Tallinn Old Town

Medieval *Tallinn*

*Tallinn* • * Tallinn *- the capital of the Republic of Estonia. • It has about 450,000 inhabitants. • Tallinn is the most important port and transport terminal as well as the Estonian cultural metropolis. • The oldest written record dates back to 1154, when the Arabian cartographer Al Idrisi marked Tallinn on his world map.

History of Tallinn • The city was founded by Danes at the beginning of the 13th century when Estonia was conquered by crusaders from Germany and Denmark. • Most of the craftsmen and merchants came from Germany and the German language was the main language for centuries. • In the Middle Ages the city was the member of the Hanseatic League. • Tallinn and Estonia have been under the rule of Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Russia.

Medieval Old Town • Let us take a walk through the Old City which is the main tourist attraction of Estonia. • The Old Town of Tallinn in included into the UNESCO’s World Heritage list. • Medieval Tallinn is very well preserved, because not many buildings were destroyed by bombs during the wars.

• The Old Town of Tallinn consists of two parts, the Upper Town and the Lower Town. • In the Middle Ages it was a free trading town of the Hanseatic League.

Toompea/*Domehill* • Toompea / * Domehill * is the fortress built in the 13th century on a limestone hill in the central part of the city. • It forms most of the Upper Town. • The hill is about 20-30 meters higher than the city around it. • It’s the center of the Government of Estonia and the Riigikogu (parliament).

*Tall Hermann* • *Tall Hermann* is the tower of Toompea Castle. • It was used as a watchtower. • It was built in the 14th century. • It is 45 meters high. • The flag of Estonia flies on top of the tower from sunrise to sunset.

Streets • There are many streets preserved from the Middle Ages. • They are usually narrow and long. • Nowadays there are many tourists shops and restaurants where olden days’ food is served. • The streets are covered with cobble-stones.

• The Town Hall • Tallinn’s Town Hall is one of the symbols of the city, it is a unique architectural treasure of Estonia. • The Town Hall was built on the central square at the beginning of the 15th century. • There is a weather vane with a figure of an old warrior *Old Thomas* at the top of the tower.

Town Hall Square • The most important streets meet at Town Hall Square and it is a place where activity almost never stops. • The main fairs - The Christmas Fair and The Hansa Fair are held there. • During the fairs people dress in olden-days clothes and usually sell handicraft like art, jewellery, woodcraft and so on.

Saint Nicholas’ Church • This medieval church is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron of fishermen and sailors. • Originally it was built in the 13th century, but it was partially destroyed in World War II. • After restoration it is in use as an art museum and concert hall. • There is a famous artwork in the church - *Dance of Death* by the Lübeck master Bernt Notke, which depicts the transience of life.

• Medieval City Wall • The Lower Town is encircled by a 2,5 km defencive wall and most of it is still preserved. • It was finished in the 14th century. • There are 26 different towers . • Through the wars the City Wall has preserved very well with only minor damages.

• There are museums and cafes in most of the towers. • The most famous one is the Fat Margaret Tower • Its walls are about 4 meters thick • The Maiden Tower was used as a prison in the Middle Ages • Underneath the Old Town there are some catacombs, which have been used for protection purposes during the wars.

Saint Catherin’s Passage

One of the Viru gates tower

The Tower Square

The City Wall in the winter