The city of Tallinn has never been razed, however around 1524 Catholic churches in many towns of Estonia, including Tallinn, were pillaged as part of the Reformational fervor: this occurred throughout Europe. Although extensively bombed by Soviet air forces during the later stages of World War II, much of the medieval Old Town still retains its charm. The Tallinn Old Town (including ''Toompea'') became a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1997.