Photos

The Old Town of Tallinn is one of the best retained medieval European towns, with its web of winding cobblestone streets and properties, from the 11th to 15th centuries, preserved nearly in its entirety. All the most important state and church buildings from the Middle Ages have been preserved in their basic original form, as well as many citizens’ and merchants’ residences, along with barns and warehouses from the medieval period.

The golden era in Tallinn’s history lies in the period between the early 15th and mid 16th centuries. Tallinn had attained fame and a powerful role in the Baltic Sea area through its membership in the Hanseatic League. Economic might carried with it both the need to defend the city and the opportunity for a rich period of architectural and artistic creativity.

The unique value of Tallinn’s Old Town lies first and foremost in the well-preserved completeness of its medieval milieu and structure, which has been lost in most of the capitals of northern Europe. Since 1997, the Old Town of Tallinn has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
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The Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin (Toomkirk) in Tallinn is the main Lutheran church in Estonia and one of three functioning medieval churches.

The present appearance of the Cathedral is the result of much rebuilding. The original temporary wooden church is thought to have been built on Toompea Hill in 1219, and was first mentioned in 1233. The stone church was begun ten years later. The spire dates to the baroque period, and several chapels, from even later periods.

Notable items in the church's interior include numerous gravestones from the 13th to the 18th centuries and numerous nobles' shield epitaphs from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Among the famous people buried in the church are the well-known captain Pontus de la Gardie and his wife, Sophia Gyllenhelm, daughter of Swedish king Johann III; admiral Samuel Greigh, Catherine the Great's lover; and the Russian admiral Adam Johann von Krusenstern, who led the expedition around the world.

If you take three steps from the main entrance of the Cathedral toward the southern nave, you will find a large stone slab which reads, "Otto Johann Thuve, landlord of Edise, Vääna and Koonu Ehis grave, 1696 A.D." The Estonian Thuve was an especially merry and licentious sort, who adored raucous parties with wine, women and song. As he lay dying, however, he was overcome with a sudden sense of contrition. He asked to be buried at the threshold of the Cathedral so that the godfearing people, who kneel to pray upon entering the church, might eventually save his soul from his sinful ways.
(http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee/eng)

In WS the same cathedral from another POV.

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The weather during my short one day visit to Tallinn from Helsinki was not the most favourable. Winter had once again tried to tell us that spring is not yet here, neither in Helsinki, nor in Tallinn. Two days ago there was an all day snowing, which left the streets wet and slushy. The day was grey, so not ideal for photographing. Be the weather whatever, the Old Town of Tallinn is always charming.

Geocode: 59.436975, 24.740117
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PP: I underexposed on purpose, yet had to apply hightlights adjustment with shadow/highlight tool for the sky. Levels adjustment, cropping and sharpening.