Vanalinn

Vanalinn, meaning Old Town in Estonian, refers to the historic heart of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Located on the northern coast of the Baltic Sea, Vanalinn comprises Tallinn’s medieval core, including the lower town around the harbor and the elevated Toompea hill. The area is surrounded by medieval city walls and bastions that were built from the 13th to the 16th centuries and contain a dense concentration of Gothic and early modern architecture.

Vanalinn developed as a major Hanseatic town in the Middle Ages and retains a compact urban street plan with narrow lanes, courtyards, and stone houses. It houses numerous landmarks such as the Town Hall Square with the Town Hall, Toompea Castle, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and the medieval St. Nicholas Church (Niguliste), as well as guild halls along Pikk and Müürivahe streets. The Kiek in de Kök artillery tower and other fortifications survive as reminders of the town’s military and defensive past. The district remains the cultural and administrative center of Tallinn, with museums, churches, cafes, and shops concentrated in its historic core.

In 1997, Vanalinn was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Historic Centre of Tallinn, recognized for its well-preserved medieval urban ensemble and its role in northern European trade and architectural history. Today, the area is protected and preserved, maintaining its historic atmosphere while serving as a living city neighborhood with residents and visitors.