Page 84 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

82 EST ONIA REGION B Y REGION

6 Russalka
Memorial
Near the junction of Pirita tee & Narva
mnt. @ 1a, 34, 38. 7
This imposing memorial was
erected in honour of the 177
soldiers who drowned when
the Russian ship Russalka, or
“Mermaid”, sank en route to
Finland in 1893. Designed by
the renowned Estonian sculptor
Amandus Adamson (1855–
1929), the monument was
erected in 1902. It fea tures a
bronze angel standing on
tiptoe, holding aloft an
Orthodox cross. The pedestal on
which the angel stands is made
of roughly hewn blocks of
granite, evoking stormy sea Aerial view of the impressive shell-like Song Festival Bowl
conditions. The monument is
one of several locations around been a strong symbol for recreations of domestic
Tallinn which young couples Estonians ever since thou sands interiors. The 1940s and 50s are
visit to be photo graphed on of people gathered here during represented by army uniforms,
their wedding day. the 1988 Song and Dance photo graphs and weapons.
Festival in a show of unity There is an original hut used by
against Soviet occupation. the Forest Brothers (see p122),
In summer, the venue hosts the legendary partisans who
concerts, as well as the Beer fought against the Soviet
Festival. The 42-m (138-ft) high occupation, and a replica of a
Light Tower beside the Song desk used by a Communist
Festival Bowl offers good views Party secretary.
of the Old Town. On weekday Visitors can go to the back of
evenings, the tower is used as the palace to see some of the
a climbing post. gigantic Soviet-era bronze
monuments lying there in an
8 Maarjamäe unceremonious heap.
Palace
E Estonian History Museum
Pirita tee 56. Tel 622 8600. Open 10am–5pm Wed–Sun.
@ 5, 34, 38. Closed for renovations Research: 9am–5pm Mon–Fri.
until 2018. & 8 call in advance.
Angel with an Orthodox cross, standing ∑ ajaloomuuseum.ee
atop the Russalka Memorial An elegant Neo-Gothic summer
house, Maarjamäe Palace was
built in 1874 by the Russian
7 Song Festival Count Orlov-Davydov. The
Grounds building has since served
Lauluväljak as a consulate, a hotel and
restaurant, and a base for
Narva mnt 95. Tel 611 2102. @ 1a, 5, trainee pilots as well as the
8, 34a, 38 (to Lauluväljak); 19, 29, 35, Soviet army. However, today
44, 51, 60, 63 (to Lasnamägi). it houses another branch of
Open daily. 7 ∑ lauluvaljak.ee
the Estonian History Museum
The centrepiece of the Song (see also p64).
Festival Grounds is the Song The museum, inaugurated in
Festival Bowl, the large, shell-like 1987, picks up where its counter-
amphitheatre built in the 1960s. part in the Old Town leaves off,
During the four-yearly Estonian in the mid-19th century, to
Song and Dance Festival, the cover the political and social
stage holds up to 15,000 choral upheavals of the 20th century.
singers, with room for many The exhibits include historically Maarjamäe Palace, housing a branch of the
more on an extra platform. It has costumed mannequins and Estonian History Museum
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp296–7 and pp314–16