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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

Toompea castle

The tower Pikk Hermann is a symbol of Tallinn and Estonia as well, because whoever had the power would hoist his flag up there. The word “pikk” means high and “Hermann” means master. The flag of the Republic of Estonia is blue-black-white. The colors symbolize: 1) blue for the sky 2) black for the soil and 3) white for clear thoughts of Estonians. Toompea or Dome Hill Castle has long been the centre of ruling. The castle itself was built already in the 13^th century. Nowadays Toompea castle is the residence of our Parliament, the Parliament of the Republic of Estonia (we call the Parliament “Riigikogu”). The Parliament is elected for 4 years and consists of 101 members. On the gable of the Toompea castle is the coat-of-arms of the Republic of Estonia – three lions and oak leaves. Oak is the national tree of Estonia. 

There’s an inner yard inside the castle. The façade was built in the 18^th century on the orders of Catherine II. In the 1920s the Estonian Parliament Building was established here and the inside is expressionist which makes the building unique in the whole world. 

Nevski cathedral is the main orthodox church in Tallinn. It was built in the end of the 19^th century and therefore is not very old. Its building here, facing the stronghold of Toompea (the centre of ruling) was probably more of a political statement by Imperial Russia. Before works began, there used to be a little garden with the statue of Martin Luther. Nevski cathedral is dedicated to Alexander Nevski, who in the 13^th century defeated the Christian invaders on lake Peipus. The cathedral has 11 bells all together and the biggest one Estonia, weighing about 15 tons. The eye-catching onion cupolas symbolize the sky and the stars. The church has valuable mosaics.

Dome Hill is said to be the burial place of Estonia’s national hero's father, Kalev. So according to the legend when the workers were still doing the preparation work before starting to build the cathedral, they came to a door with the words: „Cursed be whoever dares to disturb my peace!“ According to the legend, cracks appeared after that in the walls and workers feared that the building could collapse.

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