PRINT VERSIONTallinn, Estonia (June 27 - July 1)
Destination > NATO ARW
Estonia
Estonia is the northernmost and smallest of the Baltic states -
it's about the size of Switzerland. It borders Russia on the east and Latvia on
the south. To the west are the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga, and the Gulf
of Finland lies to the north. Helsinki is just 80 km (50mi) away across the
Gulf of Finland; St Petersburg is 320km (200mi) east of Tallinn, Estonia's
capital, which is on the northwestern coast.
Tallinn
In few places in Europe does the aura of the 14th and 15th
centuries survive intact the way it does in Tallinn's Old Town, a jumble of
medieval walls and turrets, needling spires and winding, cobbled streets.
Nevertheless, Estonia's capital is so modern it's been dubbed 'a suburb of
Helsinki'.
"The streets of Tallinn are not straight, and are so narrow that cabmen are
forced to ride with bells in order not to run into those coming in the opposite
direction. An inquisitive gossip can see everything across a street into the
room of her neighbor." —Russian officer Alexander Bestuzhev in 1821, in an
account of his trip to Tallinn.
The city consists of three sections: an upper town on a steep hill topped by a
citadel (13th-14th century), a lower walled town built during medieval times
(14th-16th century), and a new district. The network of the Old City streets
and walls were formed during the 13-14th century. Many relics of Tallinn's
long history survive or have been restored, especially on Toompea hill and in
the old, walled Lower Town. They include the 13th century Toom Church, the
Gothic Oleviste and Niguliste churches, the Great Guildhall of 1410 and the
14th century Rathus. The cultural center of Estonia has an academy of sciences,
polytechnic, fine arts, a music conservatory and several theatres and museums.
Against the backdrop of the city's impressive past, contemporary life carries
on in the Medieval Capital's galleries, pubs, and cafes and at frequent
festivals and exhibitions.
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