Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Castles

Sauna Tower (Saunatorn)

Castles

Sauna Tower (Saunatorn)

Highlight • Historical Site

Sauna Tower (Saunatorn)

Name: Sauna Tower (Saunatorn)
Rating: 2

Recommended by 15 hikers

Save

Location: Harju, Estonia

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hikes to Sauna Tower (Saunatorn)

4.7

(38)

189

hikers

1. Toompea Hill (Domberg) – Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Tallinn) loop from Lilleküla

13.6km

03:36

130m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

4.0

(2)

hikers

2. View of Tallinn City Wall – The Three Sisters, Tallinn loop from All-linn

5.59km

01:27

40m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Easy

hikers

3. Tallinn Market Hall – Patarei Prison loop from Tallinn

9.54km

02:26

40m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

Tips

Swiss_Naturelover

April 4, 2025

The Sauna Tower (Saunatorn) is part of the historical town wall in Tallinn. A tower built in the second half of the 14th century, which got its name from the sauna of the St Michael's Cistercian convent, is one of a few remaining turrets. The protruding exterior side is supported by three corbels. Initially, the tower was 8 metres high and had only one defence floor. The tower had two defence floors in the final version completed in the 15th century. The current upper part of the tower originates mostly from the restoration work from 1898. The town wall section from Nun's Tower through Sauna Tower to the Golden Leg Tower was restored in 1958-60. The construction stages of the city wall next to the Golden Leg Tower were left visible. The tower was refurbished again in 2004.

Swiss_Naturelover

April 4, 2025

Also check this great audioguide: vaatavanalinna.ee/en/sauna-tower

"I was constructed in the beginning of 1371 and completed in 1372, as a small turret and later in 1422 I belonged together with the section of wall linking St. Michael’s Convent of the Cistercian Order of Reval.
St. Michael’s Convent was for noblewomen widows and single girls. A convent, which according to a fabulous legend, was built, based on the revelatory dream of the Danish King Erik at the place where “Even in the summer snow is found”. The convent was originally outside of the city walls and for many years bounded by its own fence, but the newly erected city wall which was to be built according to the instructions of the King’s special envoy, Knight Jens Kanne, was also designed to include the convent. The convent constructed the wall and towers using its own means, not that the nuns themselves became bricklayers, but the convent owned property and land, on the account of which the required resources for constructing the defensive structures needed to be found. The Cistercian monks were excellent builders, and the nuns did traditional women’s handiwork. It has been noted that the nuns here occasionally enjoyed the festivities a little too much and even together with men folk."

Swiss_Naturelover

April 4, 2025

Even back as far as the 13th century, a circular convent wall with a height of three and a half metres, incorporated – a ladies sauna! This is also from where my name derives. The stone part of my construction works of 1422, reached a height of 12 metres. In this period the nuns of the day had a huge conflict with the city council, as the women’s sauna was in the way of the defensive roads of the wall and local councilors demanded its demolition.
The Master of the Order was forced to intervene! The old sauna was dismantled and the nuns had to find new possibilities for bathing. The upper part of my construction was in ruined by the 19th century and was duly demolished, but in 1898 it was reconstructed according to the example of the tower behind the convent.

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 20 m

Weather

Today

Sunday 16 November

5°C

2°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 32.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Harju, Estonia

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Toompea Hill (Domberg)

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

The Three Sisters, Tallinn

Viru Gate (Lehmpforte)

Tallinn Cathedral (Tallinna Toomkirik)

German Embassy Residence, Lossi Plats 7

Protest Memorial at the Russian Embassy, Tallinn

View of Tallinn Old Town

Toompea (Upper Town of Tallinn)

View of Tallinn Old Town and Toompea Castle

View of Tallinn City Wall

Kalarand Beach

Sauna Tower (Saunatorn)

1. Toompea Hill (Domberg) – Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Tallinn) loop from Lilleküla

2. View of Tallinn City Wall – The Three Sisters, Tallinn loop from All-linn

3. Tallinn Market Hall – Patarei Prison loop from Tallinn

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️