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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 m with the dimensions approx. 110 m by 75 m.

Nearby places

• War of Independence Victory Column
• St. John's Church, Tallinn
• Palace Hotel
• Georg Ots Tallinn Music College
• Russian Theatre
• Tallinn City Government Building
• Tallinn Art Hall
• Estonian Artists' Association
• Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art

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.

Soviet era

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, 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

• Postcard image of Freedom Square from 1900
• The first celebration of Estonian Independence Day in 1919
• During the German occupation in 1943
• Archaeological excavation, June 2008
• The reconstruction process in 2008
• Moat in July 2008
• Independence War Victory Column
• Freedom Square in 2014
• St. John's Church on the eastern side of the square
• Tallinn City Office on the southern side of the square

See also

• Independence War Victory Column
• Town Hall Square, Tallinn

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. https://www.ra.ee/tuna/wp-content/uploads/annuk-eve-paraadile-tuna-2017-1-1.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

v t e Tallinn landmarks
Buildings and structures	Toompea Castle Town Hall Old Thomas Kiek in de Kök St Mary's Cathedral St. Olaf's church St. Nicholas Church Church of the Holy Ghost Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Saint Catherine's Monastery Town Hall Pharmacy Great Guild Pikk Hermann tower Knighthood House Stenbock House Kadriorg Palace Presidential Palace Pirita Monastery Glehn Castle (Tallinn Observatory) Maarjamäe Manor Maarjamäe Memorial TV Tower Linnahall Patarei Sea Fortress-Prison Independence War Victory Column Bronze Soldier Charles Leroux Monument Russalka Memorial Raekoja plats Freedom Square Walls of Tallinn House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads Tallinn Synagogue
Precincts	Historic Centre (Toompea Hill) Kadriorg Kalamaja
Nature and parks	Tallinn Zoo Tallinn Botanic Garden Lake Ülemiste Lake Harku Pirita River Aegna island Kadriorg Park Danish King's Garden Kanuti Garden Kuberneri Garden Komandandi Garden Toompark Hirvepark Harjumägi Lindamägi Tammsaare Park Police Garden Löwenruh Park Glehn Park Jüriöö Park Pae Park Lillepi Park Kakumäe Coastal Park Kopli cemetery Kalamaja cemetery Metsakalmistu
Beaches	Pirita Beach Stroomi Beach Kakumäe Beach Harku Beach Pikakari Beach
Culture	Museums and galleries Kumu (Art Museum of Estonia main branch) Mikkel Museum Estonian Open Air Museum (Kolu kõrts) Estonian Maritime Museum (Seaplane Harbour) Estonian Firefighting Museum Estonian History Museum Estonian Museum of Natural History Estonian Health Museum Estonian Theatre and Music Museum Museum of Estonian Architecture Museum of Occupations Theatres Estonia Theatre Estonian Drama Theatre Theatre NO99 Russian Theatre Estonian Puppet Theatre Tallinn City Theatre Von Krahl Theatre Other National Library of Estonia Song Festival Grounds Culture Factory Polymer
Science and education	Tallinn University Tallinn University of Technology Estonian Academy of Arts Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Estonian Academy of Security Sciences Estonian Maritime Academy Tallinn University of Applied Sciences Estonian Business School Estonian Academy of Sciences
Sports	Pirita Yachting Centre A. Le Coq Arena Kadriorg Stadium Kalevi Keskstaadion Unibet Arena Kalev Sports Hall Tondiraba Ice Hall Pirita Velodrome Mustamäe Ski Jumping Hill Tallinn Hippodrome Pirita-Kose-Kloostrimetsa Circuit
Transportation	Port of Tallinn Old City Harbour Paljassaare Harbour Bekker Port Tallinn Airport Tallinn Baltic Station Tallinn bus station Tallinna Linnatranspordi AS
Events	Estonian Song Festival Estonian Dance Festival Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival Tallinn Old Town Days Tallinn Marathon Tallinn Music Week Tallinn Christmas Market Õllesummer Tallinn Legends

59°26′1.52″N 24°44′38.89″E / 59.4337556°N 24.7441361°E / 59.4337556; 24.7441361

• Squares in Tallinn