Home to individual monuments like Russalka as well as a collection of cultural experiences in Kadriorg Park, there are sights of all types to take in across Tallinn, Estonia. However, Old Town Tallinn contains an especially unique collection of modern monuments that are spread across the best-preserved medieval city in Northern Europe.
This preservation is mostly due to its intact 13th-century city plan. Original cobblestone streets are dotted with medieval churches and grandiose merchant houses, many of which date back to the Middle Ages. However, the modern monuments it also contains are notable for reasons that go beyond their history.
Freedom Square is a plaza on the southern end of the Old Town that contains the Cross of Liberty and the Monument to the War of Independence. It was opened on June 23rd, 2009 as a memorial for those who fell during the Estonian War of Independence. It incorporates the Cross of Liberty, Estonia’s most distinguished award that was first established in 1919.
Located in the center of Tallinn, Tammsaare Park contains a statue of A. H. Tammsaare that was erected in 1978 to mark the Estonian author’s 100th birthday. The park has modern lighting, furniture, thousands of flower bulbs and various pieces of public art.
The “Broken Line” monument was created in memory of the 852 people who lost their lives in the passenger ferry catastrophe on September 28th, 1994. While 137 people were rescued, 757 of those 852 were never found.
As an example of how the most common items can create a sense of identity for a city or region, the concrete pigeons that were originally used as street barriers have taken on a life of their own. The barriers have elicited strong reactions from both residents and visitors.
These are just a few of the obscure and outstanding modern monuments that are spread across Old Town Tallinn. These pieces and places attract audiences of all types that can also take in the many historic buildings and churches in Old Town. This variety of sights and experiences has helped both residents and tourists engage with the area in different but equally powerful ways to impact the identity of the entire country of Estonia.
