Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a spectacular sight, topped with onion-shaped domes, hallmarks of religious Russian architecture. Built in 1900, when Estonia was still part of the Russian Empire, the cathedral was intended as a symbol of religious and political domination under the Tsarist regime. The cathedral is named after Alexander Nevsky, a celebrated Russian national hero best known for his victory at the Battle on the Ice in 1242. In that pivotal clash, Nevsky defeated Swedish forces and the German Christian knights of the Teutonic Order, two powers that also ruled over Tallinn. After the First World War, the cathedral narrowly escaped demolition due to its association with a period of oppression. In the 1940s, there was even a plan to turn it into a planetarium. But in 1918, it was officially recognised as a place of worship for the Russian Orthodox community, which made up around 40% of Tallinn’s population at the time. Its bell tower has the largest set of bells in the city, with the heaviest weighing an incredible 15 tonnes. Inside, you’ll be surrounded by stunning mosaics and icons. Wherever your gaze falls, the cathedral’s power and beauty are unmistakable.