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Tallinn’s Green Heart

Greenery around medieval city centre

View from Patkuli viewing platform, photo: Tallinn Environment Department
Tallinn’s Green Heart is formed of the parks created in the bastion zone in the 19th century. The largest park is Toompark around the Snell Pond, which has the most species of woody plants among the city centre parks. There are also a lot of species in Hirvepark, which is a former moat (now filled with dirt) and has a lot of exotic plant species and decorative trees.

The oldest trees in Tallinn are located in the old town, where they grow on ancient bastions, near churches and in courtyards. The oldest tree in Tallinn, Kelch’s linden (1680) is growing next to St Nicholas’ Church.

Three protected outcrops can be seen in the Old Town of Tallinn: the outcrop on Nunne Street, near Patkuli Stairs, and the one at Toompea, where it is possible to explore the ridges resulting from the weight of the continental glacier. The Toompea slope has been fortified with a support wall of local limestone and the ledges of the same formation can be seen here.

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