Abandoned buildings, across Estonia; left to crumble by the government. These derilict structures tell stories of forgotten industries cast aside by the remorseless growth of the modern world, secretive military schemes fuelled by Cold War paranoia, nineteenth century grandeur and brutal state-endorsed encarceration.
More poingant than any museum, the abandoned structures strewn across Estonia provide a captivating ‘alternative history source’ for all those brave enough to find the secrets that lay within their silent walls.
Despite the country’s dark past, the story of Abandoned Estonia is not a wall-to-wall tale of suffering and suspicion; there is beauty to be found in decay. As nature begins to reclaim what was once righfully hers, furniture is replaced by improbable germinating seeds and ugly concrete structures become entangled by opportunistic branches, sapping the strength of their host as their stranglehold tightens. Paint peels, metal rusts, wood rots and order turns to disorder as the mind begins to piece together tales from a hidden past.
If these walls could talk, I wonder what stories they would tell.
Welcome to Abandoned Estonia. It’s time to explore…
Patarei Prison, nestled along the shores of Kalamaja, stands as a haunting relic of a bygone era. For over a century, its towering walls bore witness to the ebb and flow of human suffering and resilience. more “The Final Days of Patarei Prison (1990 – 2005)”
Nestled within the intriguing landscapes of Estonia, lies a captivating world of forgotten stories and enchanting decay; the realm of “Abandoned Estonia.” more “Abandoned Estonia: 8 More Urbex Locations in Tallinn and beyond”
If I was to tell you that right next to Tallinn, within view of Old Town, there was a heavily restricted Soviet military complex more “Naissaar: abandoned bunkers and Soviet secrets”
Linnahall (a.k.a V. I. Lenin Palace of Culture and Sports) is one of the biggest eyesores in all of Tallinn; drab, grey and ugly… perhaps this is why I love it so much. more “Linnahall: portrait of an abandoned Soviet-era concert hall”
Something is stirring on the western shore of Kopli peninsula. A dormant industrial complex, left behind by the twenty first century, is beginning to wake up from its thirty-year slumber. more “Põhjala Tehas: abandoned rubber factory in Kopli”
More than ten years of knowledge and experience, in one place. Here is my Alternative Tallinn Travel Guide.
more “My Alternative Tallinn Travel Guide: Discover the real Hidden Tallinn”
Derelict; dangerous; destroyed; destitute. Kopli Lines has been one of the most problematic areas of Tallinn for decades. Vacant shells of former homes sporadically occupied by squatters and always in the news for the wrong reasons; more “~{Forgotten Tallinn Series, Ep.3}~ Kopli Lines, Abandoned Ghost Town”
Once upon a time in a mystical land called Kopli one intrepid traveller decided to take a walk with his camera.
Deeper and deeper into this dangerous district he delved, documenting the darker side of Tallinn. more “~{Forgotten Tallinn Series, Ep.2}~ A Photographic Tour of Kopli”
Tallinn is in a state of monumental metamorphosis. Apartment blocks rise up from the fertile ashes of a post-industrial wasteland, cafés procreate, shopping malls swell and futuristic trams glide silently across their new domain. more “~{Forgotten Tallinn Series, Ep.1}~ What’s the story of Kopli?”
[Originally posted in 2017. How things have changed. You can see my updated list here]
Estonia is full of secrets.
Museums and history books will tell you the official stories but the real secrets are hidden below this superficial surface. more “8 Abandoned Places to explore in and around Tallinn”
Another rumour circles. Abandoned factory in Kalamaja, easy access and full of trees. It’s time to explore. more “Exploring the Abandoned Volta Factory”
It was the last day of our London to Tallinn bike ride and – by sheer coincidence – my birthday. Such days deserve celebration and I cannot think of a finer way to mark the occasion than a visit to an abandoned submarine base, hidden deep in the peaceful forest ambience of Laahemaa National Park. more “Hara: Abandoned Soviet Submarine Base”
“Empty your mind. Be formless. Be shapeless. Like water, my friend.”
Information on this beautiful abandoned water tower is pretty limited.
Standing on the abandoned rail tracks more “Abandoned Water Tower, Telliskivi”
Guided Tour of Patarei (2014)
“This place is not fit for humans and never has been”
Still utterly fascinating and darkly captivating, Patarei Prison sits ominously on the Baltic coast; more “Re-visiting Patarei: Abandoned Soviet Prison”
50km west of Tallinn, perched on the precarious coastal limestone cliffs that characterise the coastline, lies the former Soviet military town of Paldiski. more “Paldiski: Abandoned Lighthouse and Crumbling Industry”
The steps of Linnahall were originally built to signify Tallinn’s status as hosts of the sailing events for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. As part of a larger regeneration project – which included the building of a brand new highway, the sailing club in Pirita, the famous TV Tower and even the airport – the I.V. Lenin Palace of Culture and Sport, as it was originally known, is perhaps the only structure which has failed to live up to its billing. more “Linnahall: Abandoned Soviet-Era Concert Hall”
About 50km from Tallinn lies the small town of Riisipere. After a lengthy bike ride we came face to face with this magnificent yet eerie mansion. Dating back to the 1800’s, the building and its grounds have been completely abandoned and left to the mercy of the elements for many years, giving this once grand structure a far more imposing aura.
I have often heard the phrase ‘a wall of silence’ used to describe a stillness so profound that it feels all-consuming. The grounds of Riisipere Mansion were engulfed by silence. No birdsong. No breeze. No rustling of the leaves. No life could be heard. Gardens were overgrown and a solitary rusting bench lay forgotten next to a vast lake that stretched out into the void. more “Stalked through the Abandoned Mansion, Riisipere”
The imposing abandoned structure of Patarei Prison, just a stones throw from the main harbour, serves as a stark reminder of the brutality of the Soviet regime and offers a tantalising glimpse into the grim nature of prison life in Estonia during the late twentieth century.
These images were taken on my first visit to Patarei in 2011.
Originally built as a sea fortress in 1840, this formidable compound housed inmates right up until 2002 and has remained almost completely untouched since its closure in 2005. With dead plants still on the tables, beds still made and bars of soap decaying in the showers, this eerie, uncomfortable and dirty place remains one of the most ubiquitous remnants of Tallinn’s dark past. Poignant, thought-provoking and utterly immersive. more “Patarei Vangla: Abandoned Soviet Prison not fit for Humans”