Tallinn town wall towers walk

The Tallinn town wall towers walk follows the best-preserved stretch of the medieval fortifications in the Old Town of Tallinn, Estonia, between Viru Gate and Hellemann Tower. The route is free and can be done at any hour, since it runs along public streets. A good starting point is the Viru Gate, the twin-towered entrance at the end of Viru street, from which visitors follow Müürivahe street along the inside face of the wall. Along the way they pass a series of towers, including the Nunne (Nun's) Tower, the Sauna Tower and the Kuldjala Tower, each with its own shape, from round cannon towers to square gate towers. The limestone wall, its crenellated walkways and conical red-tile tower roofs are the most photographed medieval defensive architecture in northern Europe. Part of Müürivahe street is lined with stalls where local knitters sell woollen sweaters, hats and mittens, which makes the walk a useful shopping stop, and small park areas outside the wall give a view of the full height of the stonework. Some towers are open as cafes, galleries or museums in season, and opening varies, so interiors should be treated as optional. The full walk takes about 30 to 60 minutes at a leisurely pace, and the wall is best photographed from the green strip outside it, where the towers are seen in sequence against the sky. Crowds are heavy near Viru Gate in the morning and midday, but thin out towards Hellemann Tower, and the quietest time is early morning or evening. Winter days with low sun give strong light on the pale limestone.