Modern Architecture & Design
Tallinn may have changed little for centuries, but now it seems
to be modernising at a tremendous speed. Next to ancient pearls
of Old Town you will find modern beauties such as artistic wide-windowed
office blocks to futuristic apartment buildings. For those who
take an interest in design you can visit the galleries scattered
all over the city or drop in A-Galerii, one of the most uniquely
original jewellery galleries in the Baltic Sea countries, offering
contemporary Estonian jewellery art to please even the most demanding
of customers.
City Life and Outdoor Activities
Visitors have been attracted to Tallinn’s gently rolling
slopes, forested parks and fresh sea air for centuries. There
is just no substitute for experiencing the great outdoors in Tallinn.
Tallinn has always been home to a lively cultural scene. One highlight
from a long list of events is Old Town Days, a great way to experience
a lot in a short time: medieval traditions re-enacted, including
jousting, parrot shooting and the election of the May Count; streets
filled with minstrels and craftsmen, artists and merchants, and
street markets in full swing.
Held every five years, there is the National Song and Dance festival,
and it is one of the most impressive of the country’s traditions;
a tradition that dates back over 100 years!
Great Shopping & Fine Food
Most shops in the Old Town and department stores throughout the
city are open seven days a week, and major credit cards are widely
accepted. Elegant boutiques in Old Town are the best places to
go to find quality fashion, shoes, jewellery, and other fine goods.
The city is also home to a wide range of cafes and restaurants.
While in Tallinn, there is one place you must visit; the Olde
Hansa medieval restaurant serves delicious food accompanied by
medieval music and the homely warmth of the Hanseatic times.
Sampling genuine Estonian country fare is also highly recommended.
Kolu Inn, located in the Open-Air Museum, provides an excellent
opportunity to partake of homely food and drink in an authentic
old village inn.
Ancient and Modern
Tallinn has made huge strides over the past decade to transform
itself into a high-tech, cosmopolitan city, however the capital’s
most valuable treasure remains its association with the past.
Dating from the 11th and 15th century the cobblestone paths and
narrow streets have been preserved virtually in their entirety
thanks to the wall and a strict ban on combustible building materials.
You can now stroll through the streets of Tallinn with a specialised
audio guide to complete the visitor experience.
Top 10 attractions
Tallinn Top 10 – don’t miss
• Towns Hall and town Hall Square - Tallinn’s late
Gothic Town Hall building is one of the most famed symbols of
the city.
• St. Olav’s Church - St. Olav was considered to be
the protector of seafarers. It was the highest building in the
world until late 1800.
• Town Hall Pharmacy – This pharmacy was first mentioned
in historical documents in 1422 but by some accounts, it may be
older still.
• Kadriorg Palace - This Baroque palace was built by Peter
the Great in honour of his wife Catherine.
• Kumu Art Museum
• St. Nicholas’ Church - The impressive 13th century
church houses Tallinn’s most famous painting Dance Macabre
(Dance with Death).
• Estonian Open-Air Museum – Here you can see Estonian
vernacular architecture and village milieu from the 18th-20th
centuries.
• Latin Quarter
• Toompea Cstle and Tall Hermann
• Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin - Is the main Lutheran
church in Estonia and one of three functioning medieval churches. |
