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Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn

Estonia
Date of Inscription: 1997
Criteria: (ii)(iv)
Core zone: 60 ha
Buffer zone: 370 ha
County of Harju
N59 25 59.988 E24 43 60
Ref: 822

Brief Description

The origins of Tallinn date back to the 13th century, when a castle was built there by the crusading knights of the Teutonic Order. It developed as a major centre of the Hanseatic League, and its wealth is demonstrated by the opulence of the public buildings (the churches in particular) and the domestic architecture of the merchants' houses, which have survived to a remarkable degree despite the ravages of fire and war in the intervening centuries.

Justification for Inscription

The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv), considering that Tallinn is an outstanding and exceptionally complete and well preserved example of a medieval northern European trading city that retains the salient features of this unique form of economic and social community to a remarkable degree.

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