Fat Margaret Tower, known in Estonian as Paks Margareeta, is a 16th-century artillery tower on Pikk Street in Tallinn, Estonia. It was built as part of the city's defensive system, and its thick walls and broad, rounded form still show its original military purpose. Today the tower houses the Estonian Maritime Museum, so a visit combines a look at a historic fortification with exhibits on the country's seafaring past.
What to expect
The tower is one of the most impressive fortification structures in the Baltics, and it is worth taking time to look at it from the outside as well as inside. Its scale makes clear how Tallinn was once protected, when cannon were placed on walls like these to guard the approaches to the old town. The museum inside gives the building a second life, presenting Estonia's relationship with the sea.
Who it suits
- Visitors interested in military and defensive architecture
- Anyone curious about Estonia's maritime history
- Those walking the old town, who will pass it on the way to other sights
For up-to-date visiting arrangements, you can call the tower on +372 641 1408 before you go.
The tower sits in the historic centre of Tallinn, so it is easy to combine with a walk through the medieval streets, the city walls and the surrounding old town, where there is much more to see on the same route.
