Estonia, a country in Northern Europe, borders the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland. Including more than 1,500 islands, its diverse terrain spans rocky beaches, old-growth forest and many lakes. Formerly part of the Soviet Union, it’s dotted with castles, churches and hilltop fortresses. The capital, Tallinn, is known for its preserved Old Town, museums and the 314m-high Tallinn TV Tower, which has an observation deck.
Estonia, country in northeastern Europe, the northernmost of the three Baltic states. Estonia’s area includes some 1,500 islands and islets; the two largest of these islands, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, are off mainland Estonia’s west coast.
Estonia has been dominated by foreign powers through much of its history. In 1940 it was incorporated into the U.S.S.R. as one of its constituent republics. Estonia remained a Soviet republic until 1991, when, along with the other Baltic states, it declared its independence. The Soviet Union recognized independence for Estonia and the other Baltic states on September 6, 1991, and United Nations membership followed shortly thereafter. Estonia set about transforming its government into a parliamentary democracy and reorienting its economy toward market capitalism. It sought integration with greater Europe and in 2004 joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU).
The temperate and humid climate of Estonia differs sharply from the climates of regions to the east (in Russia) at the same latitude. The country lies in the path of air masses borne by cyclonic winds that originate in the North Atlantic Ocean and carry warm air in winter and cool air in summer. The northern and western coastal areas tend to be milder than the country’s inland regions, while the eastern and southeastern regions tend to have a continental climate. The mean temperature is 17 to 23 °F (−8 to −5 °C) in January and 61 to 63 °F (16 to 17 °C) in July. Annual precipitation is about 24 to 28 inches (600 to 700 mm), which, coupled with negligible evaporation and low relief, leads to waterlogging. The Estonian climate is generally favourable for agriculture.
Estonian Maritime Museum
The Estonian Maritime Museum is located in the Fat Margaret tower in the old town of Tallinn. The museum presents the history of ships and navigation in Estonia and related to Estonia. Other parts of the Maritime Museum are the mine museum and the Seaplane Harbour where museum ships are presented.
The Estonian Maritime Museum is the institution for collecting, preserving, studying and presenting Estonian maritime culture (maritime history). Our mission is to promote knowledge about, respect for and love of the sea. The Museum was founded in Tallinn on the initiative of former captains and sailors in 1935. During its long history, the museum has moved on a number of occasions and since 1981, its main exhibition is located in the 500-year-old Fat Margaret tower in Tallinn Old Town. In May 2012, the Maritime Museum opened another exhibition place at the Seaplane Harbour. Today, the Maritime Museum is one of the largest museums in Estonia, and the most popular one.
Estonian Open Air Museum
The Estonian Open Air Museum is a life-sized reconstruction of an 18th-century rural / fishing village, which comes complete with church, inn, school house, several mills, a fire station, twelve farmyards and net sheds. This sprawling ethnographic and architectural complex comprises 80 historic Estonian buildings, plucked from across the country and resurrected in sections representing the different regions of Estonia. During summer the time-warping effect is highlighted by staff in period costume performing traditional activities among the wooden farmhouses and windmills.
Different activities and demonstrations (weaving, blacksmithing and the like) are scheduled and an old wooden tavern, Kolu Kõrts, serves traditional Estonian cuisine. Activities such as weaving, blacksmithing, and traditional cooking are put on, kids love the horse-and-carriage rides and bikes can be hired . If you find yourself in Tallinn on Midsummer’s Eve (23 June), come here to witness the traditional celebrations, bonfire and all.
Town Hall Square
In Tallinn all roads lead to Raekoja plats, the city’s pulsing heart since markets began setting up here in the 11th century. One side of Town Hall Square is dominated by the Gothic town hall, while the rest is ringed by pretty pastel-coloured buildings dating from the 15th to 17th centuries. Whether bathed in sunlight (in summer) or sprinkled with snow (in winter), it is always a photogenic spot. Tallinn’s Town Hall Square is hosting markets and serving as a meeting place. Town Hall Square is a venue for open-air concerts, fairs and medieval markets.
The picturesque plaza dates back to at least the early 14th century and is surrounded by old merchant houses and other historical buildings. Go to Tallinn Town Hall, a 15th-century Gothic building that is open to the public during summer. Tour its four ancient floors and see the collection of art treasures, including a set of tapestries. Take the 115 steps up to the belfry of the building’s tower, 111 feet (34 meters) above the ground.
If you are in Tallinn from September to June and want to explore the town hall building, you will need to make an appointment. Among the other notable buildings around the square is the Town Hall Pharmacy. This lays claim to being the oldest pharmacy in Europe that has continuously operated from the same building. Its earliest mention in town records is from the year 1422. In addition to selling modern medicines, the pharmacy presents a small exhibit of its history in a back room. Browse bottles of old remedies from the 17th to the 20th centuries.
Toompea Castle
Home to Estonia’s parliament, Toompea Hill is bursting with cultural wonder and stunning views. It’s great for sightseeing, particularly with Toompea Castle perched on its banks. This Janus-faced pile turns a sugar-pink baroque facade towards Toompea, and a stern 14th-century Livonian visage to the sea and intervening suburbs.
Three towers have survived from the Knights of the Sword’s hilltop castle, the finest of which is 14th-century Pikk Hermann (Long Hermann – best viewed from the rear). In the 18th century, the fortress was radically updated by Russian empress Catherine the Great, converting it into the pretty-in-pink baroque palace that now houses Estonia’s Riigikogu (National Council).
Kadriorg Palace
Earlier it was Peter the Great’s baroque palace and today it houses an extensive art museum. With hundreds of 16th to 20th century works, it’s not just the gardens that are worth a visit. The palace was commissioned by Peter the Great after his victory over Sweden. Architect Nicolo Michetti designed it in the Baroque style and it was named Catherinenthal, or Kadriorg in Estonian, which means “Valley of Catherine,” in honor of Peter’s wife, Catherine I.
Today the building is a museum in which you can admire the collections exhibited in its sumptuous halls, as well as its lavish outer architecture, and the harmony of its gardens. It is also possible to see the house from which the Tsar kept an eye on the construction. Feel like royalty as you stroll through the halls, then return to Tallinn
Kumu Art Museum
Kumu is an art museum in Tallinn, Estonia. Kumu art Museum displaying classical and contemporary works. The museum is one of the largest museums in Estonia and one of the largest art museums in Northern Europe. It is one of the five branches of the Art Museum of Estonia, housing its main offices. Kumu is an abbreviation of the Estonian “Kunstimuuseum”. The Kumu Art Museum is the main branch of the Art Museum of Estonia and is also the largest and most impressive exhibition venue in the country. The museum opened in February 2006 and in 2008 received the European Museum of the Year Award. On the third and fourth floors are collections of Estonian art starting from the early 18th century.
Art from before World War II is also exhibited on the third floor, and on the fourth, an exhibition of works from the Soviet occupation period is on display. On the museum’s fifth floor, find a modern art gallery and exhibitions of contemporary art from Estonia as well as other countries. Each year, 11 or 12 rotating exhibits are displayed, half of which come from Estonia, while the other half is made up of international pieces. The museum also has a 250-seat auditorium for film programs, performances, concerts, seminars and conferences; an educational center with programs and courses for different age groups; and a library with the widest collection of art literature in Estonia
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is an orthodox cathedral in the Tallinn Old Town. Mikhail Preobrazhensky built it to a design in a typical Russian Revival style between 1894 and 1900, during the period when the country was part of the Russian Empire. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral crowns the hill of Toompea, which is one of several places where according to legend the Estonian folk hero Kalevipoeg’s father Kalev is said to have been buried. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is Tallinn’s largest and grandest orthodox cupola cathedral. It is dedicated to Saint Alexander Nevsky who in 1242 won the Battle of the Ice on Lake Peipus, in the territorial waters of present-day Estonia. The late Russian patriarch, Alexis II, started his priestly ministry in the church.
The cathedral was built during the period of late 19th century Russification and was so disliked by many Estonians as a symbol of oppression that the Estonian authorities scheduled the cathedral for demolition in 1924, but the decision was never implemented due to lack of funds and the building’s massive construction. As the USSR was officially non-religious, many churches including this cathedral were left to decline. The church has been meticulously restored since Estonia regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Tallinn TV Tower
The Tallinn Television Tower is the tallest building in Tallinn and Estonia. The TV Tower is a great tourist, culture, and leisure centre. Total height of TV Tower is 1,030 feet (314 meters. The Tallinn Television Tower’s construction began in September 1975 and took five years to complete. The official opening of TV tower was on July 11, 1980. Tourist can get a panoramic view of the city from 175 meters up after taking a 49-second elevator ride. Before heading up, visitors are shown a 3D film about the tower, and there’s also an interactive Estonian Hall of Fame exhibition on the greatest achievements of Estonians through the ages and a fascinating overview of the history of the tower itself. The observation floor even has glass panels on floor so that visitors can see down to the ground.
Daring visitors can participate in the tower’s Walk on the Edge feature, in which participants can walk on the outdoor ledge of the viewing platform while safely attached to a harness. Main Attractions: – Panoramic view from 170 metres; – Open outdoor terrace on the 21st floor; – View of the ground through the glass floor of the platform; – an adrenaline-filled walk on the edge; – Cinema hall; – Attractions for children; – A mini TV studio; – A gift shop.