Page 86 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

84 EST ONIA REGION B Y REGION

9 Soviet War
Memorial
Maarjamäe
Pirita tee. @ 1a, 5, 8, 34a, 38. 7
The Soviet War Memorial is a
typical example of Soviet war
monuments in both its grand
scale and rather kitsch
appearance. The 35-m (115-ft)
obelisk at the centre of the
complex was erected in 1960
to commemo rate the Russian
sailors who died in 1918, during
World War I. The surrounding
fea tures were built in the 1970s,
in memory of the Soviet soldiers
killed in 1941 under the Nazi
onslaught. In a dila pidated state
today, the site includes an eerie
concrete amphitheatre and
large con crete and iron figures.
A German cemetery filled
with stone crosses lies just
behind the memorial site,
serving as yet another remin der Pirita Convent, screened by trees, with the cemetery in the foreground
of the fierce struggle for control
over the region. lodgings in their home, contin- off between Estonians and Soviet
uing a tradition that has existed troops in 1991, which was resol-
for hundreds of years. ved peacefully when the Soviet
0 Pirita Convent troops with drew. The tower is an
Pirita klooster amazing specta cle and hosts an
q TV Tower advanced interactive exhibition.
Merivälja Tee 18. Tel 605 5044. @ 1a, There are great views from the
5, 8, 34a. Open Nov–Mar: noon–4pm Teletorn
daily; Apr–May: 10am–6pm daily; Jun– Kloostrimetsa 58a. @ 34a, 38. observation deck, especially
Aug: 9am–7pm daily; Sep–Oct: 10am– Open10am–7pm daily. 7 - = with its new Walk on the Edge.
6pm daily. & ∑ piritaklooster.ee ∑ teletorn.ee
w Tallinn Botanical
Founded in 1407 by the St Inaugurated in 1980, the 314-m
Bridget Order, Pirita Convent (1,030-ft) tall TV Tower, or Tallinn Gardens
was consec rated in 1436. It Tower, was designed as an Tallinna botaanikaaed
served as the largest convent impressive demon stration of Kloostrimetsa tee 52, 10 km (6 miles)
in then Livonia (present-day superior Soviet engineering. NE of city centre. Tel 606 2666.
Estonia and northern Latvia), It was the scene of a tense stand- @ 34a, 38. Open Apr–Sep:
until it was badly damaged in 11am–6pm; Oct–Mar: 11am–4pm. &
a siege by Ivan the Terrible 8 7 ∑ botaanikaaed.ee
in 1577. Over the following
decades, the convent was Located in a beautiful stretch
reduced to a skeletal structure, of woodland, the Tallinn
as locals plundered it for Botanical Gardens have an
building materials. In the exotic palm house as the main
17th century, a cemetery was attraction. Adjoining the palm
established in the compound. house are several green houses
Despite centuries of neglect containing a superb selection
and oblivion, the impressive of rare orchids and fascinating
ruins retain some splendour. cacti. The outdoor collections
The most striking feature is the include a rose garden, an
perfectly intact 35-m (115-ft) arboretum, a limestone rock
high gable and the walls of the garden and a permanent
main hall. The site is run by display of “useful plants”.
Bridgettine nuns, who live in a The grounds are located in a
state-of-the-art, award-winning The TV Tower, a brilliant example of protected area of the Pirita River
building close by. The nuns offer Russian engineering Valley and have a designated
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp296–7 and pp314–16