Summer is finally here and there is no better place to visit than Estonia. Rich in history and culture with stunning nature, Estonia has an abundance of attractions. The only question is where to start. Here are some of the best places to visit in Estonia.
The Estonian Song Festival is just a few weeks away — that rare and powerful event, held every five years, when typically reserved Estonians are transformed into a vibrant collective of emotion. There is no greater outward expression of Estonians' love for their homeland than this festival. It is a time of great celebration, unity, and a deep sense of belonging.
115 years ago today, on 9th June 1906, Voldemar Lender became the first Estonian mayor of Tallinn. Previously, the mayors of Tallinn had either been Baltic Germans or Russians. Voldemar Lender was an engineer by profession who served as mayor for seven years until 1913 when Jaan Poska succeeded him.
Voldemar Lender was known as the 'mayor who built a city'. His construction company built many one-and two-story wooden houses with symmetrical facades in Tallinn. These buildings were known as 'Lender houses' and were popular from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, many of them still standing today.
Lender's wife, Elfriede Lender (née Meikov), was a teacher who founded the first Estonian-speaking girls' school in Estonia. They had four children who also went on to lead successful careers.
Tapa train station opened in 1870 and is an important junction station connecting the Tallinn–Narva (west–east) and Tallinn–Tartu–Valga (north–south) railway lines. During the period of rapid industralisation in Estonia a small town soon emerged next to the existing village in Tapa. Tapa has been known as both a railway and a military town throughout its history.
The oldest book in the Estonian National Archives Library belongs to the collection of books of the Estonian knighthood. The volumes of the Old Livonian Knighthood consists of two books and relates to law and procedures. They were printed in 1537 and 1539 respectively in the printing house of Michael Lotter in Magdeburg, Germany.
On 4 June 1884, the blue, black, and white flag was consecrated in Otepää as the symbol of the Estonian Students’ Association. The flag was designed in Tartu and later became the official national flag of Estonia in 1918. The tri-colour "sinimustvalge" (blue-black-white) flag is very symbolic in nature. Blue represents the sky, black represents the soil of our homeland and white symbolises purity and hope.
The original EÜS fraternity flag was handmade and still exists today. It is now on permanent display at the Estonian National Museum (ERM). Estonia is one of the few countries in the world that still possesses its original physical national flag. Head Eesti lipu päeva!
