The barbican of Viru Gate was part of the defence system of the Tallinn city wall built in the 14th century.
A couple of centuries later, it already had 8 gates that consisted of several towers and curtain walls connecting them. The main tower of a gate was always square and the barbicans were equipped with one or two small round towers.
As the entrances to the Old Town were widened, several gates were demolished. The Viru Gate had to pay its dues to a horse-drawn tram route that connected the Old Market with Kadriorg.
However, the corner towers were preserved. Also, you can still see a part of the bastion that is called Musumägi. Viru Street with its many shops and restaurants has become one of the busiest pedestrian streets in the Old Town.
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While visiting Tallinn, my wife and I passed through these gates several times using them as landmarks so we wouldn't get lost. It is great that original gates of many of the European cities remain... Read more comments
These are the main gates to the old town, leading from the harbor area into the old city. The turrets are handsome and photogenic. The gate area is somewhat wide and once inside you are greeted by... Read more comments
Nice to see history and architecture like this whilst on your travels in cities like this. We got to see the gates whilst it was snowing too so it made it look more magical to us. I would recommend a... Read more comments