Page 74 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

72 EST ONIA REGION B Y REGION

Street-by-Street: Toompea
Set on Toompea Hill, some 50 m (164 ft) above sea level,
Toompea lies southwest of the Old Town. It dates back to the
13th century, when the Danes erected a stone castle on the site.
The hill has changed hands many times over the centuries, but
still remains enclosed in the impressive limestone fortifications
built during the Livonian Wars (1558–83). The eclectic com plex
of Toompea Castle now houses the Riigikogu, Estonia’s Locator Map
Parliament, in Castle Square. The centre of the square is See Street Finder Map pp86–7
dominated by the imposing Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Toompea Hill offers a spectacular view of the Old Town and
makes an ideal starting point for a tour of Tallinn.

Pikk Hermann Tower

T O O M  K O O L I

i. Toompea Castle
This hilltop castle compound comprises
several architectural styles, from
medieval stone towers to a vibrant
pink Baroque façade.
L O S S I P L A T S P I K K J A
P I I S K O

o . Alexander Nevsky Cathedral K O M A N D A N D I
Tallinn’s most grandiose Russian Orthodox T
cathedral was named after the war hero who E
victoriously led Russian soldiers into battle at Lake E
Peipsi in 1242.

Kiek-in-de-
Kök Museum
entrance

d. Kiek-in-de-Kök
The superbly preserved medieval
cannon tower now houses a large
museum on Tallinn’s history.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp296–7 and pp314–16