Tallinn: An overview - Part 2

The post-communist era has been a big achievement for the town, after independence in 1991, Tallinn has westernized at an astonishing rate. The Old Town has been polished into what could almost be taken for an Old World theme park. It is a fascinating collection of towers, ramparts, facades, bars, churches and shops. Elsewhere the outlying districts such as the Rotermann Quarter are a mishmash of architectural styles. After the cruise companies discovered Tallinn it regularly gets packed as cruisers crowd its cobbles during the day. Because of its compact size Tallinn can be easily seen as a side trip from Helsinki or by a day trip from a cruise ship. However, the city really recompenses those who spend the night. It gives you more time and the chance to explore some of the more colourful slices of life both inside and outside the Old Town walls.

The local climate means that June, July and August are the most popular times to visit Tallinn. However, don’t forget that the city’s year-round cultural attractions and nightlife ensure that it’s a worthwhile weekend destination whatever time of year you choose to visit. Specific seasonal attractions include the Advent period, when there’s a Christmas Market selling handicrafts, gingerbread and other treats on the town hall square; and the Old Town Days, which run for a week in mid-June when there are concerts on the main square.

In little over a 10 years, Tallinn has grown into a lively and exciting city. The city is an architectural wonder with all its original buildings, but it also has some striking examples of modern architecture that reflect the newly found assurance of its society. In addition to restoring the medieval architecture of its Old Town, the city has recently undergone a major construction boom.

Looking out on Tallinn from Toompea Hill shows how the city has made the best of its historic foundations. Tallinn first appeared on the Western European map in 1154. The city came to be known as Tallinn after the Danes conquered it in 1219 and built a stronghold on Toompea Hill. “Tallinn” is an abbreviation of the Estonian name Taani Linnus, which means “Danish stronghold”. However, Tallinn officially bore the Teutonic name of Reval until Estonia’s first period of independence in 1918. When the German merchants first arrived in 1230, the city was divided into the Upper Town, Toompea and the Lower Town. In 1347, the Danish king sold Tallinn to Germany. The city flourished in the 14th and 15th centuries when it was one of the leading members of the powerful Hanseatic League.

The brilliantly restored Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, is a living monument to this period of Tallinn’s history. Tallinn was relatively quiet during the Tsarist Russian period, which began in 1710 under the rule of Peter the Great. For most of the 19th century, it was little more than a summer resort for wealthy Russians. However, the introduction of the Tallinn to St Petersburg railway in 1870 restored the city’s former glory as a major trading centre. During the Soviet occupation, a massive influx of mainly Russian speaking workers increased Tallinn’s population. Since independence in 1991, better air and sea transport links with Western Europe have made Tallinn easily accessible. The city has forged close ties with neighbouring Finland and the Tallinn to Helsinki ferry line is among the busiest in the world.

Continued in part 3