Two stone behemoths have faced off for centuries as countless battles were waged over a very contentious border. Narva Castle towers over the Estonian side, while Ivangorod Fortress sprawls across the Russian bank. Between them runs the Narva River, which connects Lake Peipsi to the Gulf of Finland. Historically, whoever controlled the Narva River also […]
Estonia
Old Believer Villages of Lake Peipsi, Estonia
Old Believers first settled in Estonia in the mid 1600s. Major reforms were taking place in the Russian Orthodox church at that time, and not everyone was on board. Those strongly opposed to the reforms were dubbed “old believers” and denounced by the church. Many fled the religious persecution and sought refuge across the border […]
Parnu, Estonia: An Idyllic Baltic Sea Town
Parnu, Estonia is located on the Baltic coast about halfway between Tallinn and Riga. Hugged by the shallow waters of the Gulf of Riga, the pristine white sands of Parnu Beach stretch as far as the eye can see. Development has been kept to a minimum, with bird-watching towers outnumbering high-rise hotels. In fact, you […]
A Magical Christmas in Tallinn, Estonia
Wooden stalls trimmed in evergreen boughs and white lights form a patchwork in Old Town Square. Shoppers bundled against the -12C temperature clutch steaming cups of Nordic glogg while perusing the colorful ornaments and winter accessories on display. Reindeer rustle quietly in their pens while awed children shove handfuls of hay between the slats. A dusting of […]
The Best Meals We Ate in Tallinn
Standard travel advice for Europe is to get off the beaten path if you’re hoping for more than mediocre, over-priced food. Yet many of the best restaurants in Tallinn, Estonia are located within the picture-perfect Old Town. As you linger over your meal, you can watch the sun slowly set behind the medieval Town Hall and […]