Tallinn Old Towers and Gates (Self Guided), Tallinn

Once Europe's greatest fortified city, Tallinn had 46 defense towers and approximately 4 kilometers of surrounding walls. Today, there are 26 towers and about 2 kilometers of walls still in place, making the Old Town of Tallinn one of the best-preserved systems of medieval fortifications in Europe.

Upon entering the district through the Viru Gate, whose two picturesque, ivy-covered towers symbolize the city, one can't help thinking that the 21st century is left behind and we're back in the Middle Ages. The gate's German name Lehmpforte translates as “clay gate” and was due to the clay pits located nearby.

The three ancient towers still open to the public include Nunna (the Nun’s Tower – named after the Cistercian Order located to the north in St. Michael's Convent), Sauna (named after the sauna at St. Michael's), and Kuldjala Torn (the Golden Foot Tower).

Among the other towers worth checking out are:

Pikk Hermann (Tall Hermann) – enlarged under the Teutonic rule in the late 14th century; further lengthened by 10 meters in the 16th century.

Kiek in de Kök – the mightiest bastion in Tallinn, first built in 1475-1483. The name translates from Low German as a “peep (or peek) into the kitchen”.

Neitsitorn (Maiden Tower) – aka “Meg(h)ede torne” in Low German, presumably after a Tallinn citizen named Hinse Meghe.

Hellemann Tower – perhaps one of (if not the) most picturesque; was extensively used during the Soviet era as a shooting set for historical movies.

Next to the Hellemann is Munkadetagune Torn (the Tower behind the Monks) – named so for its location behind the former Dominican monastery of Catherine.

To explore these and other magnificent towers and historic gates of Old Tallinn in more detail, take this self-guided walking tour.