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State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II Europe. Influencing the development of urban culture in the surrounding region, Tallinn mediated ESTONIA and helped spread the building traditions of the orders of mendicant friars, the Teutonic Order and the Hanseatic League. Thanks to the unlimited Historic Centre (Old Town) of limestone reserves on which it is built Tallinn Tallinn became a predominantly stone-built town quite early in its history, (timber construction was totally Brief description banned at the end of the 14th century) and hence also an exporter of stone architecture to regions The origins of Tallinn date back to the 13th century, where timber constructions still preponderated. when a castle was built there by the crusading knights of the Teutonic Order. It developed as a Of the region’s largest towns: Stockholm, Visby, major centre of the Hanseatic League, and its Riga, Tallinn Pskov, Novgorod, stone architecture wealth is demonstrated by the opulence of the dominated in the first four, and limestone, in public buildings (the churches in particular) and the addition to Tallinn, also in Visby. The development domestic architecture of the merchants' houses, of the latter halted in the 14th century and Tallinn which have survived to a remarkable degree took her place, and, although Stockholm and Riga despite the ravages of fire and war in the had in many ways more important roles to play at intervening centuries. the time, fate has been considerably less kind regarding their historic inheritance. (…) 1. Introduction 24.a) (iv), (v): Tallinn was part of the Hanseatic world, and is a town with a documented history Year(s) of Inscription 1997 reaching back to the 13th century and remarkably Agency responsible for site management well preserved urban structure and buildings. It is a rare example of the contiguous coexistence of the • Tallinn Cultural Heritage Department sovereign’s residence (Toompea Citadel) and the Boris Dubovik Hanseatic merchants’ quarter. The town has Raekoja plats 12 suffered little from fires and warfare, and the long 10146 Tallinn term economic slump of later centuries did not e-mail: [email protected] permit the execution of any intensive construction website: www.tallinn.ee activities. The majority of the buildings of the old town, of 2. Statement of Significance which the oldest date back to the 13th century, originate from the 14th - 16th centuries. Although Inscription Criteria C (ii), (iv) later centuries have added new architectural features from every style period, and modifications Justification provided by the State Party of their own these have hardly ever completely replaced the original. Tallinn old town is a monument to the town architecture of the middle ages, which in its earlier The basic town structure and street layout, dating stages of development stimulated and influenced from the town’s establishment, all the dominant the development of urban culture both near and far, features such as the town hall, all the sacred and which has retained a degree of authenticity and buildings and guildhalls, a large number of private integrity rarely found in the Baltic Sea region. houses and an essential proportion of the city wall Having escaped not only the ravages of fire and and its bastions, which encompasses the old town siege but also extensive redesigns, demolitions and and makes it like a world apart, have survived. The redevelopments, Tallinn old town’s authenticity and superb town silhouette, which can be seen from a integrity are now threatened by a building boom distance from almost any angle, is also a precipitated by the new economic conditions. It noteworthy feature. Due to its limestone base, the should therefore fulfil the criteria outlined in 24.a) strong lime mortar used in supporting walls and the (ii), (iv) and (v) of the “Operational Guidelines” use of coniferous timbers, the old constructions are (page 7.). in relatively good repair. It has been possible to preserve the old town quite effectively thanks to the 24.a) (ii): Tallinn which sprung up on the shores of protected status awarded it in 1966, and by the Gulf of Finland, was from the 13th to the 16th avoiding damaging planning decisions, it has even centuries one of the most far-flung outposts of been possible to carry out limited restoration works Western civilisation in northern and north eastern to good effect. State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II • Management by the State Party; Management As provided in ICOMOS evaluation under protective legislation; Management under contractual agreement between the State Party That this property be inscribed on the World and a third party; Management under traditional Heritage List on the basis of criteria ii and iv: protective measures or customary law Tallinn is an outstanding and exceptionally • Site manager on full-time basis complete and well preserved example of a • Levels of public authority who are primarily medieval northern European trading city that retains involved with the management of the site: the salient features of this unique form of economic national, local and social community to a remarkable degree. • The current management system is sufficiently Committee Decision effective The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv), considering that 5. Management Plan Tallinn is an outstanding and exceptionally • No management plan complete and well preserved example of a • A management plan will be completed and medieval northern European trading city that retains adopted: June 2008 the salient features of this unique form of economic • Responsibility for over-seeing the and social community to a remarkable degree. implementation of the management plan and monitoring its effectiveness: Tallinn Cultural • Statement of significance adequately defines Heritage Department, City Planning the Outstanding Universal Value of the site Department, City Enterprise Department. There should definitely be Boundaries and Buffer Zone negotiations with National Heritage Board • Status of boundaries of the site: adequate • Buffer zone: a buffer zone has been defined 6. Financial Resources Status of Authenticity/Integrity Financial situation • World Heritage site values have been maintained • Tallinn Cultural Heritage Department heritage division; National Heritage Board for special • The biggest problem is Harju street. It was renovation works bombed on 1944 and is still in ruins. There are signs that in the nearest future real estate • Extra funding has not been drawn from World businessmen are trying to get permission to Heritage status build new houses. It could be done, because • World Heritage Fund there have been buildings from the 14th century, • Funding available for the adequate but it must be done in harmony with existing management of the site: insufficient medieval street, plots and building structures around this street 7. Staffing Levels • 3 staff 3. Protection Legislative and Administrative Arrangements Rate of access to adequate professional staff • Heritage Conservation Act, Statute of the across the following disciplines: Tallinn Old Town Heritage Protection Area, • Good: promotion, education, visitor Administrative Agreement between National management Heritage Board and City of Tallinn. • Average: conservation, management, • The protection arrangements are considered interpretation sufficiently effective. 8. Sources of Expertise and Training in 4. Management Conservation and Management Techniques Use of site/property • Urban centre • Renovation and heritage training, communication schooling Management /Administrative Body • No steering group State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II 9. Visitor Management Threats and Risks to site • Development pressure; Visitor/tourism pressure • Visitor statistics: 2,690,000 in 2003 - tendency • Specific issues if mentioned: Real estate increasing business is trying to build new houses on the • Visitor facilities: plenty of museums, medieval empty plots in the Old Town. Quite often the churches, parks, nice only pedestrian walking new buildings/projects do not fit to the historical areas, shops and art galleries, lot of area. High buildings in the buffer zone (views to restaurants, cafes and pubs, toilets, the Old Town) information centre (booklets, cards, maps, audio guides, books in different foreign Actions taken languages) • Local municipality is working on the building • No tourism/visitor management plan regulations and thematic/special planning (high buildings) 10. Scientific Studies 13. Monitoring • Studies related to the value of the site, archaeological surveys, transportation studies • No monitoring programme • These studies have been used for planning the • Measures taken/planned: In the nearest future firsts steps of the renovation and projecting we try to put down the exact rules for works supervision 11. Education, Information and Awareness 14. Conclusions and Recommended Building Actions • An adequate number of signs referring to World • Main benefits of WH status: social, economic, Heritage site management • World Heritage Convention Emblem used on • Strengths: Tallinn Old Town is in a good some publications condition, there has been lot of renovation • Adequate awareness of World Heritage among: works done by city of Tallinn and private visitors; local communities; businesses; local owners. There are more inhabitants who are authorities living in the Old Town

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