World Heritage Photos

Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn: Tallinn is the capital city of Estonia. The history of Tallinn dates back to the 13th century. Tallinn was a Hanseatic City, situated on the banks of the Gulf of Finland. Many monuments from the past have been preserved in the historic centre. The town wall of Tallinn was built in the 13th and 14th centuries. Now, 1,9 km of the town wall is still standing, including 26 defensive towers and gate towers, the Kiek in de Kök is one of the towers, once the most powerful cannon tower in the 15th century Baltic States. The Great Coastal Gate and Fat Margaret's Tower were built to defend Tallinn from the seaward side. There are several medieval buildings within the town walls of Tallinn. Among them Tall Hermann, a tower of the Toompea Castle on Toompea Hill. The Tallinn Dome Church is also situated on Toompea Hill, it is the oldest church in Tallinn. The St. Olav's Church (Oleviste Kirik) was once the tallest building in the world. From 1941-1991, the Soviet KGB used the spire of the St. Olav's Church as a radio tower and surveillance point. The onion-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the main Russian Orthodox cathedral in Estonia. On August 1989, the Baltic Way was a human chain linking the three Baltic States in their drive for freedom. The Baltic Way, a 600 km long human chain from Tallinn to Vilnius, crossing Riga, was inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. The Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1997.

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   Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn: The town wall and cannon tower Kiek in de Kök (Peep into the Kitchen). The Kiek in de Kök was the most powerful cannon tower in the 15th century Baltic region. The Kiek in de Kök is one of the formerly 46 towers of the Tallinn town wall. Nowadays, 26 towers exist. The Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.

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   Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn: Fat Margaret's Tower was built in 1510 to defend Tallinn from the seaward side. The tower was also used as a storehouse for gunpowder and weapons. Today, the tower houses the Estonian Maritime Museum. The Great Coastal Gate is located near Fat Margaret's Tower. The Great Coastal Gate and the imposing Fat Margaret's Tower were built to defend Tallinn from the seaward side.

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   Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn: The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built in 1900 in front of the Toompea Castle. The onion-shaped dome is the most characteristic feature of Russian architecture. The onion-shape is similar to a candle flame which was believed to be the flame of faith reaching up to heaven. The candle flame also symbolizes the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is situated on Toompea Hill.

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   Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn: The imposing onion-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The interior of the cathedral is lavishly decorated with mosaics and icons. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the main Russian Orthodox church in Estonia. The five domes houses eleven bells, including the largest bell in Tallinn, they were cast in Saint Petersburg. The cathedral was built during the time when Estonia was part of the Russian Empire. Photography is prohibited inside.

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   Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn: The Parliament House of Estonia was built the 1920s, it is located in the courtyard of Toompea Castle, in front of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the pink coloured Parliament House was built on the foundations of the eastern wing of Toompea Castle. The castle is situated on Toompea Hill, it dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. On this site, a stronghold was already built in the 9th century.

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   Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn: Tall Hermann's Tower (Pikk Hermann) is a defensive tower at the southwestern corner of Toompea Castle on Toompea Hill. Tall Hermann was built in 1371. The tower was enlarged to 45 metres in the 16th century. The flag on the top of Tall Hermann is a symbol of the government in force. The national flag of Estonia, blue, black and white, on top of the tower is the symbol of the independence of Estonia.

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   Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn: The 14th century Viru Väravad (Viru Gate) and the slender Town Hall Tower in the background. The Viru Gate was the main entrance to Tallinn on the east side of the town, it was once part of a larger defence system. The Gothic Town Hall, the Raekoja, of Tallinn was built in 1401. The Town Hall Tower (Raekoja Torn) was built in 1627. It is possible to climb the tower, a spiral staircase leads to the belfry balcony, it offers nice views over Tallinn.

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   The medieval town wall of Tallinn was one of the biggest and strongest fortifications in Northern Europe. Nowadays, 26 towers still exist, the most important are the 15th century Kiek in de Kök (Peep into the Kitchen) and the 16th century Fat Margaret's Tower. The town wall of Tallinn with its impressive towers and gates is an important part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn.

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   Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn, Old Tallinn: The town wall of Tallinn was built in the 13th and 14th centuries. Nowadays, 1.9 km of the town wall is still standing, including 26 defensive towers and gate towers. The Great Coastal Gate was built in the same period as the town walls of Tallinn. The Great Coastal Gate was also built to impress visitors arriving by sea, and protect the city from seafaring invaders, the gate was first mentioned in written sources in 1384.

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    Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn: The tower of the Dome Church of Tallinn, the spire dates from the 18th century. The Dome Church, the Toomkirik, is situated on Toompea Hill. The 13th century church is also known as the Saint Mary's Cathedral, it is the oldest church in Tallinn. The cathedral was built in a mix of architectural styles, the vaulted nave dates from the 14th century. The Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1997.

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    Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn: The Tallinn Dome Church, St. Mary's cathedral. The Tallinn Dome Church was severely damaged in the great fire of 1684. In 1686, the church was restored. The altar, the chancel and chandeliers date from the 17th century. The 69 metres high Baroque bell tower was built in the 18th century. The church was originally built in the 13th century when the Danes invaded Tallinn.

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    Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn: Until 1625, the tower of the St. Olav's Church reached a height of 159 metres. The tower has been struck by lightning around ten times, three of which led to fires. After the immense fire of 1625, the tower was rebuilt and stands today 123 metres high. The steeple of the St. Olav's Church was used as a maritime signpost. The medieval church is dedicated to the Norwegian King Olaf II Haraldsson, the patron saint of Norway.

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    Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn: The St. Olav's Church was once the tallest building in the world. The tower was finished in the 16th century and reached a height of 159 metres. In 1625, the spire burned down after lightning strike, the Gothic tower was shortened and it is nowadays 123.7 metres high. From 1941 to 1991, the Soviet KGB used the spire of the St. Olav's Church as a surveillance point and radio tower. 

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    Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn: The organ in the St. Olav's Church, the Oleviste Kirik. The interior was rebuilt in 1830. The tower of the St. Olav's Church is considered one of the symbols of Tallinn. From April to October, it is possible to climb the staircase to the top of the tower, to reach the top you have to climb 258 steps, the observation platform offers amazing views over the historic centre (Old Town) of Tallinn, a UNESCO World Heritage.