Pikk jalg gate tower

The Pikk jalg gate tower is a stone structure dating from the 14th century that formed part of Tallinn's original defensive walls and controlled entry to the medieval city. The structure displays typical features of Baltic fortification towers, including thick walls and a gate passage designed to slow any attackers.

The original wooden gate was replaced with a stone structure around 1380 as Tallinn strengthened its defenses during a period of military expansion. This transformation was part of a larger effort to modernize the city's fortifications against increasing threats.

This gate served as the primary passage for merchants and travelers entering the medieval city, shaping how people understood connections between the Old Town and the surrounding region. Walking through it today, visitors follow the same routes that merchants and visitors used for centuries.

The gate tower is easily reached on foot from the center of the Old Town and forms part of a connected network of walls and towers that visitors can explore. It helps to understand that you are entering a densely built area with narrow streets and stairs when you approach this location.

The name Pikk jalg literally translates to Long Leg and refers to the steep street that climbs upward from this gate, a route that local residents have used for generations. This term became established in everyday speech and remains the way locals describe this particular entrance and its surrounding passageway.