Pikk Hermann or Tall Hermann () is a tower of the Toompea Castle, on Toompea hill in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The first part was built 1360–70. It was rebuilt (height brought to ) in the 16th century. A staircase with 215 steps leads to the top of the tower. The tower consists of ten internal floors and a viewing platform at the top. Pikk Hermann is situated next to the Estonian Parliament building and the flag on the top of the tower at above sea level is one of the symbols of the government in force. The national flag, measuring by , is raised and the national anthem is played at the time of sunrise (but not earlier than 7 am) and lowered at the time of sunset (but not later than 10 pm). While it is lowered, the song "Mu isamaa on minu arm" (My Fatherland is My Love) is heard. For the first time, the flag was raised to the top of Pikk Hermann at three o'clock in the afternoon of December 12, 1918 after the independence of Estonia. The Soviet troops who later occupied Estonia lowered the flag from the tower in the summer of 1940 and later replaced it with the flag of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic. The original flag was raised back on the tower on February 24, 1989. Since then, raising the flag to the top of the tower is one of the traditions of Estonia's Independence Day. The Estonian flag was also briefly raised over the Pikk Hermann during Otto Tief's brief interim government of Sept 18-22, 1940. References Buildings and structures completed in 1370 Towers completed in the 14th century Towers in Estonia Buildings and structures in Tallinn Kesklinn, Tallinn Gothic architecture in Estonia Fortified towers Round towers Tallinn Old Town