Estonia Disney Travel Agents Near Me

Overview

Introduction

Estonia feels a little like Finland South, which is not surprising given its closeness to Finland, both geographically and ethnically. And although its people can seem a bit Finnish, too, in their emotional reserve, we've found that Estonians tend to greet tourists warmly—they take pleasure in telling visitors about their country's sites and history.

With a legacy of medieval castles and pagan ruins, German manor houses and grim Soviet skyscrapers, Estonians are sifting through their past, trying to reclaim their European heritage. The excitement of rebuilding their country has died down to some extent, but their pride in being Estonian is still as powerful as ever.

Estonia is a successful, business-friendly Eastern European country, which has become a tech powerhouse in recent years, with a burgeoning startup scene. Estonia is also the home of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.

As foreign investments have poured in, Tallinn, Estonia's capital, has been dramatically transformed: The medieval buildings of its Old Town form a charming backdrop for its vibrant civic life. The city seems flooded with Finns and other Scandinavians who've gone over to take advantage of lower prices than they'll find at home.

Geography

Estonia's land was shaped by crushing glaciers tens of thousands of years ago. As the glaciers retreated, they left behind lakes and a relatively flat, low-lying plain, strewn with boulders. Forest covers about 40% of the land, marshlands about 50%. The rest is made up of meadowlands, farmlands and cities. The country also has about 1,500 islands, ranging from small outcroppings to the 1,000-sq-mi/2,700-sq-km island of Saaremaa.

History

Over the ages, foreign domination and repression have recurred with regularity in Estonia. The first settlers, tribes related to ancestors of the modern-day Finns, arrived in the area more than 6,000 years ago. In the 13th century, Teutonic knights invaded to convert the residents to Christianity—with fire, ax and the rod. Visitors from Sweden and Poland showed up next, dividing Estonia between them in the 1500s. Russia then gained Estonia in the Northern War, only to lose it two centuries later in World War I.

Estonia, along with the other Baltic states, was independent from 1918 until 1940. But then the three Baltic countries were annexed by the Soviet Union. More than 50 years of Soviet rule followed, characterized by deportations of thousands of dissidents (actual or potential), massive industrialization (and massive pollution) and the immigration of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians, Ukrainians and other Slavs.

Estonian patriotism always ran strong, however, and most native Estonians never considered their land to be part of the Soviet Union. (Many foreign governments also refused to recognize the annexation.) Nationalist feelings prompted an Estonian declaration of independence in 1991.

Initially, independence was difficult, but the economy has rebounded at an impressive rate, and today the country maintains an enviable level of stability among eastern European countries. In November 2002, Estonia became a member of NATO, and on 1 May 2004, Estonia was one of 10 countries that joined the European Union. In January 2011, Estonia adopted the Euro as its official currency.

Snapshot

The main attractions of Estonia are medieval architecture, historic sites, Tallinn, Baltic culture, scenic islands and the countryside. Outside of Tallinn, first-class accommodations and service can be found in stately, renovated old manor houses, which are often located near national parks.

Potpourri

The midsummer holiday (also known as St. John's Day) that occurs every year around the summer solstice is one of the most important holidays in Estonia. The celebration is particularly lively, and bonfires burn all night.

Estonians are very proud of their language, a Finno-Ugric tongue related only to Finnish and Hungarian. The first national poet to write in the language was Kristjan Jaak Peterson (1801-22).

Because of a deliberate Soviet policy to bring in Russian workers and take out political prisoners, Estonians today make up barely 60% of the country's population.

The city of Tartu has been sacked and burned to the ground no fewer than 65 times.

Look for doughnut-shaped pebbles when walking the beaches of Hiiumaa. One particular beach has a pile of such stones. According to island lore, if you place one of these stones on the pile, your wish will be granted.

Estonian engineers played an important role in developing the leading telecommunications application Skype.