The longest surviving sections of Tallinn’s medieval city walls run along the northeastern side of the Old Town. Featuring nine complete towers and three gates, the walls were largely constructed during the fourteenth century, then added to over the years until improvements in artillery rendered them obsolete during the eighteenth century. Citizens of medieval Tallinn were each obliged to do a stint of guard duty – one of the annual exercises required them all to gather on the walls in full armour and shake their weapons as a sign of military readiness.

Passing through any of the gates and crossing the park-like expanse of Tornide väljak on the other side, provides a wonderful view back towards the towers, which look like a series of squat crimson crayons.

The Nun’s Tower & the Epping Tower

Two of the towers along this stretch are open to visitors: the Nun’s Tower (Nunnetorn) on Gumnaasiumi provides access to a short section of the parapet and the empty, echoing halls of the nearby Sauna and Golden Foot towers; while the Epping Tower (Eppingi torn) on Laboratoriumi has an interactive display of arms, armour and fortification diagrams.