It's me at the city's fortification. It's possible to follow the city wall around the city, and you'll see many beautiful old buildings on the way. Following the wall will also give you a great tour of the old city and take you near many sights.

The Viru Gates were built in the 14th century, but the towers that now remain are only part of what was originally here. The Viru Gates are in the eastern section of the city wall. The main tower of the gates was originally built in the years 1345-1355.

Standing on top of the city wall, you have a great view of the two towers that were the old entrance to the city. By the 16th century, Tallinn's defense system was one of the most powerful in Northern Europe. The city wall was three meters thick, sixteen meters high, and four kilometers long, completely encircling the city with 46 defense towers. The portion of the wall that has survived is two kilometers long, encompassing 26 of the original towers.

If you look at the top picture, you can see that under the wall (the part where the picture is taken from) there are many booths selling... yes, you guessed it, flowers and tourist souvenirs.

St. Catherine's Passage is a landmark combining master craftsmen's workshops with a medieval atmosphere. You can see the remaining portions of St. Catherine's Church in the northern part of the passage. Residential buildings from the 15th to the 17th centuries stand along the sides of the southern section of the passage.

Diving into the old cellars, you'll find many open studios of artisans. Visitors can watch artists and craftsmen practice their craft daily. The old stone carvings on the wall were once part of the floor in the Dominican Monastery, which was founded in 1246.

Neitsitorn was used in the Middle Ages as a prison for prostitutes. The "Virgin Tower" was built in the second half of the 14th century, together with the city wall. It has suffered many attacks throughout its history and has been rebuilt several times. Today, it is used as a cafe with a grand view over the Old Town and downtown area.

Neitsitorn is the tall grey building you can see in the background. The white dots in the picture are the first snow of the winter.

Alexander Nevski Cathedral is Tallinn's largest and grandest cupola cathedral. The large, richly decorated Orthodox church, in mixed historicist style, was built on Toompea Hill in 1900, when Estonia was part of the Russian tsarist empire. The architect of the church was Mikhail Preobrazhenski from St. Petersburg.

The church is dedicated to the Prince of Novgorod, Alexander Yaroslavitch Nevski, who led the famous Ice Battle on the banks of Lake Peipsi on April 5, 1242, and halted the Germans' eastward advance. Before the building of the cathedral, there was a garden on the same site, in front of Toompea Castle, with a memorial to Martin Luther.

The well-maintained cathedral is the grandest sacred Orthodox structure in Tallinn. The church's bell towers hold Tallinn's most powerful church bell ensemble, consisting of 11 bells, including the largest in Tallinn, weighing 15 tonnes. You can hear the entire bell ensemble playing before church services. The interior, decorated with mosaics and icons, is well worth a visit.

Not everything in this beautiful city is old, glamorous, and fascinating. Outside the old city you'll find many not-so-old factory buildings ready to be demolished. Hopefully, EU membership will result in a better economy and growing industrial production. (2002)