City walls & towers, Tallinn County

During the reconstruction of the gate in the early 16th century, the cannon tower Fat Margaret was added. The round tower, with 155 loopholes, a diameter of 25 meters, and a height of about 20 meters, was built to protect the harbour. It got its name from the fact that it was indeed the stoutest tower in the city wall. Through history, the cannon tower has also served as a storehouse for gunpowder and weapons, and as a prison.

Maiden Tower was used in the Middle Ages as a prison for prostitutes. was built in the second half of the 14th century, together with the city wall. It has suffered under attacks many times through its history, and has been rebuilt several times. Today, it is used as a cafe with a grand view over the Old Town and downtown area.

During the reconstruction of the gate in the early 16th century, the cannon tower Fat Margaret was added. The round tower, with 155 loopholes, a diameter of 25 meters, and a height of about 20 meters, was built to protect the harbour. It got its name from the fact that it was indeed the stoutest tower in the city wall. Through history, the cannon tower has also served as a storehouse for gunpowder and weapons, and as a prison.

Fat Margaret's Tower now houses the Estonian Maritime Museum, with a permanent exhibit on Estonian maritime and fishing history. The viewing platform on the roof affords a lovely view onto the Old Town and the bay.

Open: Wed-Sun 10.00-18.00.
Closed on public holidays.

the pikk hermann (tall hermann) is the tallest defensive tower on the tallinn city wall. tall hermann is 48 meters tall. the tall hermann tower is located on toompea hill near the alexander nevsky cathedral.

the kiek in the kok (peek into the kitchen) tower is located on the side of toompea hill over looking lower tallinn. it gets it name from it's location over looking the town so tower guards could "peek" into the windows of the houses in lower tallinn. the kiek in the kok houses the tallinn medieval museum.

The great coast gate and the viru gates and street are all that is left of the six powerful medieval gates that once protected the city by regulating who had access to the city. The great coast gate which is really a collection of gates and towers was built in the 1300's. However the most famous and largest part of the gates Fat Margarets was not built until more than 200 years later. Fat Margarets was built between 1511 and 1530. This tower is a cannon tower with the best view actually of it is from outside the gate. The tower is 82 foot in diameter and has walls that are 17 foot thick which means this tower played a major part in the defence of Tallinn. The tower is now home to the Estonian Maritime Museum and it is open 10-6 wed - sunday. There are four floors all about Maritime history and visitor can go up to the roof were there is an amazing view over the city

The towering and outstandingly well preserved limestone walls that surround 80% of the old town are a real sight to behold.

You can walk the entire length (around the inside or outside but not actually ON the wall) in about an hour or so. Obviously, it can take much longer when you add in all the pauses to soak up the beauty of it all.

The fortifications include 29 red terracotta-topped towers, the tallest and strongest being the Kiek-in-de-Kok (or 'Peep-in-the-Kitchen') tower next to the Alexander Nevsky cathedral. Many quaint old buildings are actually set into the wall, making an impressive sight.

If you want to walk actually atop the wall, there is a section between the Nunne, Sauna and Kuldjala towers that is open to the public (entrance on Vaile-Kloostri). Open Mon-Fri 12 to 7pm and Sat-Sun 11 to 4pm.

The virtual walking tour on the Digital Tallinn website below gives a fairly good impression of what to expect but there is actually more wall to be seen in real life than what you see on the animation.

The towering and outstandingly well preserved limestone walls that surround 80% of the old town are a real sight to behold.

You can walk the entire length (around the inside or outside but not actually ON the wall) in about an hour or so. Obviously, it can take much longer when you add in all the pauses to soak up the beauty of it all.

The fortifications include 29 red terracotta-topped towers, the tallest and strongest being the Kiek-in-de-Kok (or 'Peep-in-the-Kitchen') tower next to the Alexander Nevsky cathedral. Many quaint old buildings are actually set into the wall, making an impressive sight.

If you want to walk actually atop the wall, there is a section between the Nunne, Sauna and Kuldjala towers that is open to the public (entrance on Vaile-Kloostri). Open Mon-Fri 12 to 7pm and Sat-Sun 11 to 4pm.

The virtual walking tour on the Digital Tallinn website below gives a fairly good impression of what to expect but there is actually more wall to be seen in real life than what you see on the animation.

Just a few Kroon to get in...but not much of it to walk along...

I read on the door:

In 1310 the ambassador Johannes Canne of Danish Kind Eric Menvedi proclaimed that "the town was open to the tyrant's conspiracies and it was disturbed by the frequent attacks by the Pagans". Active construction work began. In the 16th century the town wall was 3 km long and had 45 different towers.

So everybody has to take a picture of the city gates, which are very nice, but honestly there's loads of other things much more interesting to see in Tallinn. So why am I writing a tip you may ask? Right... Well here's my very blured picture anyway.