Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn has been recorded back to 1154.  As most of the medieval towns they needed a hill on which to build a castle.  The walls of brick and a moat protected the residents from attack.  Today, as in the centuries past, Tallinn has a deep water harbor that safely moors ships as large and larger than the Regatta.  Our first glimpse of the city walls were an obvious sign of the security they tried to obtain.  However, the prize of Tallinn was sought after by other nations.  In the course of time it was Valdemar II, King of Denmark that first built a Danish Castle, or taani linnus, from which Tallinn gets its name.  In the following seven centuries Tallinn belonged to the Danes, Germans, Swedes and Russians and each of these cultures left something behind that can still be detected in the looks of the town. 

Their main exports are wood, grain, furs, wax and flux.  They imported salt (in the middle ages it was the only known preservative), silk and metals.

They are a proud people.  Singing there national songs is more than a past time.  More about this later.

They needed a fortress - no medieval town could survive on trading alone.  The walls are over 2 1/2 feet thick, 18 to 22 feet high.  There were 66 lookout  towers.  Cobblestone streets, church spires, high-gabled red tiled roofs and the fortification walls still offer pleasure to us travelers.  It has a wonderful and yet strange feeling.

This photo captures the height of the castle walls and one of the 66 towers

Entry was still not easy even if you scaled the first walls.  There is a lower city and upper city.

When King Valdemar II of Denmark came to conquer the Estonians in 1219, his big army was almost being defeated in battle when a bishop with them asked God for help.  As a sign that God heard the prayer, a red flag with a white cross was bestowed from Heaven.  Thus the Danes defeated the Estonians and got their flag; the Estonians lost their independence for almost 700 years.  This is known as the Danish Kings garden.

Orthodox Cathedral from the late 19th century built by the order of Russian Tsar Alexander III. 

St. Nicholas Church spire can be seen for miles.

Artists practice their talent and sell the works of art.  Di bought one from this lad.

The town has two levels.  This is the "Lower City" Market area.

All the streets were cobblestone.

This is a well that served the area.  A canal was dug from Lake Ulemiste so they had plenty of water for drinking and to fill the moat around the town.

This photo shows the homes built on the hill side.

Each spire is so different.  I think this is the one on the town hall. 

Many of the restored historical sites have been turned into stores.

A close up shows this one was built in 1656.

How about 1422!

Tallinn Town Hall

Notice the wood sticking out of the 4th floor.  This is used to hoist goods up for storage.

If we only had a place for more art.

This is their outdoor theater, similar to Blossom Music Center in Ohio.  But there is one huge difference.  There is no flat stage.  It appears they have rows of stands.  In fact annually choruses compete for the privilege to sing here.  They will have 30,000 singers standing under the shell roof and sing National Songs.  The crowd swells past 100,000 and the show is televised.  Everything stands still for their National recognition event.  Just like our 4th of July.  Our guide certainly impressed me.  The Estonians appreciated their independence and take great pride in their country.  They just regained there independence form Russia in 1990.

I can't remember the name of this fellow -- he started the choir concept years ago.

Sister Bridget's Pirita Convent was built in the first half of the 15th century.  It functioned for 170 years.  It was devastated in the Lavonian war of 1577.

More of the ruins of St. Bridget

They began using part of the field as a cemetery

A goodbye view of Tallinn.