Revel

Tallinn
Data
County	Harju
Area	158 km²
Population	400,000 (12.08.2004)
Population Density	XXX per square km
Altitude	44 m above sea level
Location	59° 26' North 24° 46' East
Postal Code	15080 (City Centre)
City Council	Vana-Viru 12 15080 Tallinn
Homepage	http://www.tallinn.ee
E-mail	[mailto:infopunkt@tallinnlv.ee infopunkt@tallinnlv.ee]
Politics
Mayor
Map of Estonia
Tallinn in Estonia

The city of Tallinn is the capital city and main seaport of Estonia. It is located on Estonia's north coast to the Baltic Sea, 80 kilometres south of Helsinki.

Name "Tallinn"

Tallinn is known to some by its former name Reval. Other historical names are Koluvan, Lindanise, Lindanisa (Lindanäs), Revalia, Revel and Reveln.

The origin of the name is relatively unclear. It may have been derived from Estonian "Taani-linn" (meaning "Danish town") or from "talu linn" (meaning "farming town").

History

Historically, the city has been attacked, sacked, razed and pillaged on numerous occasions. It was the centre of the medieval salt-trade on which it grew rich and prosperous.

In addition to the native Estonian language (which is of the Finno-Ugric group, closely related to the Finnish language), both Russian and English are widely understood.

Although extensively bombed during the latter stages of World War II, much of the mediaeval old town still retains its charm. Tallinn Old Town became a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1997 .

At the end of the 15th century the tower The Saint Olaf's Church got a new gothic tower which was 159 meters high. This was very unique at this time - it was then without question one of the highest towers in Europe and most likely the highest building in the world. The tower is now (after rebuilding because of fire) 123 meters high.

Education

Tallinn is the location of Tallinn University of Technology, as well as of several other institutions of higher education and science, including:

• Tallinn Pedagogical University
• Estonian Academy of Music
• Estonian Academy of Art
• Estonian Academy of State Defence
• Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Institute of Theology

Sports

During the 1980 Summer Olympics, regatta was held in Tallinn. Many buildings like the Town Hall, Olympic Hotel, Post Office and regatta center were built for the olympics.

Population

The population is about 400,400 (2000), registered 387 224 (2003).

Population development: 1816: 12,000
1834: 15,300
1851: 24,000
1881: 45,900
1897: 58,800
1925: 119,800
2000: 440,000

Transport

Airplane & car

Tallinn is served by an airport approximately 4 kilometres outside the city. There are train connections to Riga and to Moscow, Russia, Saint Petersburg, Russia. Tallinn is crossed by Via Baltica motorway to Poland.

Ferry

Several ferries connect Tallinn to

• Helsinki (Finland)
• Stockholm (Sweden)
• Ahvenanmaa (Finland)
• Saint Petersburg (Russia)
• Rostock (Germany)

See Ports of the Baltic Sea

Other

There is a recently initiated hourly helicopter service, vaunted as being the "fastest capital to capital link in the world". At 189 Euros one way it certainly is not the cheapest, although more modestly priced advance bookings for less than 50 Euros are available.

Tallinn is a major shopping center for Finns, who travel across the Gulf of Finland by high speed ferry. Owing to the extremely high consumption taxes in Finland, prices can be substantially lower than in Helsinki, inducing many Finnish shoppers to make single day trips, especially for health goods not covered by the Finnish social services (such as eyeglasses).

For the tourist

Shopping

For the tourist (such as might arrive on a cruise boat), the main shopping attraction are the numerous shops carrying high quality knit goods. Prices will vary, with stalls just inside the city wall offering the best prices, with better selection of higher quality goods available in the small shops around town.

Dining

For dining in the old walled town there is a medeval alehouse that serves boar, elk and bear under authentic conditions - the only artificial light is candlelight.

Sites

A walking trip through old town past the City Hall and several churches will take you to the seat of Estonian government, high atop Tallinn's central hill. Around the hill are views of the modern urban area.