A morning in Tallinn

The tourists have arrived in force as the cruise ships are docking this morning. Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, German and many Americans. Question asked in Tourist Information; “ what can I see in the city in two hours? I have to be back on the ship.”

Hansa trading city

Tallinn has a fascinating history. The last pagan outpost in Europe until a crusade in the 12th century finally forced their conversion. It has been ruled by a variety of countries fringing the Baltic including Denmark, Sweden, Russia and has been fought o er numerous times as countries tried to establish their dominance of the Baltic. Despite this Tallinn wass a trading centre and part of the powerful Hanseatic League of merchant cities in the region. The league established real dominance in trade in the medieval period. Even London had a Hansa base at the Steelyard, their base for warehouses exporting and importing goods. the evidence of Tallinn’s trading history is seen all around the city in the medieval buildings with their hoists over upper story entrances where goods were stored.

Guild Hall

Medieval … behind the facade

Much of the medieval city seems to have been remodelled in the eighteenth century with old buildings having face lifts on the street facades but clues to what lies behind is often exposed.