After a really long day traveling from Riga to Tallinn we had a little bit of free time to explore on our way to dinner. Tallinn has more of its medieval fortifications intact than any other city in Europe and it is enchanting, like something out of a fairy tale! The next morning we visited the Song Festival Grounds.
A Song Festival began in Estonia in 1869 when it was a part of the Russian empire as a way to keep folk traditions alive. A festival has been held every five years ever since. In 1988 people gathered at the Song Festival Grounds to sing forbidden patriotic hymns. This became known as the Singing Revolution which eventually led to the overthrow of Soviet rule. Many concerts are held here today; Madonna performed in 2009.
Then we took a walking tour of the Old Town. Here are some of the highlights.
Toompea Castle is an ancient stronghold that has existed since the 9th century. It has been controlled by Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Russia. Today it houses the Estonian Parliament.
In the 18th century Catherine the Great had a Baroque palace added to the castle complex.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
St. Mary's Church (L) and St. Nicholas' Church (R)
Town Square. We had a cheap thrill while standing in the middle of the square because a squadron of NATO F-16s flew overhead. They were quite low and extremely loud. Given the tensions in the area, I was a bit disconcerted. Our guide told us that there were usually two NATO planes patrolling the airspace but that number has increased significantly since the Ukrainian crisis.
Gothic Town Hall building
Estonia was a part of the Hanseatic League, a guild of German, Scandinavian, and Baltic countries who joined together for trade during the Middle Ages. There are many guild buildings throughout the Old Town.
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