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Toompea Hill & Castle

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EsslingerBrian
EsslingerBrian
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Editor Pick

Toompea Hill & Castle

  • April 9, 2008
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Koentje3000 from Hamme, Belgium
Toompea Hill & Castle

Toompea Hill is a limestone hill in the centre of Tallinn, located in the western part of the old town and towering about 30m above it. During the first millennium AD there were probably a few small Estonian farming and fishing communities within the borders of present-day Tallinn. To protect these villages a wooden castle (Lindanisse) was constructed around 1000AD on top of the hill. Some 200 years later Catholic crusaders, sent by the king of Denmark and with support of the Pope, arrived on a mission to christianize the pagan locals. The Danish took control over the Tallinn area in the 13th century. They constructed a new stone fortress and the first Estonian cathedral on the hill. From then onwards the town was known as the Danish fortress (Estonian: Taani Linn, later Tallinn) and the hill as Toompea (after Toomkirik, the Estonian word for cathedral). The hill evolved as the residence for the political powers, while below the town became a great commercial port, especially when it joined the trading organisation of the Hanseatic League. After the Danish rule, several other Northern European powers passed by on Toompea, including the German Catholics of the Teutonic Order, the Swedish kings and the Russian Tsars, all leaving their traces on the hill. Heavily damaged during WWII and largely overlooked by the Stalin administration under Soviet rule, Toompea was only beginning to be restored by the 1950s under the de-Stalinization politics of his successor Khrushchev. Economic mismanagement and rampant corruption in the USSR however slowed construction fundings and it was only after Estonia's 1990 independence that a full restoration spree spread in the country, resulting in the magnificent Toompea that you get today.

Toompea is a short walk west from Tallinn's central Town Hall Square (Raekoja Plats). About 200m west is the first of the medieval towers around it, the 14th century Long Leg Gate Tower, named after the small pedestrian Long Leg street (Pikk Jalg) that winds its way up to Cathedral Hill between Tallinn's old town walls. The street ends near the Short Leg Gate tower at Castle Square (Lossi Plats), the main square of Toompea. The buildings on the square are all reminiscent of Tallinn's great history and it used to be site of the original wooden fortress. The foundations of the Toompea Castle, now housing the Estonian parliament, were laid by the Danish in the 13th century and some of its walls were used a century later for the construction of the massive fortress for the German Teutonic forces in Tallinn. The defensive walls and a few of its grand watchtowers can still be seen around the square these days. The most famous of these towers, the enormous Kiek in de Kök (literally "Peek into the Kitchen", a name used jokingly by the German tower keepers), is only a few steps away. Evidence of the Russian presence in Tallinn is given by the pink 18th century baroque palace, constructed by Empress Catherine the Great, and the beautiful but controversial orthodox Alexander Nevsky cathedral, built during the intense 19th century Russification program of one of Catherine's successors, Alexander III. Last but not least, the neo-classical Stenbock House inside the castle's courtyard was constructed during Estonia's first period of independence (1920-1940) and now is the seat of Government. A bird's eye view on the hill can be seen here. From Castle Square a small detour can be made southwards towards another Estonian monument, a small statue of Linda, the wife of Estonia's national hero Kalev. A little west from here starts the nice Toompark, offering great views on Toompea and its castle.
50m north of Castle Square lies the structure that gave Toompea its name, the Lutheran cathedral Toomkirik. The present whitewashed church building dates from the 16th century, but its rather sober exterior is made good largely by its 18th century baroque interior, adorned with several medieval coats of arms and lush marble ornaments. Next to the church is the fine Estonian Art Museum, set in the remarkable green Knighthood House. From here a few passages run northeast along the beautifully restored homes of Tallinn's former elite and ancient nobility to end at the top of Toompea's medieval walls in a few viewing platforms that offer excellent views over the old town, the new town and the harbour.

From journal The Pearl in the Baltic Crown

Editor Pick

Toompea Hill & Castle

  • April 12, 2007
  • Rated 4 of 5 by EsslingerBrian from Sydney, Australia
Toompea Hill & Castle

Where else in the world can you visit a location where you feel transported back to the medieval period of the 14th century? Tallinn's Toompea Hill affords just that with its iconic buildings and quaint streets and walkways.

Rising above the western part of Tallinn, Toompea Hill is easily seen from any place within Tallinn City. The onion domes of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the daunting stone façade and tower of Toompea Castle soar above the rest of Tallinn, making it easy to wander your way to, and through, the cobblestoned streets of Toompea.

Quite possibly the most recognisable building in Toompea is the Russian orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Built at the turn of the 19th century, whilst under Russian rule, the cathedral received a lot of heat in the mid-1900s because it was a symbol of the Russian occupation. The inside is adorned with numerous mosaics and paintings, though be sure to be dressed modestly when entering. The cathedral is open daily from 8am to 7pm.

Located across the Lossiplaats from the Cathedral is the Toompea Castle, which was built in the 12th century by the local population but, in subsequent years, was taken over by the Danish. Today, behind the pinkish façade, is the Parliament of Estonia (Riigikogu), which has met there since 1922. Tours of the castle are available on weekdays between 10am and 4pm. The Castle Gardens are located directly to the south of the castle, and are an ideal place to take a rest break whilst still reveling in the grandeur of Toompea Hill.

Right near the intersection of Toom-Rüütli and Kohtu streets, there is an open courtyard that is a perfect vantage point for looking out over much of Tallinn. If you ever see the amazing pictures of Tallinn encompassing much of the Old Town, it is most likely from this lookout point that they were taken. Because of this, it's hardly off the beaten track, and you'll be accompanied by dozens of other tourists racing to get an open spot along the wall to get your snapshots of the city. Since there are often many tourists at this location, merchants have discovered the wealth they can receive by setting up a stand. Most are selling slightly overpriced "antique" souvenirs, and we were also approached by a man trying to sell us historical coins, some of which were from the Soviet era, and others which were hundreds of years old. Now, I don't know my historic coins too well, but I don't think that a 400 year old coin would only sell for around 2 Euro. They looked legitimate, but the price surely didn't sound it. Other, licenced, shops are located around the area, where the prices seemed to be slightly higher than one would find in the Old Town.

Toompea Hill is a place where you can just wander the streets and alleys, and be marveled by what you stumble accross. It's a safe area, but stay assertive as you would in any other city.

From journal Traversing Tallinn

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