Description of the attraction
Old Tallinn consists of two parts: the Upper Town and the Lower Town. The upper one is located on the Toompea hill (from the Estonian Toompea - which means "cathedral hill"). These two adjacent settlements have lived different lives throughout their history. Foreign nobles and rulers settled in the upper city, and merchants, artisans, etc. in the lower city.
The first settlement on the territory of old Tallinn was a wooden fortification on Toompea Hill, which was founded around the 11th century. In 1219, the Danes, led by King Valdemar II, captured this fortification. From that moment, Vyshgorod became the location of foreign rulers. The Danes started building a stone fortress.
In 1346, the city passed into the hands of the Livonian Order, which began to actively modernize the castle. As a result of such reconstruction, the castle acquired a quadrangular shape, at the corners of which 4 towers were erected. The first tower, built in 1360-70, was a 48-meter structure called “Long Herman”. It acquired its modern look in the 15th century, when it was built on 10 meters. The next was the Stur den Kerl tower on the southeast side. It had the shape of an octagon, set on a square base. Simultaneously with this, a small Pilstike tower was built, erected in the north-western corner of the castle. In 1502, the Landskrone tower was built in the northeast, which today we can observe in a dilapidated state. On the western side, Toompea Castle was protected by a rocky cliff, and on the other sides it was surrounded by a 15-meter ditch.
From the beginning of the 16th century, the castle began to lose its defensive significance, and gradually became a representative building - a palace. From the middle of the 18th century, after a long desolation that began since the Great Northern War, restoration work began in the castle. By order of Catherine the Great, a late Baroque palace was built instead of the eastern wall, which became the residence of the Governor-General of Estonia. The moat was covered with stones left over from the destroyed wall. At the same time, the castle lost the Stur den Kerl tower.
The northern and western walls and three towers have survived to this day. However, if you look at the castle from the west, it will make an indelible impression: a huge structure hangs over a steep hill. This spectacle is captivating both day and night, when the lights are turned on.
Since 1918, the castle has been the seat of the government, and today the building is occupied by the Estonian Parliament - the Riigikogu (Estonian Riigikogu). The Estonian Parliament is the highest state authority and makes the most important decisions in the country, such as the appointment of the Prime Minister and the judges of the Supreme Court. Today the Estonian flag is flying on the 48-meter Long Hermann tower.
