Long Leg Gate

At the bottom of the Long Leg Street stands a massive gray gate tower that once controlled the way from the lower to the upper town and vice versa. During the order period the gate was closed and locked at nine o’clock every night and nobody could go through until the next morning. Later, in the Swedish period gate closed at ten. Some time in the 19th century the gate was often left open. Today the gate itself has been removed and we can imagine how it was from the drawing on the wall. The first tower was built in the 14th century and reconstructed a number of times over the years.

The last time the gate was intentionally closed was in 1991 when a large granite cube was brought here to prevent the Rusiian tanks from climbing their way up to Toompea during the August coup.

The tower has offered a roof over the heads of the mediaeval watchmen and later also 19th century soldiers. The last hunderd ears or so it has seen many well known Estonian artists work and also live here.

The Long Leg was the only way form for horsemen and carriages to get from one town to the other and the road was tricky here at the gate. Great artistry was needed from the coachmen because the gate exits into a dangerous curve and then leads to a crossing of three intersecting and crowded streets. It was usual for them to call out "Caution!" while descending so that anyone on their way wolud know to step aside but even so accidents and even deaths are known to have happened here.