Where is Toompea

Asks esme

A. Toompea is the hill upon and around which the Estonian capital of Tallinn is centred. The settlement on the hill, which grew into Tallinn, was where the Danes first settled in 1219 and built their fortifications - and is today the site of Toompea Castle. Toompea Castle is now home to the Riigikogu, Estonia's parliament.

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Toomkirik or St Mary's Church can also be found on Toompea, it is was originally a wooden church, then a stone cathedral built in 1240 by the Danes. Today's building is the result of a complete rebuild in 1684.

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Toompea is a German name, which means Cathedral Hill, which is fitting, as it is the site of the Alexander Nevksy Cathedral, a huge onion domed church built for the Russian Orthodox congregation at the beginning of the 19th Century.

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According to Estonian legend Toompea houses the grave of Kalev, the mythical ancestor of all Estonians.

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Q. Where does the name Tallinn come from

A. The word Tallinn originates from taani linnus, which literally translates as Danish Fort, a reminder of the fact that the Danes founded the city at the beginning of the 13th Century. Since then it has been known as Reval, its German name given during German rule.

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Q. What is Tallinn like to visit

A. It is full of old world charm as much of its old town has many remnants from the 14th and 15th Centuries still standing, especially its city walls with its turrets and spires. Alongside this much of the city is incredibly modern and Tallinn ranks alongside Riga (in Latvia) and Vilnius (in Lithuania) as one of the best places to visit in the Balkans.

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Q. What does it have to offer, in terms of sightseeing, the tourist

A. There is a load to see and do in Tallinn; some of the best sights include the following:

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The Old Town: any visit here should start in the old town; it is surrounded by the old city walls and full of narrow cobbled streets and some great 14th and 15th Century buildings.

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Raekoja Plats (Town Hall Square): is found in the heart of the old town and dates back to the early 13th Century. It is still cobbled and was once the main market square in Tallinn. The Town Hall itself dates back to 1404 and is home to Vana Thomas, a weather vane in the shape of a medieval trader that has become the symbol of the city and is featured on many postcards.

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Raevangla (City Gaol): is one of the city's most impressive older buildings and today is home to the Town Hall Museum (it is found behind the Town Hall).

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Maarjam�e Palace: dates back to the late 1860s and is home the Estonian History Museum today (it has another branch in the city centre within the buildings of the Great Guild).

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Kiek-in-de-K�k is a large cannon tower that has nine of the Russian Tsar Ivan IV's cannon balls embedded in its walls. It also houses a Fortification Museum.

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Merchants Houses: the city is full of medieval merchants houses one of the best can be found at Pikk 71, known locally as the Three Sisters.

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Church of the Holy Ghost: is one of the oldest and most impressive churches in the city and dates back to the 14th Century. It has a spire, limestone walls and is famed for its altar that depicts the Descent of the Holy Ghost by Bernt Notke.

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Kadriorg Park: is about five kilometres from the centre of the old town, so easy to reach on foot. It is home to the Kadriorg Palace, which the Russian Tsar Peter the Great had built for his wife Catherine (the word Kadriorg means Catherine's Valley in Estonian). Today the Palace is home to the Estonian Art Museum. On the outskirts of the park you can visit Peter the Great House Museum, where the Tsar stayed when in Tallinn as he awaited the building and completion of the Palace.

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Song Bowl: is a huge amphitheatre, which you might well visit during your trip here, as it's the venue for Estonia's famous Song Festivals and many concerts throughout the year.

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Open Air Museum: houses older village buildings - from the 18th Century - transported here from all around the country. Its caf� - the Kolu K�rts Caf� - is well known by the guidebooks as it serves traditional bean soup and beer and is a great favourite with tourists.

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Q. What is the population of Estonia

A. It is approximately 1.5 million; around 450,000 of inhabitants live in and around Tallinn.

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Q. What is the official language

A. Estonian, although Russian is widely spoken and understood.

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By Karen Anderson