OREANDA-NEWS. April 13, 2012. The Tallinn Planning Department is launching a 3D map of Old Town at noon on Monday, allowing virtual guests to visit private courtyards and walk around on rooftops.

The website - available in Estonian, Russian and English at www.3d.tallinn.ee - took three years and 404,319 euros, including EU regional funds, to complete, reported Pealinn.

“I think this kind of Old Town 'game' will be of greater interests than some history books,” said art historian Juri Kuuskemaa. “The 3D model offers base knowledge about the rarities of Old Town, be they the most ancient houses, churches or hidden courtyards.”

The virtual tour of the 121-hectare Old Town includes panorama photos both inside and outside. Sites include the medieval city wall, government buildings, churches, as well as hotels, restaurants, venues and museums.

One of the companies involved was 3D Technologies R&D, which had 15 employees working on the project. It also received help from specialists in Poland and India, as well as students from the Academy of Arts to draw up models of around 700 buildings.

“The buildings that we chose to exhibit in greatest detail were not merely drawn - they outright rebuilt in the computer. We even added support beams,” said the company's marketing director, Kermo Magi.

Project organizers are now considering updates, such as maps of Tallinn during various historical eras.