11 - My experience in Tallinn
HOW TO GO THERE ?
First you have to go to Helsinki by bus or by train as you want and next you take a ferry which bring you directly to Tallinn. On the the big ship you spend 2 hours before to arrival there is quite very fast because you can do a lot of things in the boat.
There also I did a free walking tour, you just have to go to the tourism office and ask about it ans they will give you the different times.
ABOUT TALLINN
Tallinn, the dynamic capital of Estonia on the north coast, is also the main port on the Gulf of Finland, just a stone's throw from Helsinki. It is the historic centre, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and grouping the upper and lower town, which will attract your first steps in this city, between cobbled streets, ramparts, beautiful Hanseatic residences and aristocratic residences. Tallinn also boasts some remarkable museums, which will provide you with an insight into Estonian history and art.
ALEXANDER NEVSKY CATHEDRAL
I found this church absolutely magnificent, the kind of architecture that we are not used to seeing in France at all. This vast, richly decorated Orthodox church was built in 1900, when the city had been part of the Russian Empire since 1710. Inaugurated by Nicholas II himself, this monumental church, which has become one of the symbols of the city, bears the name of Alexander Nevsky, the Russian national hero who distinguished himself during the famous Battle of the Ice in 1242 and defeated the Swedes and the Teutonic Order, two powers that also dominated Tallinn in the past . At the time, it was mainly built as a symbol of both religious and political domination. Today it is the main cathedral of the Russian Orthodox community, which makes up almost 40% of the city, a legacy of the Soviet period when many Russians settled in Tallinn in the midst of industrial expansion. I felt the power of the building both outside when it stands out against the Tallinn skyline and inside its spacious nave.
The church tower contains the largest set of bells in Tallinn, the largest of which weighs 15 tons. They can be heard ringing before every church service. The interior, decorated with mosaics and icons, is beautiful. One of the monuments to see, especially if one has never had the opportunity to go to Russia!
TALLINN CITY HALL SQAURE
This square is the tourist heart of the old town. It is surrounded by beautiful old houses and many restaurants... At certain hours, it is "saturated" with tourists... it is the ransom of glory! You will necessarily pass through this place.
In the centre of the old town, the town hall square has existed since the 11th century, where the town's first markets were held. On the "Raekoja plats", there is a pharmacy dating from 1422, its current facade was rebuilt in the 17th century, and, at 4-6 of the square, the former city prison transformed into an art gallery.
TOOMPEA HILL
Tallinn is a small capital city and a visit to it is a must in this part of Toompea Hill. You will have to make a stop at the belvedere overlooking the city. It's nice and the access is free!
Like many places in Estonia, the "birth" of Toompea Hill has its own legend. Kalev, the founder of the city, is said to be buried there. When he died, his widow Linda, laid stones one after the other to cover his grave, until it formed this hill. The first written mention of Tallinn dates from 1154. In those ancient times, Tallinn was only a fortified citadel of the Estes tribe built on the Toompea hill. To reach the upper part of the old town, one has to start from Pikkjalg Street, which means "long leg". It is a point of view quite popular with painters and artists.
Right next door is the garden of the King of Denmark. According to an old legend, it was in the King's Garden of Denmark, located next to the hill of Toompea, that the Danes got their national flag. This is said to have happened on 15 July 1219, during a battle that the Danish army was losing. The flag appeared to them in the sky and from that moment on the battle took a different turn. Denmark's victory in this battle resulted in the occupation of Tallinn and all of Northern Estonia. Danish rule lasted for more than 100 years. This romantic garden, recently renovated, is the place where Daneborg Day is celebrated every summer. Today, the hill is best known for the magnificent views it offers over the city.
KADRIORG CASTLE
I went there but just in the garden because the entrance in the castel was not free and I didn't had enough time. Even if like me you didn't have the time to visit the inside of the palace, it is worth the detour because you will be able to see freely the garden which is beautiful. Nearby, you can see (from outside) the presidential palace.
About the castle, under Peter I, in 1718, the construction of the palace began, which was named Ekaterinenthal or Catherinenthal in honour of Catherine I. The architect of this park and palace, which was to serve as a summer residence, was the Italian Niccolo Michetti, who later participated in the construction of the famous Peterhof Palace. It is said that the Tsar himself laid the foundation stones of the palace. During the 1930s, Kadriorg Palace became the residence of the head of state.
Currently, the Baroque Kadriorg Palace houses the foreign art collections of the National Art Museum and also hosts concerts and theatre performances, readings and receptions.
First you have to go to Helsinki by bus or by train as you want and next you take a ferry which bring you directly to Tallinn. On the the big ship you spend 2 hours before to arrival there is quite very fast because you can do a lot of things in the boat.
There also I did a free walking tour, you just have to go to the tourism office and ask about it ans they will give you the different times.
ABOUT TALLINN
Tallinn, the dynamic capital of Estonia on the north coast, is also the main port on the Gulf of Finland, just a stone's throw from Helsinki. It is the historic centre, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and grouping the upper and lower town, which will attract your first steps in this city, between cobbled streets, ramparts, beautiful Hanseatic residences and aristocratic residences. Tallinn also boasts some remarkable museums, which will provide you with an insight into Estonian history and art.
ALEXANDER NEVSKY CATHEDRAL
The church tower contains the largest set of bells in Tallinn, the largest of which weighs 15 tons. They can be heard ringing before every church service. The interior, decorated with mosaics and icons, is beautiful. One of the monuments to see, especially if one has never had the opportunity to go to Russia!
TALLINN CITY HALL SQAURE
This square is the tourist heart of the old town. It is surrounded by beautiful old houses and many restaurants... At certain hours, it is "saturated" with tourists... it is the ransom of glory! You will necessarily pass through this place.In the centre of the old town, the town hall square has existed since the 11th century, where the town's first markets were held. On the "Raekoja plats", there is a pharmacy dating from 1422, its current facade was rebuilt in the 17th century, and, at 4-6 of the square, the former city prison transformed into an art gallery.
TOOMPEA HILL
Tallinn is a small capital city and a visit to it is a must in this part of Toompea Hill. You will have to make a stop at the belvedere overlooking the city. It's nice and the access is free!
Like many places in Estonia, the "birth" of Toompea Hill has its own legend. Kalev, the founder of the city, is said to be buried there. When he died, his widow Linda, laid stones one after the other to cover his grave, until it formed this hill. The first written mention of Tallinn dates from 1154. In those ancient times, Tallinn was only a fortified citadel of the Estes tribe built on the Toompea hill. To reach the upper part of the old town, one has to start from Pikkjalg Street, which means "long leg". It is a point of view quite popular with painters and artists.
KADRIORG CASTLE
I went there but just in the garden because the entrance in the castel was not free and I didn't had enough time. Even if like me you didn't have the time to visit the inside of the palace, it is worth the detour because you will be able to see freely the garden which is beautiful. Nearby, you can see (from outside) the presidential palace.
About the castle, under Peter I, in 1718, the construction of the palace began, which was named Ekaterinenthal or Catherinenthal in honour of Catherine I. The architect of this park and palace, which was to serve as a summer residence, was the Italian Niccolo Michetti, who later participated in the construction of the famous Peterhof Palace. It is said that the Tsar himself laid the foundation stones of the palace. During the 1930s, Kadriorg Palace became the residence of the head of state.
Currently, the Baroque Kadriorg Palace houses the foreign art collections of the National Art Museum and also hosts concerts and theatre performances, readings and receptions.
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