Freedom Square, Tallinn

Square in Tallinn, Estonia

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Freedom square. View from Harjumägi. In the foreground the War of Independence Victory Column, with the building of the former insurance company EEKS-MAJA on the left, and St. John's Church behind

Freedom Square (Estonian: Vabaduse väljak) is a plaza on the southern end of the Old Town in Tallinn, Estonia, where state functions and various concerts take place. It is bounded on the east by St. John's Church (built 1862–67), on the south by Kaarli Boulevard and an underground shopping center (2008–09), and on the west by a Victory Column (2009) commemorating the Estonian War of Independence 1918–1920.

Design

The current design was created by architects Tiit Trummal, Veljo Kaasik and Andres Alver. Before 2010, it was a parking lot. It has an area of 7752 m²^[1] with the dimensions approx. 110 m by 75 m.

Nearby places

War of Independence Victory Column
St. John's Church, Tallinn
Palace Hotel
Georg Ots Tallinn Music College
Russian Theatre
Tallinn City Government Building
Tallinn Art Hall
Estonian Artists' Association
Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art

History

Pre-republic

The square arose on the site of the Swedish bastion in front of the Harju Gate, which was demolished in the middle of the 19th century. In 1867, the St. John's Church was erected on the square. In 1910, the Haymarket was liquidated on the square, and the square was paved with stones. On the 200th anniversary of the capture of the city by the Russian Empire, a monument to Peter I was erected on the square, which was dismantled on 1 May 1922.

First Republic

In 1935, the area of the square was expanded. The boulevards were relocated and almost 2,500 square meters of new space was built under the square.^[2]

Soviet era

On 29 April 1941, Freedom Square was named to Victory Square after the beginning Soviet occupation of Estonia. In the autumn of 1941, after the arrival of the German Wehrmacht, the name of Freedom Square was restored. On 22 September 1944, the Red Army entered Tallinn and by 1948, it was reverted to Victory Square. During the Soviet period, Freedom Square was known as the Victory Square (Võidu väljak). In the USSR, the square hosted parades in honor of holidays like Victory Day, the October Revolution,^[3] and before 1969, International Workers' Day.

Modern Freedom Square

The Cross of Liberty and the Monument to the War of Independence was opened on 23 June 2009 as a memorial for those who fell during the Estonian War of Independence.

Gallery

Postcard image of Freedom Square from 1900
The first celebration of Estonian Independence Day in 1919
During the German occupation in 1943
Archaeological excavation, June 2008
The reconstruction process in 2008
Moat in July 2008
Independence War Victory Column
Freedom Square in 2014
St. John's Church on the eastern side of the square
Tallinn City Office on the southern side of the square

References

^ "Tallinna linna omandis oleva Vabaduse väljak, Kaarli pst kinnistu jagamine". Tallinn.
^ "KUNAGI PARK, TÄNA VEEL PARKLA: Tallinna haljastuse uurija Heldur Sander kirjeldab Vabaduse platsi kujunemislugu, mis pole siiani lõppenud. Ent vaidlusi on jätkunud aegade pikku. ‹ Ajaleht KesKus koduleht". kes-kus.ee. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
^ https://www.ra.ee/tuna/wp-content/uploads/annuk-eve-paraadile-tuna-2017-1-1.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

Tallinn landmarks

Buildings and
structures

Precincts

Nature and
parks

Beaches

Culture

Museums and galleries	Kumu (Art Museum of Estonia main branch) Mikkel Museum Estonian Open Air Museum (Kolu kõrts) Estonian Maritime Museum (Seaplane Harbour) Estonian Firefighting Museum Estonian History Museum Estonian Museum of Natural History Estonian Health Care Museum Estonian Theatre and Music Museum Museum of Estonian Architecture Museum of Occupations
Theatres	Estonia Theatre Estonian Drama Theatre Theatre NO99 Russian Theatre Estonian Puppet Theatre Tallinn City Theatre Von Krahl Theatre
Other	National Library of Estonia Song Festival Grounds Culture Factory Polymer