ALEXANDER NEVSKY CATHEDRAL

This vast and richly decorated Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Church was built in Tallinn in 1900, when the city was still part of the Russian Empire since 1710. Inaugurated by Nicholas II himself, this monumental church, which has become one of the symbols of the city, bears the name of Alexander Nevsky. He is a Russian national hero who distinguished himself during the famous Battle of the Ice in 1242 and defeated the Swedes and the Teutonic Order, the two powers that also dominated Tallinn in the past... At that time, the cathedral was mainly built as a symbol of religious and political domination. Its construction was financed by rich merchants from the merchant guilds.

Today, it is the main cathedral of the Russian Orthodox community, which makes up almost 40% of the city, a legacy of the Soviet period when many Russians settled in Tallinn during the industrial boom. You can feel the power of the building both on the outside when it stands out against the Tallinn sky and inside its spacious nave. The church tower contains the largest set of bells in Tallinn, the largest of which weighs no less than 15 tonnes! They can be heard ringing before every church service. The interior, decorated with mosaics and icons, is superb. Unquestionably, one of the monuments of the Estonian capital to see, especially if you have never had the opportunity to go to Russia!