Patarei Prison
In 1828 Nicholas I of Russia ordered the building of the sea fortress of Patarei in Tallinn to protect the sailing route to St. Petersburg, the then capital of the Russian empire.
The fortress was completed in 1840 and over the years it has had many different functions.
In 1867 the complex functioned as military barracks and from 1919 until 2004 as a prison. Today it gives a glimpse of Soviet-era prison life in all its dreariness.
Up to 2000 prisoners were normally detained in Patarei, but occupancy reached about 4600 at its maximum. Many people were killed here in the Soviets period, in the execution room the KGB agents shot the condemned prisoners in the back of the head, when they knelt on the floor with the head against the wall.
Although it has an entrance fee (€3!) you are left to your own devices to wander the hallways to see cells, work areas, medical rooms, execution rooms, exercise yards that are left as they were when the prison closed.
The fortress was completed in 1840 and over the years it has had many different functions.
In 1867 the complex functioned as military barracks and from 1919 until 2004 as a prison. Today it gives a glimpse of Soviet-era prison life in all its dreariness.
Up to 2000 prisoners were normally detained in Patarei, but occupancy reached about 4600 at its maximum. Many people were killed here in the Soviets period, in the execution room the KGB agents shot the condemned prisoners in the back of the head, when they knelt on the floor with the head against the wall.
Although it has an entrance fee (€3!) you are left to your own devices to wander the hallways to see cells, work areas, medical rooms, execution rooms, exercise yards that are left as they were when the prison closed.
