Maiden Tower, Medieval fortification tower in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Maiden Tower is a square-based fortified structure in Tallinn's Old Town, positioned along the medieval city walls near Toompea Hill. It features an open back design and now houses a cafe that is open to the public.
The structure was built in the 14th century as a three-story defensive tower called Meghed Tower. Over the following centuries it was transformed multiple times, serving as both a residence and then reverting to defensive purposes.
The name reflects a 19th-century shift when Baltic German historians changed it from Meghed to make it easier to pronounce. Today you can observe how this tower functions as part of the medieval city's defensive identity and integrates into the larger wall system.
The tower is easily accessible and provides direct connection to sections of the medieval city walls. You can explore it at your own pace and combine your visit with walks along other parts of the defensive wall system.
During Swedish rule the structure served as a prison for women in difficult circumstances, and this dark chapter gave rise to local folklore about supernatural encounters. Stories persist of an apparition dressed in black that seems to remain part of the tower's shadowed history.
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