Patarei Prison Tears Down its Soviet-Era Walls
Clouds of dust could be seen drifting over Tallinn's Patarei Prison, a historic site turned tourism and culture venue, on June 28 as demolition crews tore down low walls and Soviet-era additions that had been blocking the area from the sea.
Now immediately upon crossing through the prison's iron gates, visitors will see the fortress's 19th-century structures. Storage buildings and a dormitory for personnel are also being removed, Postimees wrote.
"When the Soviet walls are removed, you get a plot of land that's three times larger than Freedom Square. In addition, it's open to the sea and together with the fortress it makes a sublime ensemble," said Andrus Villem, head of the foundation that rents the facility.
The work, which the State Real Estate company said is costing 20,000 euros, should add value to the state-owned property when it goes back on the market in the near future.
Originally a naval fortress when it was completed in 1840, the complex was turned into a prison in 1920 and remained so until it was finally closed in 2004. Most of the interior has been left untouched, making Patarei a popular curiosity for tourists as well as a unique venue for raves and other events.
Steve Roman