Town and country life

We will start from Tallinn’s Upper Town, passing ancient walls and towers. We will admire the Tall Hermann Tower from which flies the national blue, black and white flag. Walk up Toompea Hill to Palace Square to view the baroque Toompea Castle, now the residence of the Estonian Parliament, and to visit the Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a dominating feature of Upper Town’s city skyline and home to numerous golden icons and mosaics. From there, walk along Tallinn’s medieval cobblestone streets to visit the (except during the services) Gothic Dome Church, known as St. Mary’s Cathedral.

We will continue by car through the western part of Tallinn and out to Esko farm which specialises in rearing cows, having now approximately 100. The farm was established with 8 cows following the independence of Estonia in 1991 and is owned and managed by one family, aided by a small staff of workers. They produce cheese and curds from their milk, the products being sold to baker’s shops and a special cheese restaurant in Tallinn. You will be invited to taste their products. In 2003 they were awarded a medal for the high quality of their dairy produce as well as being visited by the President of Estonia.