Kiek in de Kök Museum and Bastion Tunnels, Tallinn

The Kiek in de Kök Museum and Bastion Tunnels provides insight into how the city was defended over centuries. At its center stands the Kiek in de Kök tower, built in 1475 as part of the medieval city walls. Its name, derived from Low German and meaning “peek into the kitchen,” refers to the view soldiers reportedly had into nearby homes from its elevated position.

The tower was designed for artillery defense, rising about 38 meters high with walls up to four meters thick, built to withstand cannon fire. Evidence of this military past can still be seen today, including cannonballs embedded in the stone from 16th-century attacks. In the 17th century, the tower was modified with additional gun ports as warfare evolved, before gradually falling out of active military use by the 18th century.

As Tallinn’s defenses expanded, bastions were added in the 17th century to strengthen the city against new military technologies. Beneath these earthwork structures, a network of tunnels was constructed, dating mainly from the 17th to 18th centuries. Originally used for troop movement, storage, and strategic positioning, these tunnels later took on additional roles, including use during the 20th century.

Today, the tower functions as a museum dedicated to Tallinn’s fortification system, with exhibitions covering the development of the city’s walls, towers, and daily life in earlier periods. From here, visitors can descend into the bastion tunnels, where dimly lit corridors and stone passageways create a distinct underground atmosphere.