Streetsign reading "Tallinn Streets dot com" Header

Work in progress

A pile of ro ad signs half-trashed and piled up on a building-site, to indicate the site is in construction.

Website under construction, many entries missing, no photos with the streets, layout not finalized...

This started with a book (last few pages under review) and only 926 of the 1882 articles (A to L included) entered so far, so many links going nowhere.

Contact

Photograph of Simon Hamilton in Pikk street, Tallinn.

Apparently, a company that uses its owner's name is considered more trustworthy because they put themselves on the line.

This is me, in Tallinn this spring (2025), on a 3-month spree to check details, take photos (about 12K), explore (ave. 15K/day), and so on. I think I covered every street in Kesklinn (apart from Mõigu), most of Põhja-Tallinn and some Kristiine.

For information, please contact Simon at this address dot com, thanks!

Logo of the Tallinn Children's Hospital Foundation

The Book

All author earnings of A Rambling Dictionary of Tallinn Street Names to be donated to the foundation or donate here.

If anyone could help or advise as to the legal mechanism, it would be appreciated, thanks!

The Website

Not intended at the beginning, the present website is taking on a life of its own, with plans for relevant discussion forums, picture galleries and, over time, more non-streetname entries.

In theory, it will be funded by advertising relevant to people in Tallinn, to be determined.

A percentage of profits (also to be determined) to be donated to the foundation. 

Home

Lurenburgi torn

Lurenburgi torn (0) Symbol designating a Point of Interest.

Last built (1538–1554) but not last demolished (1767) Tallinn tower. Sometimes spelled Lurenbergi, Luhrenburgi or Luerborch, the first recorded name was Lurerborch and its origins are not clear. Ignoring the relatively flimsy evidence for an eponymous Mr Luer (ditto Bernd von der Borch, master of the Livonian Order, 1471–1483), the name can be broken down into two MLG words lūren and borch, the former meaning to lurk, deceive, or lie in wait secretly, and the latter, among others, castle or fortress. If so, and since lūren’s counterpart lūrære would give rise to Mod. Est. luuraja, military scout, spy, or just plain lookout, and being designed as a smaller-scale canon tower (like Paks Margareeta) outside the wall protecting Harju Gate, (see Harju värav), the original name may come from its function as roundel or redoubt-like lookout and reconnaissance tower. Maybe.

Advertise...

Your business, store or consultancy next to your street address and a percentage of your fee (to be determined) goes the the Children's Hospital fund.

Sponsorship logo top bare

Post your favorite local photo and sponsor the foundation. Your entire sponsorship goes go the the Children's Hospital fund

Wanted!

Beautiful photos of your street or Tallinn! Send them in! No remuneration planned for now, but will be attributed according to your preferences.