War and destruction
· Toompea
Cannonballs in Kiek in de Kök
Stone cannonballs set into Kiek in de Kök recall the siege of 1577 and the artillery fire that struck the tower.
During the Livonian War, Russian forces besieged Tallinn in 1577 and cannon fire hit Kiek in de Kök. Its massive walls endured, but the impacts left visible traces. The stone balls displayed in the masonry make a distant battle physically tangible. They are more than decoration: they recall a time when a single hit could breach a wall, ignite a building or kill the people defending it.
Practical information
Address: Komandandi tee 2
Look for the stone balls in the tower wall and museum displays. Compare their size with the thickness of the masonry and the gun openings.