Estonia, the northern Baltic land of primeval forests, rivers, bogs, lakes and sea islands, has one of the smallest populations of any country in the world, and most of the people have opted for city life, leaving the countryside rather wild and filled with rare birds, plants and roaming deer, elk, wild boar, bears and wolves. The low, largely flat landscape is also dotted with relics of Estonia's medieval glory, when the Teutonic knights reigned supreme and built castles which are now left as decaying hulks, testifying to the wealth of the traders who made use of the country's ports. The main
port,
Tallinn, today still the capital city, was part of the mighty
Hanseatic League in the 13th century. Its medieval prosperity has given the romantic city a wealth of attractions for modern-day tourists to explore.
Historical and natural attractions are only one reason why Estonia is experiencing an upsurge in tourism. The country is sandwiched between east and west
Europe, also easily accessible from the south, offering fresh and unspoilt opportunities for those who enjoy the Nordic experience. The country lies along the
Baltic Sea, just below
Finland, with
Russia to the east and
Latvia to the south. Estonia has only recently (in 1991) thrown off the shackles of Soviet domination, and a vibrant spirit of freedom and rebirth pervades the air not only in the capital but also the lively university town of
Tartu, the busy industrial center of Narva and the idyllic summer vacation capital of Pärnu on the south-western coast.
