Fat Margaret Tower

Overview

Fat Margaret (Paks Margareeta) is a massive cannon tower guarding the Great Coastal Gate, the historic main entrance to Tallinn from the harbour. With walls up to 4.7 metres thick, this squat, imposing 16th-century fortification now serves as the entrance to the Estonian Maritime Museum's old town branch.

Highlights

• Rooftop Terrace: A panoramic viewing platform on top of the tower with harbour and Old Town views.
• The Tower Itself: An impressive piece of military architecture — 25 metres in diameter with 155 gun ports.
• Coastal Gate: The adjacent Great Coastal Gate is one of the finest surviving medieval gateways in the Baltics.

History

Built in 1511–1530, Fat Margaret was designed to protect the harbour approach and impress arriving traders with Tallinn's military might. Over the centuries it also served as a prison and ammunition store. It was damaged during the 1917 Revolution and restored in the 1980s.

Visitor Tips

• Duration: 20–30 minutes.
• Combined ticket: Available with the Seaplane Harbour maritime museum.
• Free rooftop: The rooftop terrace is freely accessible and offers excellent views.