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TOOMPEA CASTLE

Tallinn, Estonia

Toompea Castle, Tallinn, Estonia

Toompea Hill dominates the beautiful city of Tallinn and has been a stronghold since at least the 9th Century!

As ever, myths surrounding the creation of the Hill in the otherwise flat landscape of Estonia are worth mentioning. It is said that Linda, mother-in-law of Kalev (the founder of Estonia) built the hill boulder-by-boulder (for reasons which are not very clear). Tallinn was once known as Lyndanisse (‘The Nipple of Linda’) in Estonian. Less romantically, the Hill as a natural strongpoint was occupied in prehistoric times and is certainly the site of the first occupation around Tallinn.

History remains murky until 1219 when the Danish under Valdemar II arrived in Estonia and took the Castle. One of the great legends of Denmark actually occurred here in Estonia, when the very first flag of Denmark fell from the sky during the Battle of Lyndanisse. This flag is the oldest flag in continuous use, as the Danes are keen to tell you. The Danish rebuilt the Castle and it became known as the ‘Castle of the Danes’ – in Estonia ‘Taanilinnus’ which is thought to be the origin of the name Tallinn, although the city has been known as Reval for most of its existence.

In 1227 work began to rebuild the Castle under the aegis of the Brethren of the Sword. The Castle they built is the basis of the structure which we see today, although many of the towers were not added until later. In 1237 the Danish were back in control and they stayed until 1346 when Castle, City and half of Estonia was sold to the Teutonic Order.

The Teutonic Order were responsible for adding the famous towers of the Castle, including 312 foot tall ‘Tall Herman’ on which the Estonian flag is flown every day. By the time they lost power in the 16th Century Livonian Wars Toompea Castle was much as we see it today – as long as you view it from below the hill!

If you climb the hill it is almost impossible to see anything Castle-like about Toompea Castle.

In 1561 northern Estonia became a Swedish dominion. The Swedes were the first to start to change the Castle from a fortress to a palace. It became the seat of their administration in Estonia and it has, more or less, fulfilled a similar function since.

In 1710 it was the turn of the Russians to take control and Estonia was absorbed into Peter the Great’s Russian Empire. At this time the Castle was turned into a Baroque and Neoclassical building – similar to the ones being built in St. Petersburg – and it is this building that today houses Estonia’s Parliament and dominates the hilltop view of the Castle.

Estonia declared independence in 1918 but it was short-lived. After World War II the Soviets arrived and Tallinn became a closed city. Finally, with independence in 1991 Toompea Hill returned to its place as the heart of the City and the Estonian nation.

Back to Castles of Estonia

Back to Castles of Estonia


© Text copyright - Raving Loony Productions and Andrew J. Müller
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. and Jacqui Müller
© Web Design and Layout - Andrew J. Müller
2019


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