Toompea Castle Introduction

Toompea has been the centre of power in Estonia for 800 years. In the course of times, vice-regents of Denmark, commanders of the Livonian Order and the Swedish and Russian governors have ruled the territories of Estonia from here. In the first decades of the Republic of Estonia, Toompea Castle was also the residence of the state elders, and for a long time the Government of the Republic of Estonia worked here together with the parliament – the Riigikogu. At present Toompea Castle is occupied by the Riigikogu. In the course of centuries, Toompea Castle has turned from a medieval fortress into a modern centre of government. Besides the 101 members of the Riigikogu, about 251 officials of the Chancellery of the Riigikogu work here.