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Baltic StatesThe Inside StoryWonderful medieval Old Towns, dense forests, pine-fringedsandy beaches, hotels to suit all budgets and fantastic dining,the Baltics truly have something to offer for everyone.Estonia boasts wonderfully diverse architecture, fromRussian Orthodox churches to lonely wooden windmillsand Danish castles. The capital, Tallinn, is a true fairytalecity rivalling the likes of St Petersburg and Budapest.Continuing to Latvia, you will discover a serene land ofrolling plains, quiet dairy farmlands, dense forests, oldfortresses and ornate palaces such as the Baroque Rundale.While Riga is another enchanting Baltic capital sure tocharm you.Visitors to Lithuania will enjoy highlights such as theatmospheric Hill of Crosses at Siauliai, medieval TrakaiCastle, the seaside resort of Palanga, the narrow streets andmerchant houses of Klaipeda and the stunning CuronianSpit as well as the picturesque city of the Iron Wolf, Vilnius.Storyto tell -JoanneWheelerWhy I lovethe BalticsTravel between eachof the Baltic Statescan be done with suchease, so a mix of cities,national parks, castlesand so much more areall within easy reach. It iswonderful to experiencethe different cultures onoffer and to soak up theindividuality that eachcountry strives for.1179Earliest mention ofEstonian folk singing18th CRussian Empire gainscontrol of most of presentdayBaltic states1869First Estonian SongFestival, one of thelargest amateur choralevents in the world1940Baltic partisans knownas “the Forest Brothers”begin guerrilla waragainst Soviet rule13th CChristianity and feudalismintroduced following theinvasion of the Crusaders1831First crosses appear onwhat becomes Lithuania’sfamous Hill of Crosses1918-20Estonia, Latvia andLithuania becomesovereign nations1941Nazi Germanyinvades Baltic region