Viru Square

Viru Square (Estonian: Viru väljak) was a square in the center of Tallinn, Estonia. It existed as a square until 2002 when the construction of Viru Centre began. Currently only a roundabout and an official "street name" are left of the former open area. The roundabout is the intersection of three main streets of Tallinn: Pärnu maantee (Pärnu Road), Narva maantee (Narva Road), Mere puiestee (Sea Avenue); and two smaller: Viru tänav and Vana-Viru tänav (Old-Viru Street). Also, all of the five tram lines of Tallinn(except 2, which goes via the harbour)go through the roundabout.

The beginning of Narva maantee, (Viru Centre in the right).

The building process of Viru Centre in 2003.

Names over time

• Until 1939: Russian market (Estonian: Vene turg; Russian: Русскій рынокъ, Вшивый рынок; German: Russischer Markt, Läusemarkt). Also known as lice market (Estonian: täiturg)
• 1939–1940: Viru Square
• 1940–1960: Stalin Square (during the German occupation [1941–1944] Wierländischer Platz).
• 1960–1970: Centre Square (Estonian: Keskväljak)
• 1970–present: renamed Viru Square^[1]

Buildings around Viru Square

• Viru hotel (1972), Viru Square 4
• Café Amigo
• Viru Centre, Viru väljak 4/6
• Viru Centre Bus Terminal, Viru väljak 6
• Fire Station, Vana-Viru Street 14 ^[2]
• Tammsaare Park - named after Estonian writer A. H. Tammsaare