General Information
General Information
Tallinn Centre District was created 4th of March 1993, when Tallinn City Council adopted decree which divided capital to eight limited self-governing parts of the city. The area of Centre District is 30,6 square kilometres (km²). There are 62 067 residents in the Centre District (1st of April 2017).
Before the local government reform Centre District was divided into four, at that time called „rajoon-district“: Kalinin (after Mihhail Kalinin), Lenin (after Vladimir Lenin), Maritime and October (after October Revolution) and these districts had their borders close to Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats).
Because of our location our district connects different parts of the city today as well as in the past, Centre District, in the Northwest has borders with North Tallinn District, in the West with Kristiine District and in the Southwest with Nõmme District. In the South the Centre District has border with Rae parish, and in the East with Lasnamäe District. In the Northeast Centre District goes along the coast until Maarjamäe Memorial, there is the border with Pirita District. The northern border of Centre District is the waterfront with the Gulf of Finland.
On the territory of Centre District we have Ülemiste lake and in the Gulf of Finland the island of Aegna. The area of Aegna is 2,93-3 square kilometres (km²). There are two residents. Because of the nature and monuments the island is under national protection.
The core of the Centre District is Old Town, which was formed from 11th to 15th century, and still has maintained medieval street network, lot borders and majority of buildings. Former Hanseatic League glory can be seen in Town Hall that was built in 1404 with Town Hall Square, Saint Nicholas` Church, Saint Olaf`s Church (at its time it was with 159 meters the highest in Europe and perhaps, in the world), Church of the Holy Spirit and Russian churches as well as The Cathedral Church of Saint Mary, Dominican Convent of Saint Catherine, female Cistercian monastery and Toompea Castle with colorful history. More than half of medieval city wall with towers has preserved with later built ground fortifications.
Many busiest Estonian businesses and trading areas are situated near the Old Town and in the harbour area, highest level of city development in that field can be seen in Liivalaia street, Tartu road and Maakri street where a number of skyscrapers have built. Centre District is home for majority of social and cultural institutions, perhaps the most important Toompea Castle (Parliament building) and Government Residence (Stenbock house), 1923. constructed and after Second World War restored Estonia Theatre, National Library of Estonia in Tõnismäe hill, Kalev Stadium and sports hall. Numerous museums, theatres, government institutions.
In addition to the Old Town which is under heritage protection, there are five valuable milieu areas. The best known is Kadriorg, that has a castle of Kadriorg with surrounding park, built in 18th century and currently serves as an art museum. This area formed next to the park and is largely influenced by the russian architecture, wealthy visitors and 19th century functionalism. Besides Kadriorg, as a whole, is under protection the quarter of Süda-Tatari and Kassisaba residential area, different examples of wooden areas common in Tallinn. Rotermanni quarter is also proclaimed as a valuable area, it is situated between harbor and Old Town, it can be characterised as block of large buildings largely influenced by Art Nouveau. Area of Herne street-Veerenni street-Õilme street-Magasini street is notable for greenery and garden city atmosphere.
Regardless of Centre being as a big junction and an area of dense population, the district has rich landscaping. There are about 42 different green areas, and the most known is Kadriorg Park, Toom Park (area around Schnelli pond), Hirve Park, Tammsaare Park, The hill of Viru gate. The most important designer of milieu in the centre is the sea, there are several kilometers of waterfront around the centre district (from Tallinn City Hall to Maarjamäe Memorial). Port of Tallinn is located in the centre.
Centre District is managed by Tallinn Centre District Administration within/accordingly to the power and borders stated in different acts, but mainly in the statute of Tallinn Centre District Administration.