While browsing through your Tallinn accommodation options you might notice a listing for the Sokos Viru Hotel. Looks like a standard city centre hotel right? Well, not exactly. more “‘Ashtrays with ears’: KGB spying in Tallinn’s Viru Hotel”
Category: Remnants of the Soviet Era
St. Olaf’s Church: Tallinn’s Tower of Fire, Myths, and the KGB
Tallinn’s St. Olaf’s Church (Oleviste kirik) is more than just a pretty church. It’s a place of record-breaking heights, mysterious legends, and Cold War espionage. more “St. Olaf’s Church: Tallinn’s Tower of Fire, Myths, and the KGB”
The Untold History of Vodka in Estonia
“Viinaklaasi upub enam inimesi kui merre“ [Estonian proverb]
“More people drown in a glass of vodka than in the sea” more “The Untold History of Vodka in Estonia”
The Final Days of Patarei Prison (1990 – 2005)
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)”
The Soviet history of Telliskivi Factory: photos from the archives
Telliskivi Creative City has become the centre of social life and business in modern Tallinn. Many people often find themselves asking questions like: What is the history of this place? more “The Soviet history of Telliskivi Factory: photos from the archives”
Behind the Iron Curtain: A Glimpse into Daily Life in Soviet Estonia
The Soviet era, particularly under Stalin’s reign, is often associated with oppression, fear, and hardship. However, after Stalin’s death, a gradual thawing occurred, and life for ordinary people in places like Soviet Estonia began to take on a semblance of normalcy more “Behind the Iron Curtain: A Glimpse into Daily Life in Soviet Estonia”
Grandeur and Brutalism: The Best of Soviet Architecture in Tallinn
Tallinn is renowned for its picturesque medieval Old Town, but its Soviet past has also left an indelible mark on its urban landscape more “Grandeur and Brutalism: The Best of Soviet Architecture in Tallinn”
The Legacy of the 1980 Moscow Olympics in Tallinn: Soviet Architecture
The Moscow Olympics of 1980 were not just a global sporting spectacle; they were an opportunity for the Soviet Union to showcase its architectural prowess. Tallinn played its part in this grand narrative as the host city for the sailing events. more “The Legacy of the 1980 Moscow Olympics in Tallinn: Soviet Architecture”
Abandoned Estonia: 8 More Urbex Locations in Tallinn and beyond
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”
2009-Present: a virtual tour and time travel adventure in post-Soviet Tallinn
I’d like to invite you on a post-Soviet Tallinn adventure. Come on an alternative virtual tour through a time of extreme changes, witness the scale of gentrification and re-live a lost world. more “2009-Present: a virtual tour and time travel adventure in post-Soviet Tallinn”
Naissaar: abandoned bunkers and Soviet secrets
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: portrait of an abandoned Soviet-era concert hall
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”
Põhjala Tehas: abandoned rubber factory in Kopli
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”
Alternative Tallinn Travel Guide: Discover the real Hidden Tallinn
More than ten years of knowledge and experience, in one place. Here is my Alternative Tallinn Travel Guide.
more “Alternative Tallinn Travel Guide: Discover the real Hidden Tallinn”
~{Forgotten Tallinn Series, Ep.3}~ Kopli Lines, Abandoned Ghost Town
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”
~{Forgotten Tallinn Series, Ep.2}~ A Photographic Tour of Kopli
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”
~{Forgotten Tallinn Series, Ep.1}~ What’s the story of Kopli?
Kopli: the forgotten neighbourhood.
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?”
A Beginners’ Guide to Tallinn
Dynamic, yet peaceful.
Modern, yet traditional.
Nordic future, Soviet past.
Fiercely patriotic; yet outward-facing. more “A Beginners’ Guide to Tallinn”
8 Abandoned Places to explore in and around Tallinn
[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”
Exploring the Abandoned Volta Factory
Another rumour circles. Abandoned factory in Kalamaja, easy access and full of trees. It’s time to explore. more “Exploring the Abandoned Volta Factory”
Soviet Statues – Abandoned and Unloved
The Soviet obsession with statues is clear. From Berlin to Bishkek, the former Iron Curtain cities are littered with these grand images of strength and unity – propaganda and personality cult – like the scattered wreckage strewn across the landscape in the wake of a mighty storm. more “Soviet Statues – Abandoned and Unloved”
Estonian Animation is Utterly Terrifying
“I remember being terrified by the egg”.
While reminiscing with Estonians about the melancholy days of childhood – the long summer days spent cycling through pristine forests, the heady scent of pine filling the nostrils and the hazy summer sunshine flooding the landscapes with a rich, warming glow more “Estonian Animation is Utterly Terrifying”
Re-visiting Patarei: Abandoned Soviet Prison
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”
Paldiski: Abandoned Lighthouse and Crumbling Industry
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”
Tallinn TV Tower Re-Opens
News hot off the press: after lengthy refurbishments Tallinn’s iconic TV Tower has finally re-opened its doors to the public. This is very exciting news for a number of reasons more “Tallinn TV Tower Re-Opens”