Fifth floor - contemporary art

Last year, the KUMU Art Museum received the title of European Museum of the Year. Very impressive, considering that it opened its doors only in 2006. It is absolutely clear that the decision was not made without good reason - there are lots of interesting pieces to see. KUMU hosts an impressive collection over its five floors, some of which is exhibited on a permanent basis. But most interesting are the scheduled exhibitions, and this time some of the best pieces are housed on the fifth floor, where two installments will only reside for another couple of weeks. Three video installations by Estonian artist Lauri Astala are united under the heading Small spectacle. Very first is Astala s Small Spectacle of Image-Semblance, created in 2005. The artwork is basically nothing more than an abstract stereogram video animation which is projected over the walls of a small cubic room.

Open Air Museum

A must-see for first-time visitors to Tallinn, the Open Air Museum transports visitors back in time to the rural Estonia of old. The vast, forested park is filled with thatched, 19thcentury farm buildings, windmills and schools, with staff in period costume demonstrating how people lived and worked in times past. Visitors can buy handicrafts, go for a horseback ride, and try out the traditional food served in the village tavern. Vabaõhumuuseumi tee 12 ph. 372 654 9100 www.evm.ee Bus 21, Rocca al Mare stop Open: May September 8594 Mon-Sun 10:00-20:00, houses 10:00-18:00 October April 8594 Mon-Sun 10:00-17:00, houses closed. Price: May - September 8594 80 EEK (adult), 35 EEK (student) October - April 8594 35 EEK (adult), 20 EEK (student)

Kumu Art Museum

Opened in 2006, the impressive new main building of the Art Museum of Estonia is naturally a magnet for every visitor interested in Estonian culture. It comprises the museum collections and the restoration centre, as well as the multifunctional Kumu Art Museum, where permanent exhibitions, the gallery of contemporary art, the programmes held in the auditorium and the educational activities are all equally significant. Weizenbergi 34 Valge 1 ph. 372 602 6000 www.ekm.ee kumu Tram 1 and 3, Kadriorg stop, Bus 31, 67, 68 Uuslinna stop Open: May September 8594 Tue-Sun 11:00-18:00 October April 8594 Wed-Sun 11:00-18:00 Price: 80 EEK (adult), 45 EEK (student)

Estonian History Museum Great Guild Hall

Located in Tallinn s 15th-century Great Guild Hall, itself a spectacular relic of Tallinn s past that s well worth a peek, this museum showcases Estonian history from ancient times to the end of the 18th century. From May to September the museum will host the exhibition By Fire and Sword. 800 years since Christianization in Estonia. The Great Guild, an organization uniting the city s wealthiest merchants, played a major role in city politics in medieval times. The guild s enormous hall has managed to retain its impressive 15th century look, and is now home to the Estonian History Museum. Pikk 17 ph. 372 641 1630 www.eam.ee Open: May August 8594 Mon-Sun 11:00-18:00 September April 8594 Thu-Tue 11:00-18:00 Price: 25 EEK(adult), 15 EEK(student)

Estonian History Museum Maarjamäe Palace

The history museum devoted to the 19th and 20th centuries is housed in this pseudo-gothic manor on the road to the Pirita district. Re-created living quarters, schoolrooms and the like give visitors a clear picture of life in generations gone by, and the museum has extensive displays chronicling the Estonian war for independence and World War II. Temporary exhibitions on the ground floor might include anything from wedding dresses to propaganda posters. Pirita tee 56 ph. 372 622 8630 372 622 8600 www.eam.ee Bus 5, Maarjamägi stop Open: March October 8594 Wed-Sun 11:00-18:00 November February 8594 Wed-Sun 10:00-17:00 Price: 25 EEK(adult), 15 EEK(student)

Kiek in de Kök

This massive, medieval defence tower on the slopes of Toompea hill was oddly dubbed Kiek in de Kök (literally, «peep into the kitchen») because from here the soldiers could peer into the kitchens of the houses below. The tower now appropriately houses a museum that traces the development of the town and its military history from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Lower floors are used for temporary photographic art exhibitions. Komandandi tee 2 ph. 372 644 6686 www.linnamuuseum.ee Open: March October 8594 Tue-Sun 10:30-18:00 November February 8594 Tue-Sun 10:30-17:00 Closed for visits from April 2008. Price: 25 EEK (adult), 8 EEK (child)