Estonia, Tallinn and the
University
E
stonia is situated in north-eastern Europe on the coast of the Baltic Sea. It is bordered to the east and southeast by Russia and to the south by Latvia. The northernmost of the three Baltic States, Estonia is a country offering visitors the chance to see a country that is both ex-Soviet Union and now proudly European Union. Remains from the Middle Ages, beautiful natural parks, unspoiled beaches and many islands just off the coast – these are just some of the attractions that Estonia has to offer. Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is a historic city dating back to medieval times and was first mentioned in 1154. On the very first encounter Tallinn emerges as a place of lights, colours, shadows and reflections, living in an almost magical Middle Ages dimension. The jewel of the crown is its medieval city centre, otherwise known as the Old Town. At the historical heart of the city is the hill of Toompea, covered in cobbled streets and filled with houses from the Middle Ages flanking ancient alleyways. The Old Town is in magnificent condition, with the ancient city walls and towers almost complete – visitors can still stroll through the streets of the Old
Town, wandering past the same churches, squares, towers, and rows of peak-roofed houses as their predecessors did centuries ago. In the centre of the old city centre is located a modern university – Tallinn University, a public institution of higher education. Its main strengths lie in the fields of humanities and social sciences, but it also has a strong and constantly growing component of natural and exact sciences, as well as a notable tradition of teacher training and educational research. The University’s Summer School has achieved a notable reputation and has become the academic highlight of the Estonian summer.
7