Page 79 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

T ALLINN 77

Imposing façade of the Estonian National Opera
houses the Estonian National Rotermann, a 19th-century 4 Energy Centre
Opera and its ballet company industrialist, and was a major Tehnika-ja teaduskeskus
in one wing and the Estonian industrial hub before most of Põhja pst 29. Tel 620 9020. @ 3.
National Symphony Orchestra its factories and warehouses fell v 1, 2. Open 10am–7pm Mon–Fri,
in another, while the Winter into disuse and disrepair during 11am–7pm Sat & Sun. & 8 ^
Garden is regularly used to host the Soviet era. In 2007 the ∑ energiakeskus.ee
state functions. district underwent a
The Estonian major redevelopment. Situated in a former power
National Opera was Several buildings station, the Energy Centre is an
completed in 1913, with brave enormous museum that forms
through public architectural part of the Tallinn Science and
donations, and was designs were Technology Centre. It has
intended to serve as constructed to numerous interactive exhibits
an impres sive house boutique which are used to demonstrate
showcase for Estonian shops, offices the rudiments of science.
culture that would Charles Abraham and restaurants. The centre is charmingly
overshadow similar Rotermann The impressive old-fashioned and relies on
German and Russian limestone building the joy of learning through
institutions in Tallinn. In recent of the Salt Storage Warehouse, entertainment, rather than the
years, the opera company has located nearby, is home to slick presentation and hi-tech
gained an outstanding inter- the Museum of Estonian gadgetry used by most modern
national reputation and its Architecture. It was once used science institutes. There is an
cutting-edge productions can as the city’s salt warehouse, and especially enjoyable array of
be seen for a fraction of the price today, it houses a range of hands-on exhibits downstairs.
visitors would pay in most architecture-related exhibits, The centre also hosts various
European capitals. spread out over its vast three- other more serious science-
floor interior. related exhibitions and seminars.
3 Rotermanni
Quarter and Salt
Storage Warehouse
Eesti arhitektuurimuuseum
Ahtri 2. Tel 625 7007. @ all buses
to Viru Bus Terminal. v 1, 2, 3, 4.
Museum of Estonian Architecture:
Tel 625 7007. Open 11am–6pm
Wed–Sun. & 8 7 ^ =
∑ arhitektuurimuuseum.ee
The Rotermanni Quarter is
situated east of Mere Avenue
on the fringes of Tallinn’s port
area and within comfortable
walking distance of the Old
Town. The district is named
after Charles Abraham Salt Storage Warehouse, home to the Museum of Estonian Architecture
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp296–7 and pp314–16