Kiek in de Kök Fortification Museum
The complex is made of a series of towers and walls that used to protect the city of Tallinn 500 years ago, when it was just on the top of a little hill. Highly influenced by Germans (probably from Teutonic knights I am guessing), the name it was given was Kiek in de Kök, because the main cannon tower could "Peek into the Kitchen" of houses nearby it (maybe other rooms too).Over centuries as Russia kept screwing with them, tunnels were also dug underneath. Things changed with the invention of technology, but it was still used many times for defense or shelter through various eras.
The Arrival
I walked from my hotel, the Hilton, located just outside the old city regions. About 1/2 mile I think it was, so not a bad walk. The last bits were steepish and my old vet knees are not what they used to be, so it took a bit of effort.Off the side of a steep street, the entrance to all the parts is there.
The Main Tower
As the namesake of the museum, the main tower is the primary focus and right in your face as you enter. A massive structure designed to shoot approaching troops and could even reach ships off the coast. It has survived world wars, communist neglect, and the attack of time itself.Walls and Other Towers
The walls continue to other towers for a decent distance. No longer completely encircling the town, but remaining in an imposing fashion in many areas of it. Roads of course have had to blow large holes in the system, and the cost of upkeep probably was a big factor too.The Tunnels
Underneath, we have the tunnels, a little younger than the walls. They have been used for access, transporting powder and shot, hiding, jails, military bunkers, fallout shelters, homeless opportunities, drug use, short term rented date location, and now museum.
The way in, off of Komandandi tee
The primary floor, ground level (well, now ground, previously 1st floor)
Down to the basement, not ADA compliant
A model of what the area was centuries ago
Up to the next level
Puzzles of the olden times magnetic on a metal framework
Hi tech of the time when the tower was built
The original stairs (you use other stairs now)
The kitchen, only used when the outside one was locked off from a battle
Here's where we get serious about defense, long reaching guns
The top fighting floor
Collections of guns from the years of use here
Lots of WW2 guns for some reason"
The attic, used for billeting soldiers back in the day
How one moves from window to window to shoot someone else
Maiden tower, with a 1700s museum
And one must have a coffee shop in the towers too
Estonian products and art at the last tower on this wall section"
Germans used this for years during WW2
Wild dance moves on that yellow sign
Used since people wore the pirate shirts
Designed for long stays and many people
Homeless hangout near one of the old exits
Anarchy in the 1990s!
Checkpoint, be it German or Soviet, didn't change much"
Germans being German
Air raid hangout in the 1940s
You could be jailed here in the 1700s, but the security was dependent on the coins in your pocket
When one must really go, open a hole. I have no idea where it exits
Old sculptures down here for climate and security
Anti nuclear biological and other attack air filtering
And more sculptures
Many hundreds of years of them (like 900 years?)
I dunno why this one sign is only for 10 years
Summary
Old, well maintained, wasn't heavily trafficked (it was rather chilly weather), a cool walk through time and military historical items. A really cool museum and quite enclosed tunnel system (not for the claustrophobic), that exits pretty far away.Of course there is a shop in the main entrance!