Brief History Of Tallin

Tallinn region was settled on the shores of the Gulf of Finland by the Finno-Ugric people already about 3500 years ago. By the 10th century ancient Tallinn was known as a port and market place among Scandinavian and Russian merchants.

To protect the port a wooden fortress was built on the limestone cliff.

In 1154 Arabian cartographer al - Idrisi marked Tallinn on his world map. In 13th century the Knights of the Sword from Germany expanded to the eastern part of theBaltic Sea. Estonia became christianised and part of the European culture and economic life.

The main attractions are in the two old towns (Lower Town and Toompea) which are both easily explored on foot. Eastern districts around Pirita and Kadriorg are also worth visiting and the Estonian Open Air Museum (Eesti Vabaõhumuuseum) near Rocca al Mare, west of the city,preserves aspects of Estonian rural culture and architecture.

the Toompea (Domberg) or "Cathedral Hill", which was the seat of the central authority,first the ruling bishops, then the Teutonic Order, then the Baltic German nobility; it is today the seat of the Estonian government and many embassies and residencies.

the Old Town, which is the old Hanseatic town, the "city of the citizens" - this was not administratively united with the Hill until the late 19th century. It was the center of the medieval trade on which it grew prosperous.

the Estonian town forms a crescent to the south of the Old Town, where the Estonians came to settle. It was not until the mid-19th century that ethnic Estonians replaced the local Baltic Germans as the majority amongst the residents of Tallinn.

Historically, the city has been attacked, sacked, razed and pillaged on numerous occasions.Although extensively bombed by Soviet air forces during the latter stages of World War II, much of the medieval Old Town still retains its charm. The Tallinn Old Town became a UNESCOWorld Cultural Heritage site in 1997. See also :

Eurovision Song Contest 2002 Legends of Tallinn Tallinn TV Tower