The Fat Margaret tower is the most famous landmark among the Walls of Tallinn. Some tourists may be disappointed by the fact that it is not as tall and graceful as other towers and churches in the Estonian capital. But Fat Margaret is a special "woman", distinguished not by an elegant appearance but interesting history, strong character, and rich inner world.

The main attraction of the Walls of Tallinn was built at the beginning of the 16th century next to the Great Coastal Gate, which served as the main entrance from the port for those who arrived in the city by the sea. The Westphalian master Gert Koningk designed the defensive structure and its main decoration, the small Tallinn coat of arms carved in stone.

Throughout its 5-century history, Fat Margaret has changed many names: Round Tower, New Tower, Rosencrantz… According to legend, it got its modern name in the second half of the 19th century from Russian sailors who were bored in the port. Once, the port offered the most impressive view of the tower. But if you want to see Fat Margaret in all its glory, it is better to come to it from the park laid out at its foot.

The name of the tower is linked to its impressive size: the height is 20 meters, the diameter is 25 meters, the thickness of the walls is 6 meters, as in the most formidable and impregnable bastions. On the four floors, there were 155 loopholes that could cope with any enemy attacks.

Since the thirties of the 19th century, Fat Margaret was used as a prison, and a century later it became an exhibition space. Today, the tower is occupied by the Estonian Maritime Museum. Its collection includes about 70 thousand exhibits dedicated not only to the local history of navigation and shipbuilding but also to fishing, underwater archaeology, and the development of ports and lighthouses.

After exploring Fat Margaret and the exhibitions of the Estonian Maritime Museum, you can climb to the tower roof. There is a cafe with an observation deck.