The capital of and largest city in Estonia, Tallinn is a wonderfully vibrant mix of old and new. Its strategic coastal location helped to establish it as a trading hub for the medieval Hanseatic League, and ensured a regular flow of fresh cultural influences – Scandinavian, German, and Russian – that constantly mingled with and drew inspiration from both each other and Tallinn’s native Baltic heritage. Its legendary Old Town, a densely layered historic network of cobbled streets, majestic churches, and grandiose merchant houses dating from the 13th century, is one of the best preserved in Europe. |