Patarei Prison


The deserted prison on Tallinn’s bay is not mentioned in the two paperback guide books I've brought to Estonia. Apart from paying a small entrance fee, stepping into Patarei Prison feels like entering an abandoned building you happened to come across somewhere. There are neither information signs around nor do they hand you a leaflet. Patarei is silent, gives no answers.


It's just you inside the prison yard. From here you can go anywhere you want, up the watchtower, down the unlit basements. And into the cells, the execution chamber. Later I learn that hundreds of people have been shot in the yard.



Patarei’s story begins as a sea fortress of Imperial Russia. When Estonia is forced into the Soviet Union, the building is turned into a prison, also for political inmates. In the summer of 1941 Germany occupies Estonia. Patarei stays a place of suffering and murder. 


Once one of the most harrowing places in the country, it now seems to slowly crumble into the Baltic Sea. Things appear almost untouched. Everything is covered in dust, papers with Cyrillic writing are scattered over a desk. I pick up some bullet casings from the floor. Plants grow in front of doors that haven't been opened in a long time.




I climb into one of the military trucks and smell the past. I’m wondering why people visit Patarei Prison? Out of curiosity, for its eerie atmosphere? For taking gruesome pictures or in order to learn about the past? For the future? Why did I come here?


The future of this historical site is uncertain, there are plans for a museum. A museum that shows: the outcome of all totalitarian regimes is the same.
I hope Patarei will become a place for education and remembrance.



Comments

  1. I've never been to Tallinn but like to go there one day. This former prison looks interesting. Haven't heard about it before.

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    1. I hope you'll get to go to Tallinn! And thank you so much for visiting my blog & taking the time to leave a comment! :-) It's much appreciated. Have a great day.
      ~ Phoebe

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  2. Hab deinen Blog gefunden. Cool das du soviel unterwegs bist und die Welt entdeckst. Reisen ist so nice. Pass auf dich auf.

    Grüße

    Dennis

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    Replies
    1. Hey Dennis, danke!! Das freut mich :-) ! Und schön, dass du auch gerne reist!
      Mach's gut!
      Phoebe

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