Estonia is best known for its mysterious medieval capital Tallinn, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe. Tallinn is located in Northern Europe in the northeastern part of the Baltic Sea region. The geographical location of the city, between the highly technologically advanced Scandinavian countries and northwestern Russia with its noteworthy natural resources, is attractive for investors from neighbouring areas and from farther afield.
Visitors are enchanted by the narrow winding streets, cobbled pavement and towering ramparts. Opera and concerts, art exhibitions and antique shops, fine museums and well-stocked shops add the final touch to what the inquisitive traveller might expect from a city as varied as Tallinn. In 1997, the old town of Tallinn was included into UNESCO World Heritage List. With its medieval churches, Town Hall (1404), guild houses and numerous dwelling houses, Tallinn has retained 15th century looks. The St.Olav’s Church, located on Lai Street, was approximately for 500 years the tallest building in Europe. (But may-be also World’s tallest building!)
In Tallinn, there is situated the residence of the Government, the Parliament and the President and numerous foreign embassies and consulates. Tallinn is home to about 410,000 people, amounting to 28% of the Estonian population and 32% of those of working age. Nine out of ten Tallinners live in apartments and a tenth live in private houses. This situation is a result of the massive construction of large apartment building complexes during the Soviet era. However, in recent years, nearly half of all residential construction has been in building smaller homes. New residential sections are developing on the outskirts of Tallinn.
Nearly a quarter of Tallinn's area is covered of greenery, one half of which is forest. The majority of parks are in the city centre, in the bastion zone surrounding the Old Town and in Kadrioru. Kadrioru Park, built in the early 18th century by Peter I and extended to the sea in the first half of the 20th century, is a favourite place for Tallinners to spend their free time and organize cultural events. Places such as the green areas bordering the Old Town, Nomme residential district, Pirita together with the Tallinn Botanical Gardens, containing nearly 7,500 plant species and genera, and many other naturally beautiful spots are ideally suited for taking walks. Other enjoyable areas for walking include Tallinn Zoo in Veskimetsa, which has about 300 different species represented by around 3,000 individual animals and birds and the Estonian National Open-Air Museum in Rocca-al-Mare.
Tallinn has something for everyone in the way of choices for spending free time. The delight of discovering Tallinn is shared by art enthusiasts, night owls, gourmet eaters, nature lovers, sports fans and others.
The Old Town Days, which take place every year in the first week of June, is considered the highlight of the year. The streets of the Old Town fill with merchants selling wares, eating and drinking, song and dance, open-air performances and general merriment. Tallinn has various high-quality concerts throughout the year, from medieval music to the avant-garde and all styles between the two. Every five years, the national song and dance festival returns to the Song Grounds, started off with a grand parade. The tradition of song festivals has played an important part in the preservation of Estonian identity from the mid-19th century through today.
Tallinn has plenty of health centres, tennis courts, squash courts and swimming pools. In the immediate surroundings of the city, one can go horseback riding and rent mountain bikes, and Niitvalja golf course is located at a half-hour's drive from the city centre. The seaside district of Pirita offers many relaxation and sports opportunities. Three public beaches with clean seawater and sandy shores are located in Tallinn. In the surrounding areas, however, there are many more, and most Tallinners do not consider a twenty-minute drive to be too much for getting to the beautiful nature outside the city. Popular sports events that have become traditional include the Ulemiste Lake Run, Tallinn Marathon, and the women's May Run. Sports fans can spectate and cheer at international sports events such as the traditional Kalev motor race, "Tallinn Sword" competition of one stage of the World Cup in fencing, and the Erki Nool Reval Cup men's septathlon, in which top sportsmen from all over the world participate.
The sandy beach of the Baltic Sea and the white nights are inseparable part of Tallinn.
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