The Walls of Tallinn are the medieval defensive walls constructed around the city of
Tallinn
Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju ' ...
in
Estonia
Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...
.
History
The first wall around Tallinn was ordered to be constructed by
Margaret Sambiria
Margaret Sambiria (in Danish: ''Margrethe Sambiria'', ''Sambirsdatter'' or ''Margrethe Sprænghest''; c. 1230 – December 1282) was Queen of Denmark by marriage to King Christopher I, and regent during the minority of her son, King Eric V fro ...
in 1265 resulting in its name, the 'Margaret Wall.' This wall was less than tall and about thick at its base.
[Andriy Ksenofontov]
= Wall Street ...
Estonian Times, 15 August 2002 Since that time it has been enlarged and strengthened. The walls and the many gates are still largely extant today. This is one of the reasons that Tallinn's old town became a
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
. The walls were enlarged in the fourteenth century, and citizens of Tallinn were required to turn out for guard duty, which meant to wear their armour and demonstrate their readiness to face invaders.
Objects in the city wall
, -
, Great Coastal Gate
(''Suur Rannavärav'') , ,
![Tallinn old town gate](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Tallinn_old_town_gate.jpg)
, , , , Pikk 70 , ,
, -
,
Fat Margaret
Fat Margaret (, ) is a tower in Tallinn, Estonia. Nowadays, the tower is home to Estonian Maritime Museum.
The tower was built in the early 16th century (from 1511 to 1530) during the reconstruction of the medieval city gate system. The etymology ...
(''Paks Margareeta'') , ,
![Fat Margrets Cannon Tower](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/Fat_Margrets_Cannon_Tower.jpg)
, , , , Pikk 70 , ,
, -
, Stolting Tower
(''Stoltingi torn'') , ,
![Stoltingi torn 2013](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Stoltingi_torn_2013.jpg)
, , , , Pikk 68 , ,
, -
, Tower behind Hattorpe
(''Hattorpe-tagune torn'') , ,
![Hattorpe-tagune torn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Hattorpe-tagune_torn.JPG)
, , , , Pikk 62 , ,
, -
, tower near the former Russian church, , , , destroyed , , Sulevimägi , ,
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, Small Coastal Gate
(''Väike Rannavärav'') , , , , destroyed , , , ,
, -
, Bremen Tower
(''Bremeni torn'') , ,
![Bremeni torn 20081212 by Ahsoous](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Bremeni_torn_20081212_by_Ahsoous.jpg)
, , , , Vene 28 , ,
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, Bremen Passage
(''Bremeni käik'') , ,
![Bremeni käik](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Bremeni_k%C3%A4ik.JPG)
, , 19th century , , Bremeni käik , ,
, -
, Tower behind Monks
(''Munkadetagune torn'') , ,
![Munkadetagune torn 2011-05-21](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Munkadetagune_torn_2011-05-21.JPG)
, , , , Müürivahe 58 , ,
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, Helleman Tower
(''Hellemani torn'') , ,
![Calle Uus, Tallin, Estonia, 2012-08-05, DD 07](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Calle_Uus%2C_Tallin%2C_Estonia%2C_2012-08-05%2C_DD_07.jpg)
, , , , Müürivahe 48 , ,
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, Viru Gate
(''Viru värav'') , ,
![Viru Gate 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Viru_Gate_1.jpg)
, , , , Viru , ,
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, Hinke Tower
(''Hinke torn'') , ,
![Tallinn, vez](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Tallinn%2C_vez.jpg)
, , , , Pärnu mnt 2 / Müürivahe 32 , ,
, -
, Düvelsmoder Tower / Devil's Mother's Tower
(''Düvelsmoderi torn'' / ''Kuradiema torn'') , ,
![C Buddeus Kuradiema torn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/C_Buddeus_Kuradiema_torn.jpg)
, , demolished in 1882 , , Väike-Karja/Müürivahe , ,
, -
, Lurenburg Artillery Tower
(''Lurenburgi suurtükitorn'') , , , , Built 1538–1554, demolished in 1767 during the expansion of the bastion systems. , , Pärnu mnt 7 , ,
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, Cattle Gate
(''Karjavärav'') , , , , Built 1456, demolished in 1849 to widen the streets. Was used to transport cattle between the city and pastures. , , , ,
, -
, Assauwe Tower
(''Assauwe torn'') , , , , , , Müürivahe 12 , ,
, -
, Harju Gate
(''Harju värav'') , ,
The main gate after the demolition of the front gates. , , Mentioned in 1361, 1448–1453 the second front gate was built. In 1862 the front gates were demolished and in 1875 the main gate. , , Harju , ,
, -
, Goat Tower
(''Kitsetorn'') , , , , , , Rüütli , ,
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,
Kiek in de Kök , ,
![Kiek in de kök 3015](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Kiek_in_de_k%C3%B6k_3015.jpg)
, , , , Komandandi tee 2 , ,
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, Maiden's Tower
(''Neitsitorn'') , ,
![Neitsitorn, Tallinn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Neitsitorn%2C_Tallinn.JPG)
, , , , Lossi plats 11 / Lühike jalg 9A , ,
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, Stable Tower
(''Tallitorn'') , ,
![OldCity GuardTowerPark](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/OldCity_GuardTowerPark.JPG)
, , , , Lossi plats 11 / Lühike jalg 9A , , ,
, -
, breakthrough from Toompea to Danish King's Garden , ,
![Värav linnamüüris Taani kuninga aeda](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/V%C3%A4rav_linnam%C3%BC%C3%BCris_Taani_kuninga_aeda.JPG)
, , , , Lühike jalg , ,
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, Short Leg Gate Tower
(''Lühikese jala väravatorn'') , ,
![Lühikese Jala väravatorn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/L%C3%BChikese_Jala_v%C3%A4ravatorn.JPG)
, , , , Lühike jalg 9 , ,
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, Dome Gate
(''Toomvärav'') , ,
![C Buddeus Toomvärav](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/C_Buddeus_Toomv%C3%A4rav.jpg)
, , demolished in 1860. , , , ,
Notes
{{Tallinn landmarks
Buildings and structures in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju ' ...
1265 establishments in Europe
History of Tallinn
Lists of buildings and structures in Estonia
Tallinn-related lists
Buildings and structures completed in the 13th century
Gothic architecture in Estonia
Tourist attractions in Tallinn