Women of the Old Town

History has traditionally been written through the eyes of men — yet the role of women has often been far greater and more profound than it first appears. This Tallinn women’s tour brings those hidden stories to light.

Tallinn has throughout the ages been described as a virgin city, for no foreign conqueror has ever managed to take it by force or storm. Unlike many other European capitals that have been repeatedly bombed or destroyed, Tallinn’s medieval Old Town has miraculously remained largely intact. The city has changed hands over the centuries, but mostly through peaceful agreements and diplomacy.

Our Tallinn women’s tour begins on Toompea — a place that is not merely a rocky hill, but a site deeply rooted in Estonian mythology. In the national epic Kalevipoeg, Linda buries her husband, old Kalev, here, carrying stones in her apron to build his grave.

Estonia has been a land dedicated to the Virgin Mary (the Mother of God) since the Middle Ages. For this reason, at the very heart of Tallinn on Toompea stands the Tallinn Cathedral — the main church of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, as are many other churches across Estonia.

The Tallinn Old Town is also connected to some of the most celebrated women in world history. During the reign of Catherine II, the beautiful pink parliament building — known today as Toompea Castle — was completed. Several European queens have also left their mark on Tallinn, among them Denmark’s Margrethe II and Great Britain’s Elizabeth II.

Book your Tallinn women’s tour today and discover the women whose stories have shaped this city for centuries.

Tour starts: In front of the August 20th Memorial Stone 

Tour ends: Town Hall Square