Tallinn (all images)

Located along the northern Baltic sea coast, Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and with 440000 inhabitants its largest city. While the area of Tallinn has been settled since 3000 BC, the city of Tallinn was founded in 1248 by the Danes. It was initially known as Reval. In 1285 Tallinn became a member city of the Hanseatic league. In 1561 it passed under Swedish rule and in 1710 under Russian rule. The historic core of Tallinn is very well preserved, thanks to extensive restoration efforts started in the past and still ongoing today. Tallinn is a popular tourist destination and receives many visitors who come with ferries and cruise ships.