Tallinn: Old Town in Depth - Part 6

Raekoja plats (Town Hall Square)

The picturesque Town Hall Square has been the undisputed hub of Old Town for the last eight centuries. Surrounded by elaborate merchant houses and, in summer, packed with café tables, it' s a natural magnet for tourists. Historically it served as a market and meeting place, and was the site of at least one execution, resulting from a dispute over a bad omelette. Seek out the round stone marked with a compass rose in the middle of the square. It is from this spot, with a little stretching and bending, you can see the tops all five of Old Town' s spires.

Today, the square remains the social heart of the city, a place for open-air concerts, handicraft fairs and medieval markets. Each winter it becomes home to the town' s Christmas tree, a tradition that stretches back to 1441, and a great Christmas Market. In spring it hosts the Old Town Days festival, a modern version of a medieval carnival, where traditions from the Middle Ages are kept alive.

Masters' Courtyard

This quiet courtyard is home to the master craftsmen of the Old Town. Visitors can shop for handicrafts and jewellery, and sample confections created in the popular Chocolaterie Café.

Katariina käik (St. Catherine' s Passage)

This is easily the most picturesque of Old Town' s lanes, this half-hidden walkway runs behind what used to be St. Catherine' s Church. It connects Vene street with Müürivahe street where the town' s famous knit market operates. What makes the passage particularly interesting is that it' s home to the St. Catherine' s Guild, a collection of craft workshops where artists use traditional methods to create and sell glassware, hats, quilts, ceramics, jewellery, hand-painted silk and other wares. The workshops are housed in the small, 15th to 17th-century rooms on the south side of the lane, and are set up in an open studio fashion so visitors can watch the artists at work.

As absorbing as these displays can be, St. Catherine' s passage is more about ambience than anything else. No other place in Tallinn combines creativity with a medieval atmosphere quite like it.

Kohtuotsa viewing platform

Kohtuotsa offers sweeping panoramas of Old Town' s rooftops and towers against the backdrop of the modern city skyline.

The spacious area on the east corner of Toompea hill offers unforgettable views of the medieval neighbourhood and is easily the city' s most famous photo spot. From here you can see most of Tallinn' s centuries-old spires as well as its newer ones, the highest of which is the TV Tower visible in the distance. Beyond the modern city centre lies the Lasnamäe suburb with its countless Soviet-style block apartment buildings.

During the summer season, an outdoor café operates here and dance evenings are held on the platform space. If you are lucky you will also find a seagull called Steven walking on the edge of the platform posing for photos like a true supermodel.

Continued in part 7