Social programme

Walking Tour in the Old Town on Monday afternoon.
(1½ hrs + medieval dinner)

 

As the Convention Hotel is conveniently located beside the Old Town there will be no transfers. The guests will be led by local guides and in small groups through the medieval gates into the narrow streets of the old town.

During the tour we will speak about the Hanseatic League and Tallinn’s position in overseas trade; the 14^th/15^th century fortification wall, 2/3 of which is still intact; Gothic style dwellings of the Hanseatic merchants; Guild houses; the Dominican Monastery dating back to 1246; the Pharmacy, first mentioned in written documents in 1422; Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches; and the world famous Tallinn Town Hall, one of the best preserved Gothic Town Halls in the whole of Northern Europe.

 

 It will be winter, and the temperature will probably be below zero centigrade, so warm clothes will be required.

But our 1-1½ hr walk in the cold will be rewarded with a very warm welcome at the Medieval Feast in Olde Hansa restaurant offering medieval cuisine, beverages and entertainment.

 

Bus Tour to the Song Festival Ground and KUMU on Tuesday afternoon.
(1hr bus tour, 1hr museum visit, 30mins refreshments, 1hr film)

The tour starts at 3 pm when there is still some daylight outside. We will profit from it to show the convention guests first a general panoramic overview of Tallinn by driving around the Old Town and other districts, showing and describing the everyday life of Tallinn.

At the Song Festival Grounds there will be a short stop to get a closer look at the site which has become a symbol of the national identity and independence of Estonia.

Our choral singing tradition has also been acknowledged by UNESCO as world cultural heritage. To convey the full power of our Song Festivals we will then proceed to KUMU where we can see it all through another cultural medium, film.

 

 
But KUMU has been included in our tour for its own sake as well, as KUMU is the National Art Museum of Estonia. The present building was completed in 2006 and in 2008 it was awarded the title of the Best Museum of the Year in Europe.

During our visit to KUMU the Convention guests will be the only visitors of the museum and local guides will offer a guided tour through the Estonian art exhibited there (17^th-21^st century).

 

Before we start the Film (1 hr) our guests will be offered refreshments and coffee. Buses will leave back to the hotel at 19.30.