We travel the Baltic countries: 11 strange and unusual places in Estonia

Strange lake – Rumu underwater prison

The abandoned prison building in the small town of Rumu in northwestern Estonia has horrified locals, but has now become a popular pastime. The ruins of the old prison are now sinking into a quarry where prisoners were forced to work.

In the 1950s, the Soviet Union established a prison in the city of Rumu. It was built on the site right here in the limestone mine where the prisoners were forced to work.

The seemingly insurmountable prison walls, after all, were broken after half a century. When Estonia regained its independence in 1991 and the Soviets were ousted, their institutions began to collapse. Including Rumu Prison. Both he and the race itself were abandoned.

No one was concerned that the water was pumped regularly. Over time, groundwater flooded the quarry and a lake appeared in it. It filled with water so fast that even the digging technique was flooded.

Today, part of the old prison is still on land, and part can be seen jutting out of the clear lake water. This place has become a popular diving spot, a music festival has been held here, ice skating on a frozen lake in winter.

Ungru Castle Ruins

These palace ruins are like a monument to tragic love. It may be hard to imagine now, but Ungru Castle was once one of the largest neo-baroque palaces in the country, although it was never completely finished. Like the love story associated with them, it never happened that way.

Interestingly, the Ungru Palace was an almost ideal replica of Merzenburg Castle in Germany. It is said that the son of the owners of this land in the XIX century. He visited the castle in Germany in the late 19th century and fell in love with the princess there. She praised, but the princess said she loved her castle so much that she declared that she would stay there forever. The returning son promised to restore Merzenburg Castle on his land so that his beloved would agree to move here.

He undertook the work, but could not finish it: the news came to him that the princess had died. Not long after, the owners’ own son died and the building was left unfinished. They were left without owners, so they became the target of thieves who took all the most valuable things.

After World War II, when Estonia was occupied by the Soviets, it fell into the hands of the soldiers. While building a nearby military airfield, it was decided to use castle bricks for it. About a third of the building was demolished. The remaining ruins are now preserved and in even better condition than the remaining abandoned airfield.

The amazing kingdom is the land of the set.

Did you know that there is an extremely interesting national minority living in Estonia: the Sets? People scattered between Estonia and Russia do not consider them Estonians or Russians, they are citizens of the Kingdom of Setom. As he wrote 15 minutes Travel author Kristina Stalnionytė, Sets doesn’t just speak her own language: they gather their king every year, sing their hymn, and raise the flag of the Seth kingdom at home over the holidays.

The land of the Set is full of all sorts of interesting things and surprises, especially since this land is remote and often forgotten even by the Estonians themselves. For example, an underground labyrinth of caves runs the length of the Piusa River, created not by nature but by people who have been digging quartz sand here for half a century. They now house bats that have congregated in the largest colony in the Baltic States.

Read about all the cool things in the land of Seth in two articles:

Hara Underwater Base

The Soviet Army built an underwater base on the island of Hara, occupied Estonia in the 1960s. When the occupying forces were expelled and Estonia regained its independence, the base remained obsolete and neglected.

Although many of the buildings have collapsed considerably, it is still possible to walk around and inspect them. Now the walls of the military base have been converted into a graffiti gallery. There is a ticket vending machine, admission costs 5 euros. Guided tours are also organized.

Ancient secret city of Slamame

Although the settlement was founded here in 1849, Silamey became popular as a tourist center, but in Soviet times the city became a closed area that was not even marked on the maps. The city was carrying out secret nuclear programs, it is believed that the first atomic bomb in the Soviet Union was made from uranium mined at Silamey. Silame was mentioned simply as “Moscow 500” or “Leningrad 1”.

It is interesting that in the XIX century. pab. Silame was a very popular complex, where famous people from Russia, like Tchaikovsky and Pavlov, also spent time here. However, after World War II, the city changed dramatically. Due to the uranium enrichment laboratory operating here, the city was closed and inaccessible to strangers.

Around 3 thousand people lived here. people, they had little contact with the outside world. As a result, the government tried to make it good enough for them to live here. Even the architecture here is not like the typical Soviet one.

It is announced that Silamey became rich in more than 100,000. uranium, which was used 70 thousand. nuclear weapons.

After Estonia regained its independence, Silamey continues to be Russian-dominated, street names are still written in Russian, and communist symbols such as hammers and sickles can still be found in buildings.

Pärnu stone path

Pärnu is the summer capital of Estonia. As he wrote 15 minutes travel author Gabija Lebednykaitė, The old town is very small, you will find all the sights without even looking. What is striking here is a cocktail typical of Baltic cultures and architecture: colorful wooden houses, another site of medieval historical heritage, elegant church towers and Russian church domes, dilapidated communist-era buildings and new modern and progressive examples of economic rise.

And on the coast, the inhabitants of Pärnu have a unique path: a stone-covered promenade that stretches even two kilometers deep in the sea. Legend has it that if lovers walk with their hands and kiss at the end of the road, they will stay together forever.

However, before taking a walk by the sea, check the water level. The trail gets flooded during floods, but be careful even at low tide. In some places, the stones may not be very stable and slippery.

Military fortifications on the island of Hyjuma

This is another interesting place in Estonia, and again associated with the turbulent and painful 20th century. history. There are still many surviving military fortifications here, showing how important it was to have adequate defense from the sea side.

After the Second World War, the importance of these defensive fortifications decreased, but the island of Hyjuma is still rich in abandoned bunkers, artillery fortifications, towers that became obsolete after the Soviet occupation.

They are scattered in the forest, most are free to visit. The old radar base has been converted into a military museum, where you can find interesting exhibits and directions on where to find military fortifications on the island.

Of course, on the island of Hyjuma it is necessary to see the oldest lighthouse in the Baltic States …

And the “Eiffel Tower” – a wooden copy of the symbol of Paris:

Museum of the seaplane port in Tallinn

I visited Tallinn a few years ago. 15 minutes Journalist Ugnius Antanavičius highlighted this place as the most impressive place in the Estonian capital. “It is possible to get acquainted with prehistoric barges, modern yachts and board a seaplane, and it is especially fun to launch a real submarine,” he said.

The museum gets a great advantage for its interactivity. You can also try the “bread” of the savior by joining a computer game, listening to comments from surviving witnesses after the Estonian ferry tragedy, and learning how to survive in cold water as long as possible. The museum also has a magnificent appearance: it is located in a huge hangar, where ships were built.

What more interesting and unusual can be found in Tallinn, you can find here: Tallinn is a city that combines medieval castles, Soviet-era architecture, and train bars.

Next to the museum is the old Fort Patarei, which remains a monument to the victims of communism and fascism. The fort occupies four acres, and there are buildings with different functions, from barracks to prisons. The exhibition “Communism is a prison” has been opened in prison.

Pesapuu rugby observation tower

The 30 meter high Reuge Observation Tower has two observation platforms and its shape is truly exceptional: it resembles a tree with two nests and a “golden egg” placed on top. It draws attention both day and night: at dusk, the “plugs” light up in different colors. Panoramic views of the valley can be seen from the observation platforms.

Vyvikona

It is probably the most famous ghost town in Estonia. But here nothing mystical or mysterious happened. Once an industrial city inhabited by people who work in the mining industry, it is now left almost empty. – Only a few families live.

After World War II, Nazi prisoners captured by the Soviets built Vyvikon as a city for workers. Of course, in accordance with the worst principles of Stalinist architecture. The city was completed in 1955 and is believed to have been the home of several thousand people. However, in 1974 the mine operating here was closed, so people moved from one place to another in search of work and a better life.

Vyvikona lost its municipal status in 1993, and electricity and sewage were disconnected at the beginning of this century.

Craters in Saaremaa

On the island of Saaremaa you can find a group of nine meteor craters called Potassium Crater. It is said to have been formed before about 4,000. years, they are among the last impact craters to form on Earth. Additionally, the Potassium Crater is the largest single crater formed in an area populated by humans.

Kalis Lake is now the largest of the craters, reaching 110 m in diameter and 22 m deep. Several smaller craters, 12-40 m in diameter, formed around it. The impact energy of the crater is estimated to be equal to the power of the Hiroshima nuclear blast, and the forest burned within 6 km after impact.

The crater became the subject of various mythological narratives, and an ancient cult is associated with it. This place is believed to have been very important during the late Bronze Age, as surprisingly strong remains of an all-encompassing stone fence were found. Archaeologists believe that the people who lived here believed in the cosmic power of space, sacrificing animals.

Still, don’t expect too much from this place. As he wrote 15 minutes travel author Małgorzata Mozyr, the main potassium crater looks like a large green ball on a regular basis. “I was more impressed with the fish eaten at the restaurant around the corner,” he admitted.