Estonia is a country of great scenery with forests, lakes and islands, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Estonia even feels a little like Finland, which is not surprising given its closeness to Finland. Today the country seems to have started reclaiming its past of medieval castles, pagan ruins and German-style manor houses to reestablish their full European heritage although there are still some grim-looking Soviet skyscrapers left. Tallinn, the ancient Hanseatic city and its capital, has many historical monuments, particularly the medieval buildings of its Old Town form a charming backdrop for its vibrant civic life.