RIGA AND TALLINN

Eight hundred years have shaped the city’s unique appearance and rich traditions. In the architecture of the historic centre of Riga examples of all architectural styles characteristic for the Northern Europe, from Gothic to Modernism, are found.

The regular building of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries is characteristic for the planning of the historic centre, oriented towards the direction of main streets in the Old City, which emerged approximately in the 14th century. In 1997 the historic centre of Riga due to this valued architecture was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

http://www.rigatourism.lv/EN/Channels/Tip/default.htm

TALLINN

Like most cities with an eight-hundred-year-old past, Tallinn is a patchwork of historic areas. The city´s pride and joy is without a doubt its Medieval Old Town. Twisting cobblestone lanes and iron street lamps. Gothic spires and medieval markets. Cappuccino and Wi-Fi. This is the city's famous Old Town. If you're looking for that mix of historic ambience and cutting-edge culture that defines Tallinn, you'll find it here.

Built up from the 13th to 16th centuries, when Tallinn – or Reval as it was known then – was a thriving member of the Hanseatic trade league, this enclosed neighbourhood of colourful, gabled houses, half-hidden courtyards and grandiose churches is, quite rightly, the city's biggest tourist draw. And the fact that it's all neatly packaged within a mostly-intact city wall and dotted with guard towers gives it an extra dose of fairytale charm.

http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee/eng