Gates, walls and towers
· Vanalinn
Great Coastal Gate
The Great Coastal Gate greeted arrivals from the harbour with a monumental stone entrance and Fat Margaret artillery tower.
The Great Coastal Gate connected the harbour with Pikk Street and the town centre. Anyone arriving from the sea immediately encountered Tallinn’s wealth and military strength: the ceremonial gateway and enormous artillery tower formed a deliberate display of power. It admitted goods, sailors and visitors while guarding against attack, showing how closely trade and defence were linked in a Hanseatic city.
Practical information
Address: Pikk 70
View the gate first from the seaward side and then from Pikk Street. Look for the carved city arms and its connection with Fat Margaret.