Kiek in de Kök Museum and Bastion Tunnels

Talinn’s Kiek in de Kök and Bastion Tunnels military structures provide an overview of Talinn’s defensive history from the Middle Ages to the present. Kiek in de Kök (“Peek into the Kitchen”), a 15^th-century artillery tower that was so high guards joked that they could see into the kitchens of the homes below, houses a museum dedicated to Talinn’s fortifications, weapons, and medieval life. The adjacent Bastion Tunnels date from the 1670s and were built during Swedish rule to transport soldiers and ammunition. They were converted to bomb shelters during World War II and further modified during the Soviet period through the addition of electricity, running water, ventilation, and phones. A slow-moving train ride provides visitors with a glimpse into the tunnels’ evolution over time.

_{(Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.)}