Exploring the spooky tunnels hidden beneath Tallinn’s old town
I’ve been walking around Tallinn as a digital nomad for almost a year now, and had no idea there are these spooky, yet intriguing tunnels hidden underneath the old town!
Whilst they are a part of the Kiek in de Kök fortifications museum (try saying this out loud and not sniggering when you do) which I walk past often, I felt they warranted a post due to how uniquely interesting they are – they’ve been used for all sorts over the centuries it would appear.
The tunnels are essentially a network of underground tunnels that were built in the 17th century to help defend Tallinn's Old Town against invading armies and run underneath the city's defensive walls and connect several of the city's bastions, which are fortified structures that were used to protect the city's gates and walls.
Designed to allow soldiers to move around the city's defences quickly and efficiently, while remaining hidden from the enemy, the tunnels were also used to store ammunition and supplies, and to provide shelter for soldiers during times of war.
Most interestingly for me, was during World War II, when Tallinn faced heavy bombing and air raids, the Bastion Tunnels became makeshift shelters for civilians seeking refuge from the bombings. However, in the cold war era, the tunnels took on a new significance during the Cold War. They were equipped as fallout shelters and used for civil defence purposes in case of nuclear threats.
If you’re in Tallinn, you’ll appreciate knowing that the Kiek in de Kök museum and bastion passages are free to visit on the first Sunday of every month – you just need to book in advance to reserve your place.
Useful links:
https://linnamuuseum.ee/en/kiek-in-de-kok/bastion-tunnels/
