There are three reasons for their current revival as tourist destinations; the attractiveness of the three cities Tallin, Riga and Vilnius. They have caught up with the likes of Prague as must-see towns, for their beautiful architecture, wonderful art galleries and cheap food and beer.
These three countries along the coast of the Baltic Sea, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, are known for having experienced numerous upheavals over the past, and thus for a long time tourism has been minimal. For centuries, they have been dominated by various European empires, interspersed with periods of independence. This similarity and their geographical proximity give the countries some common historical background, but different languages and cultures.
From the 12th to the 17th centuries, the Baltic States were under the influence of the Hanse (a merchants’ guild); Riga was the principal eastern trading post. In 1589, although Latvia and Estonia remained in the Hanseatic League, Lithuania joined with Poland. In 1795, after a new partition of Poland, Lithuania and the two other Baltic States became attached to Russia. They regained their independence after World War I, thanks to the will of the eastern countries to establish a geographic barrier between themselves and Russia, which had become Communist. In 1939, Russia and Germany signed a reciprocal treaty of non-aggression, and on this occasion the Baltic States returned to the Russian fold.
The Baltic States remained territories occupied by the former U.S.S.R. until 1990, when, during the period of glasnost under Gorbachev, Baltic opposition groups demanded their independence, and attained it after the dissolution of the Soviet Block in 1991. In 2004, thanks to the energy and enthusiasm of these states, they joined the European Union.
The three Baltic States have very similar geographical attributes. Forest covers much of the area, and visitors will find an enormous number of lakes as well; there are 2,800 in Lithuania alone! In Lithuania travellers can visit Aukstaitija and Zemaitija Parks, which hold a myriad of glacial lakes.
The Baltics are particularly known for the splendid coastline along the Baltic Sea.
In Lithuania, the extraordinary Curonian Spit, a national park recognized by UNESCO in 2000, amazes visitors with its miles of dark pine forests, sandwiched between a 100-kilometer (62 mile) beach along one side and a lagoon on the other that is dotted with picturesque fishing villages. The tiny town of Neringa, located on the Spit, welcomes guests with open arms.
In Estonia, the islands of Hiiumaa and Saarema are equally popular seaside destinations.
In the past, the Amber Road of the Baltic passed through Poland, Germany, and the Balkans. People who live along the Baltic Sea coast still use a lovely nickname for amber: “seabirds’ tears”. According to legend, Baltic amber holds “the light of the world”.
It’s unthinkable to bypass the joy of the Baltic States: their capitals.
Tallinn, capital of Estonia, is the oldest capital of Northern Europe. The old town, from the medieval period, is fortified and dominates the Gulf of Finland. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit on foot, strolling along the meandering streets in the shadow of the ramparts, winding around religious buildings and old merchants’ houses.
Riga, capital of Latvia, is the second largest port on the Baltic. Nicknamed “the pearl of the Baltic”, its old town, dating from the 13th century, is testimony to its rich past. Here you can see the German influence from hanseatic times. It is this history that made Riga a cosmopolitan city, moulded by so many different influences and exchanges. Riga is equally well-known as a centre for Art Nouveau.
In Lithuania, the southernmost Baltic State and the largest, the most populous, and the most visited, the capital is Vilnius. The city is proud to point out that it has existed officially since 1323. It is truly a cultural crossroads where each passing group has left its imprint. This diversity shows in the buildings of the Old Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), where all the architectural styles of central Europe blend in surprising harmony.