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