Estonia: Old Town Tallin – My Travel Notions

We spent Sunday and Monday in Tallinn, Estonia (after leaving Helsinki by ferry again but this time, it was less than a three hour ferry ride and it was perfect). Plus, I was feeling back to my old self with even a bit more pep in my step.

We arrived in Tallinn’s Old Town with time for a lengthy orientation walk and dinner at the medieval restaurant, Olde Hansa. Old Town is spectacular, and even though the restaurant felt like a medieval experience, I guess I’m just not a connoisseur of 700-year-old recipes, but the atmosphere was worth it.

I found Tallinn’s Old Town, considered as one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to be enchanting and spent my free day on Monday, while pretty much most of the museums were closed, just meandering through the Old Town.

Tallinn’s Old Town is a wonderful feast for the medieval soul. It is blanketed in cobblestone streets and structures built during the 13th–16th centuries.

With its steep red roofs, spires, pastel-colored buildings, restaurants and bars, Estonia’s capital is a real treat to explore. Seeing the vibrant streets of Tallinn now, it’s difficult to fathom that Soviet occupation only ended in 1991. I would highly recommend this little corner of the world.

Let me show you why.

Here I am, on the public bus heading back to the ferry station in Helsinki. This time, I’m with my new Intrepid Travel group and new leader. Plus, this ferry ride, thankgoodness, was under three hours. (July 31, 2022)

It was a cool and cloudy morning on the Viking line ferry from Helsinki to Tallin but I sat outside and got some writing done. (July 31, 2022)

Views of the Tallinn, Estonia, port from the deck of our Viking ferry as we approach Tallinn. (July 31, 2022)

The crowd of people including members of my tour group disembarking at the Tallinn, Estonia, port from the Viking ferry. Although Covid is still an issue, people are both traveling and not wearing masks. (July 31, 2022)

The Viking ferry boat we sailed on from Helsinki to Tallinn. (July 31, 2022)

Me at the Town Hall Square in Old Town Tallinn. After getting quickly settled into our hotel at the Rija Old Town Hotel before heading out for our orientation walk. The Square has been the marketplace center of the Old Town since the Middle Ages. As a square, it plays an important role today as well. Tallinn has managed to preserve its Old Town medieval structures and keep intact its 13th century city plan including its bordering medieval Walls of Tallinn. (July 31, 2022)

The Town Hall Square in Old Town Tallinn, Estonia. (July 31, 2022)

The Town Hall Square in Old Town Tallinn, Estonia. In the corner to the left, in the Town Hall Square is Europe’s oldest continuously-operating pharmacy, open since 1422. (July 31, 2022)

The Town Hall Square and Town Hall with its tower in the Old Town of Tallinn in Estonia. There has been a Town Hall in Tallinn since at least 1322 and a town square next to it ever since. (July 31, 2022)

Walking up the staircase alleyway from the lower town to the upper town also called Toompea in Tallinn. These two towns were once separated by gates, almost like two different cities. Toompea is part of the Tallinn Old Town UNESCO World Heritage Site. (July 31, 2022)

Entering the upper town also called Toompea in Tallinn. Toompea is part of the Tallinn Old Town UNESCO World Heritage Site. (July 31, 2022)

The monk sculptures standing in the King of Denmark Garden in the upper town area called Toompea, basically a limestone hill in central Tallinn. The park’s name derives from the Danish reign, which lasted in Tallinn and northern Estonia for over a hundred years mainly during the 13th century. (July 31, 2022)

The monk sculptures standing in the King of Denmark Garden in the upper town area called Toompea, basically a limestone hill in central Tallinn. (July 31, 2022)

The King of Denmark Garden in the upper town area called Toompea, basically a limestone hill in central Tallinn. (July 31, 2022)

My Baltic Explorer group on the Sara, Nina, Rhonda, Laura, Garry, me, Gundega (our Intrepid Travel leader/guide) and Fred. We are facing the Danish King’s Garden, in the upper town, with the currently being renovated St. Nicholas Church behind us. (July 31, 2022)

The Tower behind the Monks in the Danish King’s Garden is located in the Old Town and is part of the medieval defensive structures of Tallinn. (July 31, 2022)

Walking through the cobblestone Old Town of Tallin, Estonia, considered as one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (July 31, 2022)

We stopped at this Beer House in Tallinn, and that’s the official name of the place, for a typical Estonian snack of Garlic black bread. (July 31, 2022)

We stopped at this Beer House in Tallinn, and that’s the official name of the place, for a typical Estonian snack of Garlic black bread. It was definitly garlicy and I loved them. (July 31, 2022)

My afternoon delight, to go with the Garlic black bread at the Beer House in Tallinn, was this apple cider. I’ve discovered cider during this trip and I would rather drink it instead of beer especially when the weather has been rather warm as it was today. (July 31, 2022)

Signs in support of Ukraine along the street in the Old Town of Tallinn. (July 31, 2022)

The onion-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn is Estonia’s main Russian Orthodox cathedral. Built in 1900, when Estonia was part of the tsarist Russian empire, intended as a symbol of the empire’s dominance. The cathedral was disliked by many Estonians as a symbol of oppression and at one time Estonian authorities scheduled the cathedral for demolition but that has obviously not taken place. (July 31, 2022)

Inside the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn, Estonia’s main Russian Orthodox cathedral built in 1900. (July 31, 2022)

The Olde Hansa Gild restaurant in the heart of the Old Town of Tallinn where several of us from our tour group stopped for an early dinner. (July 31, 2022)

The Olde Hansa Gild restaurant in the heart of the Old Town of Tallinn where several of us from our tour group stopped for an early dinner. This wagon, by the restaurant, was selling souvenirs. (July 31, 2022)

Our group dinner at the Olde Hansa restaurant in the heart of the Old Town of Tallinn. Olde Hansa is a medieval experience restaurant
with a menu of dishes cooked according to 700-year-old recipes. I was definitely not a fan of the food, but the atmosphere was wonderful. From left, Fred, Brenda, Sara, me, Nina, Laura and our leader/guide, Gundega. (July 31, 2022)

Me at the Great Coastal Gate, the main seaward gate of the Walls of Tallinn, the medieval defensive walls constructed around the city of Tallinn in Estonia. This gate was the main route for traffic between the port and the market-square. Above the gateway (and my head) stands an impressive dolomite carving bearing Tallinn’s coast of arms from 1529. (July 31, 2022)

Me at the Great Coastal Gate, the main seaward gate of the Walls of Tallinn and part of the medieval defensive walls constructed around the city of Tallinn in Estonia. (July 31, 2022)

The Great Coastal Gate, the main seaward gate of the Walls of Tallinn and part of the medieval defensive walls constructed around the city of Tallinn in Estonia. (July 31, 2022)

The other side of the Great Coastal Gate, the main seaward gate of the Walls of Tallinn. It now houses the Estonian Maritime Museum but was once part of the medieval defensive walls constructed around the city of Tallinn in Estonia. (July 31, 2022)

The Walls of Tallinn are the medieval defensive walls constructed around the city of Tallinn. This is Helleman’s Tower and was built in the beginning of the 15th century but has been restored several times. (July 31, 2022)

The Walls of Tallinn are the medieval defensive walls constructed around the city of Tallinn in Estonia. This is Helleman’s Tower and was built in the beginning of the 15th century but has been restored several times. (July 31, 2022)

Viru Street, with its many shops and restaurants, is a busy pedestrian street and a picturesque entryway into the Old Town of Tallinn while showcasing a pair of towers, part of the Viru Gate, built in the 14th century. Most of the gate was pulled down in the 1880s to make room for traffic, but these two towers remained and have since become a symbol of the town. (July 31, 2022)

On my free day in Tallinn, I took my time and just explored several places in the Old Town I wanted to see. And, that included, Freedom Square, a couple of churches and just a chance to wander.

Walked to Freedom Square, a plaza through Old Town in Tallinn stopping along the way, there and back to the Rija Old Town Hotel on my off day. The plaza is where state functions and various concerts take place. The Cross of Liberty and the Monument to the War of Independence is an important symbol of freedom in the square. The campaign was the struggle of the newly established democratic nation of Estonia for independence in the aftermath of World War I. (Aug. 1, 2022)

The Mayer’s staircase provides one of the connections from the Freedom Square to the Cross of Liberty and the Monument to the War of Independence with the decorated cast-iron vases along the staircase. (Aug. 1, 2022)

The decorated cast-iron vases along the Mayer’s staircase which provides one of the connections from the Freedom Square to the Cross of Liberty and the Monument to the War of Independence. (Aug. 1, 2022)

A close-up of the Cross of Liberty and the Monument to the War of Independence is located in Tallinn’s Freedom Square. The memorial, which opened June 23, 2009, is in honor for those who fell during the Estonian War of Independence. In the aftermath of Word War I, Estonians fought to establish a democratic nation. The campaign was the struggle of the newly established democratic nation of Estonia for independence in the aftermath of World War I. The memorial incorporates the Cross of Liberty, Estonia’s most distinguished award established in 1919. (Aug. 1, 2022)

St. Olaf’s Church or St. Olav’s Church in the Old Town of Tallinn is dedicated to King Olaf II of Norway, also known as Saint Olaf, 995-1030. The first known written records, referring to the church, dates back to 1267. However, the church was extensively rebuilt during the 14th century. (Aug. 1, 2022)

The beautiful wood-carved door entryway to St. Olaf’s Church in Tallinn’s Old Town. (Aug. 1, 2022)

Inside St. Olaf’s Church in Tallinn’s Old Town. (Aug. 1, 2022)

The ceiling Inside St. Olaf’s Church in Tallinn’s Old Town. (Aug. 1, 2022)

The Great Guild, for merchants and artisans, operated in Tallinn from at least the 1300’s to around 1920. It was based in the Great Guild Hall (to the right), a Gothic building in the Old Town of Tallinn and was erected in 1407-1410 and is considered as a typical example of medieval Tallinn architecture. Today, it houses the Estonian History Museum. (Aug. 1, 2022)

Walking through the passageway of the Great Guild Hall’s “The Path of History” in Tallinn’s Old Town where important dates and events covering some 11,000 years of Estonian history are etched on the pavement so looking down is important. Obviously not every historical event is depicted but the highlights feature the end of the Ice Age into the future with the Republic of Estonia celebrating its 500th Anniversary in 2418. (Aug. 1, 2022)

A close-up of some of the important dates and events covering some 11,000 years of Estonian history etched onto the pavement of the Great Guild Hall’s passageway called “The Path of History” in Tallinn’s Old Town. These dates reference Old Town Tallinn listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997 and Estonia joining the European Union in 2004. (Aug. 1, 2022)

The Holy Spirit Church is a medieval Lutheran church in the Old Town of Tallinn. Building of the church probably started sometime during the first half of the 1300’s with a written mention for the first time in 1319 and completed as a two-aisle Gothic church in 1360. In medieval times, it was the main sanctuary for commoners. (Aug. 1, 2022)

Inside the Holy Spirit Church is a medieval Lutheran church in the Old Town of Tallinn. Building of the church probably started sometime during the first half of the 1300’s with a written mention for the first time in 1319 and completed as a two-aisle Gothic church in 1360. (Aug. 1, 2022)

A close-up of the altar inside the medieval Lutheran, Holy Spirit Church in the Old Town of Tallinn. (Aug. 1, 2022)

Inside the Holy Spirit Church is a medieval Lutheran church in the Old Town of Tallinn. (Aug. 1, 2022)

Stained glass inside the Holy Spirit Church is a medieval Lutheran church in the Old Town of Tallinn. (Aug. 1, 2022)

The pulpit, built in 1597, inside the medieval Lutheran, Holy Spirit Church in the Old Town of Tallinn. (Aug. 1, 2022)

A close-up of the top or crown of the pulpit, built in 1597, inside the medieval Lutheran, Holy Spirit Church in the Old Town of Tallinn. (Aug. 1, 2022)

A close-up of the carvings on the lower or staircase of the exterior pulpit, built in 1597, inside the medieval Lutheran, Holy Spirit Church in the Old Town of Tallinn. (Aug. 1, 2022)

A lot of renovation work is being done in Old Town Tallinn, Estonia. (Aug. 1, 2022)

Our hotel, the Rija Old Town Hotel at the edge of Tallinn’s Old Town. Built into the original city wall, the hotel combines medieval architecture with modern amenities and offers a restaurant. (July 31, 2022)

The Rija Old Town Hotel’s restaurant, the Kachka, in Tallinn, Estonia. After a full day of walking around the Old Town, on my last day in Estonia, I spent my afternoon relaxing at the restaurant. (Aug. 1, 2022)

Me getting some writing and researching in at the Rija Old Town Hotel’s restaurant, the Kachka, in Tallinn, Estonia. After a full day of walking around the Old Town, on my last day in Estonia, I spent my afternoon relaxing at the restaurant. (Aug. 1, 2022)

For an afternoon snack, at the Rija Old Town Hotel’s restaurant in Tallinn, Estonia, while I was getting some writing and researching done, I ordered the restaurant’s version of the Garlic black bread. (Aug. 1, 2022)

A little more of the medieval defensive Walls of Tallinn in Estonia. These walls were just a short walk from where we were staying at the Rija Old Town Hotel. (Aug. 1, 2022)

We are on the move, again. I have so enjoyed getting to know the Tallinn Old Town. Saying good-bye to Tallinn and hello to Riga, Latvia.