Estonia's capital city of Tallinn exudes the ambience of mediaeval times, full of character, splendour and beautifully preserved.

Tsar Alexander The Third had the Russian Orthodox Alexander Newski Cathedral built as a symbol of Russian sovereignty in around 1900. It was a time when the Russian Empire began to integrate the Baltic Sea provinces into the Russian Empire. Also, still in the upper town on the Domberg and opposite the Cathedral, is the Parliament building.

Town Hall Square is typical of the old towns of the Middle Ages, a market place with a church framed by the Town Hall, Council Hall and numerous Gothic town house and with a pharmacy that’s open to the public and dates back to 1422.

Pikk Street leads past typical trading houses, such as the House Of The Black Heads’ Brotherhood as well as the magnificent Olai Guild building and the house of the Lord With The Monocle, including the Three Sisters, a particularly beautiful ensemble of Late Gothic storehouses.

In 1718, Tsar Peter The Great had the Katharínental Castle built in the middle of a huge park on the outskirts of the city. This baroque splendour was to be the summer residence for his wife Katharina and the whole tsar's family when they visited Tallinn.

Nikolai Church is situated in the lower town. It was built by German merchants in 1230 A.D. Today it is a museum with an exceptional collection of sacred mediaeval art.

The Estonian Open Air Museum is located in a park landscape of the Rocca Al Mare suburb, and exhibits more than a hundred traditional buildings from all over the country, including a school and the Kutsari Estate that comprises interiors with authentic furnishings.

Tallinn is a true gem of the Middle Ages, a fairy tale and atmospheric world of bygone times.