Tallinn

Tallinn - July 2009

We arrived with the masses via cruise ship, decided against a guided tour and just strolled around by ourselves. Tallinn - capital of Estonia - is a largish city of about half a million but the only part really worthy of having a look at during a short visit is the old medieval part of town clustered around the port.

During the 13th and right up to the 16th century Tallinn was a member of the Hanseatic League because of its strategic position as a port town on the trading route between Russia and Western Europe. The traders must have made a lot of money during this period and most of them seem to have flaunted their wealth by spending it on imposing private and public buildings as well as churches.

It is a pleasant place. It reminded me of Bruge.