British Ambassador to Estonia pens new book

Ross Allen is a career diplomat who has been the United Kingdom's Ambassador to Estonia since June 2021. Currently based in Tallinn, Allen is fluent in the Estonian language and has a deep appreciation for the Estonian way of life.  In his new book Ross Allen explores how Estonia has come to excel in so many fields, and what the rest of the world could learn from it. He offers insights from his diplomatic work, but also shares his embrace of local culture, from song festivals to smoke saunas. Having travelled across Estonia’s towns, villages, islands and bogs, his understanding of and enthusiasm for this relatively obscure country shine through.

Estonian Lessons: What the World Can Learn from a Brilliant Baltic State will be released by Hurst Publishers in May 2026. Pre-order is now available here.

Rare Estonian painting found at American auction

A portrait of Estonian writer and researcher Friedrich Robert Faehlmann (1798 – 1850) was recently discovered at an auction in the United States. The painting was listed simply as 'an unknown man with blue eyes' with few realising its cultural significance. Art historian Kristiina Tiideberg recognised Faehlmann as an important Estonian historical figure and managed to secure the painting for $2000.  The painting is now on display at the Niguliste Museum.

The portrait is a very important work for Estonian cultural history. Faehlmann was one of the founders of the Learned Estonian Society and a protagonist of the National Awakening. He studied medicine and earned his living as a doctor until the end of his life. Faehlmann is a very important figure in Estonian cultural history. In the second half of his life he became one of the most important local estophiles to contribute to the appreciation of Estonian national culture through his academic research and the creation of his original fiction. The Estonian national epic Kalevipoeg written later by F.R. Kreutzwald was largely based on Faehlmann’s preliminary work and drafts. 

This painting is one of the earliest portraits of Faehlmann and the only known oil painting of him in existence. The first mention of this painting appeared in the Estonian press in 1935. Faehlmann was one of the first educated Estonians to be portrayed in a dignified way through the medium of oil painting.

International Bread Day: October 16

International Bread Day will take place on October 16 this year. The day was established by the International Union of Bakers and Confectioners (UIBC) in 2005 to honour bread's significance as a staple food, a cultural symbol, and a source of livelihoods worldwide.

In Estonia, dark rye bread (must leib), is exceptionally important in Estonian culture, serving as a dietary staple, a symbol of identity, and a central element of traditional meals. Its deep historical roots in Estonian agriculture and a long tradition of hard work to produce it have fostered significant respect for bread. It's considered sacred and in old tradition, if you accidentally drop a piece of bread on the floor, you are supposed to pick it up and kiss it!

In September the Estonian Open Air Museum celebrated its own Estonian Bread Day as part of their Autumn Fair. During the festival visitors were able to learn the art of making bread by attending workshops.

Bread appears in many Estonian proverbs including "Jätku leiba!" (may there always be enough bread!).

Documentary: Estonia bolstering its defences

Rimi Express: Estonia's first self-service supermarket with no staff

Rimi, one of the largest supermarket chains in Northern Europe has opened its first self-service employee-free concept store in the heart of Tallinn's Noblessner district. Known as Rimi Express, the store is a trailblazer in sustainable and innovative retail, constructed from environmentally friendly wood materials and covering 32 square metres.

Customers gain entry into the supermarket by scanning their bank card at the entrance, after which the doors open automatically. Customers can then independently select and scan groceries from a range of 600 everyday essentials. These items include packaged fruits, vegetables, ready-made meals, snacks, drinks, hygiene products, and cooking ingredients. Alcohol, tobacco, and items requiring weighing are not available.

The shopping process is entirely cashless, with purchases completed at self-service checkouts using a bank card. An automated people-counting system regulates store capacity, maintaining safety by monitoring the number of shoppers inside and controlling access when capacity is reached. Those who do not make a purchase can easily exit the store by pressing the exit button.

 

 

Rimi Express serves as a pilot project in Estonia as the first employee-free concept store. The success of this project has led to plans for expansion, with the second Rimi self-service store opening at the Rimi Olympic Centre in Latvia. 

Tallinn is the safest capital city in Europe

According to a recent ranking by Euronews.com, the safest European capital city is Tallinn. In second place is Prague in the Czech Republic followed by Warsaw, Poland. These cities have low crime rates and a perception of safety for visitors and residents alike. At the other end of the spectrum, Brussels, Stockholm and Marseille dominate headlines with machine gun rampages, teenage hitmen and mafia turf wars. Violence of this nature is rare in Tallinn.

Numbeo has also released their Safety Index by City for 2025. The top destinations offers both historic charm and peace of mind for travellers.

 The top 15 safest cities in Europe are:

1. The Hague, Netherlands
2. Munich, Germany
3. Trondheim, Norway
4. Zagreb, Croatia
5. Ljubljana, Slovenia
6. Eindhoven, Netherlands
7. Bern, Switzerland
8. Groningen, Netherlands
9. Cluj-Napoca, Romania
10. Tallinn, Estonia
11. Zurich, Switzerland
12. Reykjavik, Iceland
13. Prague, Czech Republic
14. Helsinki, Finland
15. Bergen, Norway

What is Estonia's Onion Route?

Estonia's Onion Route (Sibulatee) is located on the western shore of Lake Peipus in southeastern Estonia. It is a region where Estonian and Russian cultures and heritage intertwine. The route stretches along Lake Peipus, connecting villages such as Kolkja and Varnja that are known for onion farming and other traditions. The village of Alatskivi is considered the capital of the route.

Last Saturday the annual Onion Route Buffet Day took place throughout the region inviting anyone who loves onions, fish, pastries and home-cooked meals to visit the area. In addition to restuarants offering local cuisine with tasty treats, many pop-up cafés were open on the day, mostly in people’s frontyards, gardens, and courtyards. Alatskivi Castle was also full of activity.  It's an end of summer event that the whole family can enjoy.

More information about Sibulatee / Estonia's Onion Route can be found here.