980, Tallinn was chosen as
location for the sailing competitions. The
competitions were held at Pirita, but several other
facilities were constructed in connection with the
Games. The Palace of Culture and Sports was built
and named in honour of Lenin, but it was later
renamed “City Hall/Linnahall”. It is an interesting
facility and an excellent example of grand Soviet
construction work in the 1970s. Today the hall is
used mainly for sports events and concerts.

43. The Museum

Ships/Muuseumilaevad

Lennusadam, Küti 15A
www.meremuuseum.ee
The Museum Ships belong to the Estonian Maritime
Museum, and there are several interesting vessels on
display. Suur Tõll is the name of Europe’s oldest
surviving steam-powered icebreaker. It was built in
1913 and has sailed under various different names.
Lembit is a submarine that was in use between 1936
and 1957.