The capital of Estonia is located on the Bay of Tallinn; an inlet of the Gulf of Finland.
Tallinn is divided into three zones that quite clearly show its historical development: the upper town, with its 13th-14th century citadel, built on a steep hill; the lower walled town, built between 14th-16th century; and the newer district.
In 1219 Waldemar II of Denmark established a fortress on the site.
The town gained commercial importance by the turn of the century, and in 1346 was sold by Denmark to the Teutonic Knights.
Sweden acquired Tallinn 215 years later, and it was annexed by Russia in 1710.
The Russians used the city as a naval base for the Baltic fleet, but lost it for a while to the Germans during World War II.
Digital Tallinn:
Take a virtual tour of Tallinn through high-quality panoramic images.Tallinn:
The best preserved of the old Baltic cities.Tallinn Tips:
Ideas of what to see and do in Tallinn from the In Your Pocket guidebook series, as well as other useful information for travel to Estonia.
