Estonia

Sunday, July 10th, 2022 

 Welcome to Tallinn, Estonia.

 

Here is how looked.

Let's see how it looks now as the best preserved Hanseatic town in the world.

Estonia had it's independence from 1920 to 1945, after being ruled by Danes, Swedes and Russians.

After the Nazi (1945) and then long Soviet occupation, it became independent again in 1991.

Lower Town (Vanalinn) was a Hanseatic trading center of German, Danish and Swedish merchants.

It dates from the 1200s.

 

My first glimpse of Raekoja Plats.

   

 Raekoja Plats is Tallinn's main square.

Love town squares!

Ducking into a subterranean bakery.

Heading to Upper Town (Toompea).

Which for centuries has been the seat of government. To the left is Toompea Loss (Toompea Castle), which is currently used by their parliament.

Alexander Neevsky Orthodox Cathedral, 1900, from a time of Russian rule.

   

View from Upper Town (Toompea) looking at Lower Town (Vanalinn).  Modern Tallinn in the distance.

 

Part of the 15th century military structure is now a museum called Kiek in de Kok Museum and Bastion Tunnels.

 

How the complex looked with the dotted line being the bastion tunnels we will now explore.

Descending into the tunnel.

In the 1600s, these would have been used to hide troops and ammunition.

In WWII was a bomb shelter and 1980s used to store Soviet propaganda.  

   

In recent decades by punk rockers, homeless and urban explorers.

   

Back above the surface, they've done an excellent job transforming each level of one of the towers into exhibits. 

Though getting from floor to floor is a bit risky.

   

 Bet it didn't look like this when it was built in 1475!

  

View from this tower:

   

 It's a nice complex with a few towers, walkways and exhibits.

Look at that workmanship and engineering!

A beautiful day.

Back to lower town.

Raekoja Plats is now quite busy.

Tallinn Town Hall, 1404, is the only surviving town hall in northern Europe.

Another perilous climb.  It was 118 steps.  Yes, I counted.

 

To the bell tower.  

Looking at Raekoja Plats.

   

Other side of Lower Town.

Lunch time.

Feel like a feudal lord.

Wild bear, boar and elk. 

Smoked sauerkraut, onion compote, ginger turnips and olive berries.

 

Loving taking it all in.

 

Puha Vaimu Koguus (Holy Spirit Church) was probably started in the mid 1200s.

Rickety, creaky and spiritual.

 

A guild hall built in 1410 is now the Estonia Museum.

The upper level has revolving exhibits.

  

And lower level Estonia's history.

Tucked into a hidden courtyard is a centuries hold chocolatier.

Time to say good bye to Estonia.

With a panorama of new and old.