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Estonia's history

(by centuries)

13th - 16th

17th - 19th

20th

Tourist attractions

Defense towers & gates

Toompea castle & Nevski Cathedral

The Town Hall Square

The Dome church

The St Nicholas church

The Great Guild & The Brotherhood of the Blackheads & The Holy Spirit church

The Dominican monastery & The church of St Peter and Paul & St Catherine’s passage

Long Leg & Short Leg & City Defenses

St Olav's church

Nobles' houses

St Olav’s church
St Olavs church dates back to the 13^th century and around AD 1500 it used to be the tallest building in the world for some time. The then 159-meter high church is now only 123,7 meters high, because it has suffered lightning and fire for numerous times. According to the legend Estonians wanted to become famous and decided to build the highest church tower in the world. A master-builder agreed to do this but he demanded a lot of money. He also promised that if the town were to find out his name, he would do it for free. Somehow the town folk found out his name and just as he was placing the cross at the top of the tower, they shouted: “Olav, the cross is crooked!” The master-builder was so frightened that he lost his balance and fell down. According to the legend a frog and a snake crawled out his mouth, indicating that he had been working in collusion with the Devil.