Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
• Across the street is the...
Toompea Castle (Toompea Loss):
The pink palace is an 18th-century Russian ad-
dition onto the medieval Toompea Castle. Today, it's the Estonian Parliament (Riigigoku)
building, flying the Estonian flag—the flag of both the first (1918-1940) and second
(1991-present) Estonian republics. Notice the Estonian seal: three lions for three great
battles in Estonian history, and oak leaves for strength and stubbornness. Ancient pagan
Estonians, who believed spirits lived in oak trees, would walk through forests of oak to
toughen up. (To this day, Estonian cemeteries are in forests. Keeping some of their pagan
sensibilities, they believe the spirits of the departed live on in the trees.)
• Facing the palace, go left through the gate into the park to see the...
Tall Hermann Tower (Pikk Hermann):
This tallest tower of the castle wall is a
powerful symbol here. For 50 years, while Estonian flags were hidden in cellars, the Soviet
flag flew from Tall Hermann. As the USSR was unraveling, Estonians proudly and defi-
antly replaced the red Soviet flag here with their own black, white, and blue flag.
• Backtrack and go uphill, passing the Russian church on your right. Climb Toom-Kooli
street to the...
