Tallinn - Upper Town or Toompea

The upper city of Tallinn, or Toompea is where the seat of power sat. Danes, Teutonic Order, and Russians all governed from here. It is now home to Estonian government buildings and embassies from around the world.

The translation of Toompea is Cathedral Hill and the below church is called the Toomkirik. It is Lutharian but Estonia is the least religious country in the EU, at 14% who said that religion is an important part of their lives.

 Inside the church are many dozen Germanic coats of arms from the time of the ruling Hansiatic league's occupation and rule. The church itself dates from the 13th century and rebult after a fire in the 17th century.

 Not to be outdone, Russia in 1900 had this Russian Orthodox cathedral built over the grave of Estonian folk hero Kalevipoeg and tore down a statue of Martin Luther to boot. The cathedral was nice inside but no pictures (Othodox church rules).

 This is a section of wall from the upper city looking at a building in the lower city.