Tallinn's New Bronze Sculpture Lets Blind Visitors Explore the Old Town by Touch
A new bronze sculpture has been installed in Tallinn's Town Hall Square to help blind and low-vision visitors explore the city's medieval Old Town. The miniature model, placed in the corner of Raekoja plats at Dunkri tänav, recreates the historic square and its surrounding buildings in tactile detail.
The project was led by the Tallinn International Rotary Club (TIRC), aiming to make the UNESCO-listed Old Town more accessible. The sculpture allows visitors to experience the area's architecture through touch rather than sight.
Created by Estonian artist Tauno Kangro, the piece follows his other well-known public works, such as The Lucky Chimney Sweep and The Aurochs at Rakvere Castle Hill. Kangro's design captures the intricate details of the square's medieval structures, offering a hands-on way to understand the city's heritage.
Hillar Sein, head of Tallinn's Culture and Sports Department, described the sculpture as a meaningful addition. He noted that it gives visitors 'the chance to touch and feel the depicted buildings and, through them, experience the surrounding cityscape.'
The bronze model now stands as a permanent feature in the square, providing a new way for visually impaired visitors to engage with Tallinn's history. The initiative reflects ongoing efforts to improve accessibility in one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities.
