.mw-parser-output .hidden-begin{box-sizing:border-box;width:100%;padding:5px;border:none;font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .hidden-title{font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .hidden-content{text-align:left}You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Estonian. (July 2023) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Estonian Wikipedia article at [[:et:Vabaduse väljak]]; see its history for attribution. You should also add the template ((Translated|et|Vabaduse väljak)) to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.
Freedom square. View from Harjumägi. In the foreground the War of Independence Victory Column, with the building of the former insurance company EEKS-MAJA on the left, and St. John's Church behind

Freedom Square (Estonian: Vabaduse väljak) is a plaza on the southern end of the Old Town in Tallinn, Estonia, where state functions and various concerts take place. It is bounded on the east by St. John's Church (built 1862–67), on the south by Kaarli Boulevard and an underground shopping center (2008–09), and on the west by a Victory Column (2009) commemorating the Estonian War of Independence 1918–1920.

Design

The current design was created by architects Tiit Trummal, Veljo Kaasik and Andres Alver. Before 2010, it was a parking lot. It has an area of 7752 m2[1] with the dimensions approx. 110 m by 75 m.

Nearby places

History

Pre-republic

The square arose on the site of the Swedish bastion in front of the Harju Gate, which was demolished in the middle of the 19th century. In 1867, the St. John's Church was erected on the square. In 1910, the Haymarket was liquidated on the square, and the square was paved with stones. On the 200th anniversary of the capture of the city by the Russian Empire, a monument to Peter I was erected on the square, which was dismantled on 1 May 1922.

First Republic

In 1935, the area of the square was expanded. The boulevards were relocated and almost 2,500 square meters of new space was built under the square.[2]

Soviet era

A Stalinist building facade on the square.

On 29 April 1941, Freedom Square was named to Victory Square after the beginning Soviet occupation of Estonia. In the autumn of 1941, after the arrival of the German Wehrmacht, the name of Freedom Square was restored. On 22 September 1944, the Red Army entered Tallinn and by 1948, it was reverted to Victory Square. During the Soviet period, Freedom Square was known as the Victory Square (Võidu väljak). In the USSR, the square hosted parades in honor of holidays like Victory Day, the October Revolution,[3] and before 1969, International Workers' Day.

Modern Freedom Square

The Cross of Liberty and the Monument to the War of Independence was opened on 23 June 2009 as a memorial for those who fell during the Estonian War of Independence.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ "Tallinna linna omandis oleva Vabaduse väljak, Kaarli pst kinnistu jagamine". Tallinn.
  2. ^ "KUNAGI PARK, TÄNA VEEL PARKLA: Tallinna haljastuse uurija Heldur Sander kirjeldab Vabaduse platsi kujunemislugu, mis pole siiani lõppenud. Ent vaidlusi on jätkunud aegade pikku. ‹ Ajaleht KesKus koduleht". kes-kus.ee. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  3. ^ (PDF) https://www.ra.ee/tuna/wp-content/uploads/annuk-eve-paraadile-tuna-2017-1-1.pdf. ((cite web)): Missing or empty |title= (help)
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59°26′1.52″N 24°44′38.89″E / 59.4337556°N 24.7441361°E / 59.4337556; 24.7441361

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