SOCIAL PROGRAMME

Here are introductions for the excursions happening during the conference. You can choose the most suitable excursion during the registration process. If you are already registered and would like to add the excursion to your registration, please contact Delegate Services via e-mail at info@sps-feps-2023.eu.

 

 

TALLINN CITY TOUR

September 14

Starting time: at the end of the conference day OR 17:30

Duration: 1,5-2 hours

Meeting point: Original Sokos Hotel Viru lobby area

Cost: free of charge

Join us for a fun and history-packed tour of the Tallinn Old Town. Learn from a knowledgeable local guide about the city, and the local people and get to know Estonia in just 2 hours.

On this Old Town tour, we will cover all the most important sights of the medieval city. We’ll explore the UNESCO World Heritage site from the bustling main streets to less-known side alleys. You’ll see the beautiful old churches, unique merchant houses, historic town hall, and imposing city defences. We’ll roam around the Toompea area of Old Town to take a look at the Parliament Building (Toompea Palace) and visit the picturesque viewing platforms.

This 2-hour walking tour is the perfect way to learn about Estonia and Tallinn Old Town. Tallinn will impress you and surprise you at every turn.

 

 

WALKING TOUR FROM KIEK IN DE KÖK TO TOWERS SQUARE: PARKS INSTEAD OF FORTIFICATIONS

September 14

Starting time: 15:00

Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Meeting point: Kiek in de Kök fortification museum (address: Komandandi tee 2, Tallinn)

Cost: 12€ per person

 

The Kiek in de Kök Fortification Museum organises walks along the green spaces of today's old Tallinn. We talk about how the landscape surrounding the old stone wall, which was artificially altered into fortifications centuries ago, was transformed back into green spaces, parks and recreation areas. For example, how the Ingerian bastion ( renamed as Harju (gate) Hill)  became one of the most popular outdoor places of amusement with a cafe and restaurant and music pavilion and more.

In the second half of the 19th century, when the extensive earthen fortifications which no longer met the defensive needs of the time, were handed over to the city authorities by the military, the areas began to undergo major changes. Circle Boulevard and parkscape were built around the city wall. Was all this a return to paradise - the Garden of Eden - when, as late as the mid-17th century, the city wall was surrounded by residents' vegetable and fruit gardens, fields and meadows?

Rather, the city was opening up to the new and modern winds that were still blowing in from Western Europe. Stone buildings, previously forbidden in the defence area, were built, the first being the Estonian St John's Church (1862-1867). The Baltic Station was built on the western side, connecting the town of Reval with the capital of the Russian empire, St Petersburg, by train. During the walk, we will look around from a historical and cultural perspective, discussing what important things have happened in different spots.

 

 

ON THE TOP OF THE BASTIONS AND IN THE UNDERGROUND TUNNELS

September 14

Starting time: 15.00

Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Meeting point: Kiek in de Kök fortification museum (address: Komandandi tee 2, Tallinn)

Cost: 12€ per person

 

The Kiek in de Kök Fortress Museum offers a tour of the bastions and underground passageways, but also, exceptionally, of one of the tunnels of the Lindamäe Hill which is rarely accessible to the public

While visiting the bastions of Harjumäe and Lindamäe we talk about the exciting things that have happened there over the years.

The earthen fortifications also known as the Bastion complex were built at the end of the 17th century. In the underground tunnels, there is an exhibition that is a kind of time travel - from the present day to the 17th century, when earthworks began to be built. We find out why they built such massive artificial mounds, surrounded by thick stone walls with tunnels at the bottom. We learn that over the ages these passages have been used in different ways and by different people. Today, spiders live here and bats hibernate.

 

 

CONFERENCE DINNER AT SEAPLANE HARBOUR

September 15

Starting time: 19.30. Buses leave in front of Hotel Viru at 19:00, 19.15 and 19:20.

Cost: 70/100€ per person (tickets can be purchased through the registration form) 

Location: Seaplane Harbour (address: Vesilennuki 6, 10145 Tallinn)
It is about 2.2 kilometres away from the conference venue, a nice walk through what we call the Tallinn Cultural Kilometre!

The Seaplane Harbour accommodates one of Europe’s grandest maritime museums. You are invited to see the authentic submarine Lembit from the 1930s, the century-old steam-powered icebreaker Suur Tõll, a Short 184 seaplane replica, mines, cannons and many other life-sized exhibits. The museum and the Seaplane Hangar have been recognised with a number of awards: Estonia’s Most Tourist-Friendly Museum 2012, Europa Nostra Grand Prix 2013, Special Commendation from the European Museum of the Year 2014, and a number of others.

The Seaplane Harbour museum is a memorable experience: lots of interesting reading, a voyage around the world in the Yellow Submarine, photos taken in naval uniforms, the big aquarium, the simulators and many more exciting activities.

The Seaplane Harbour, including the Seaplane Hangar, was built to become part of Peter the Great’s naval fortress 100 years ago on orders from the Russian emperor Nicholas II. The architecture of the Hangar is remarkable, featuring the world’s first columnless thin-shell concrete domes of such volume. The building was used for seaplanes until the Second World War!