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Kadriorg Park

The famous Kadriorg park is perhaps one of the main attractions. Numerous tourists come to the capital to look into this stunningly beautiful park complex, admire its Swan Pond, stroll through the Upper Garden with a magnificent flower garden and fountains, and see the famous Tallinn.

Around the park, which has become one of the most favorite places of Tallinn residents, there is historic district, bearing the same name. In one of his unique wooden houses Once upon a time there lived a famous writer Eduard Vilde.

Kadriorg – the beautiful Catherine Valley

At the beginning of the 18th century, Russian Tsar Peter I decided to build a summer residence for his wife Catherine near the sea. Construction, led by Italian architect Niccolo Michetti, began in 1718 and ended only 10 years later. They say that Peter the Great himself laid the first stone in the palace building. He also participated in planning the future park.

True, neither the emperor himself nor his wife Catherine ever saw the park completed. Therefore, many of Peter’s ideas remained unimplemented. But, nevertheless, all the royals stayed here during their visits to.

Palace garden in the style of the 18th century

The beautiful Kadriorg park consists of two gardens - the Upper, built in the same style as Tsarskoe Selo and Peterhof, and the Lower. The natural park landscape includes numerous clearings with stunningly beautiful flower beds, well-groomed alleys and gardens. The most popular place among visitors is the Swan Pond with its gazebo on the water and black swans. The sundial installed nearby is also of interest.

In the backyard of the palace and park complex there is a beautiful Flower Garden. Next to it is the residence of the current President of Estonia.

A pedestrian path is laid from the royal palace to the sea, which leads to one of the most beautiful Tallinn park sculptures - the famous 16-meter high.

Address: Tallinn, Narva maantee, 7C. How to get there: from Viru Square: by trams No. 1, No. 3; from the Viru keskus bus terminal: by buses No. 1A, 5, 8, 19, 29; No. 34A, 35, 38, 44, 51.

In artificial Kadriorg Park history lasting three centuries and almost as long the glory of one of the most beautiful European palace parks. It is equally loved by city residents and popular among tourists. A park spread over only seventy hectares. To create the park and palace ensemble, the Baroque style, popular at that time, was chosen. The park owes its name to Empress Catherine I, the wife of Peter the Great - literally translated it is “Valley of Catherine” (Ekaterinintal). But the German name did not take root in Revel. Gradually it changed to the more understandable and closer Kadriorg, a derivative of the Estonian version of the name Ekaterina - Kadri.

From the history of Tallinn

The Northern War, which lasted about 20 years, redrew the borders of many European states. Estonia went to the Russian Empire. Revel was commissioned on one autumn day. In the winter of the following year, Peter I and Tsarina Catherine arrived in the city. They did not remain indifferent to the charm of Lasnamägi and its surroundings. Peter especially liked the view from the high cliff - construction in the harbor and most of Revel from here, it’s clear at hand.
On his next visit, the king wished to purchase part of the lands from their owner. The widow Drenteln parted with them for 3.5 thousand thalers. On the site that became the property of the treasury there was a landowner's mansion. Later it will be renovated, turning it into a small and rather modest royal residence. "Peter's House" has survived to this day. But even repairs and renovations could not give the former manor’s house the comfort, beauty and majesty of a palace worthy of royalty. Therefore, already in July 1718 Peter ordered the pawning new palace designed by the Italian architect Niccolo Minchetti. Construction management was first given to Gaetano Chiaveri, assistant to the creator of the project. After 2 years in Revel M. Zemtsov, who replaced the Italian, will arrive. Working first with Minchetti and then on his own, he would complete the construction. The work was carried out quickly - by the end of 1719 the wings of the future palace would be covered with tiles. The interior decoration will be completed in the spring of 17921. The royal spouses will stay there. The construction of the walls of the main building of the complex will take about a year.
All stone façade decorations were commissioned from Heinrich von Bergen, a Riga sculptor. On his last visit, Peter was not able to see much - finishing work was still being carried out inside, and it was completed only by 1727. There is a legend that the king, who arrived at the start of construction, wanted to lay several bricks into one of the walls with his own hands. Later, the brickwork was plastered, but those same bricks were not covered. Today you can go to the northern wing of the palace and touch those three bricks. They can be seen at the bottom of the corner pilaster. In the post-revolutionary years, the royal palace was given to the Revel Council and deputies from workers and soldiers gathered there. Then it was transferred to the Estonian Art Museum for eight years.
In 1929, the residence was moved there again. First as a state elder, and after 1938 to 1940 as president. In 1946 palace complex goes back to the museum. Now the ancient building houses the famous Kardiorg Art Museum, its branch.

The best corners of the Kadriorg palace and park complex

With its layout, Kadriorg is close to the ancient villas of Italian aristocrats. In it, the main attention is drawn to the elevated area with the palace; there are two pavilions-outbuildings, to which paths lead. The entrance to the palace is from the facade, through a portal with a risalit placed forward, from where visitors enter a spacious lobby. On one of its walls there is a stone cenotaph, on which there is a sea anchor and the Russian coat of arms. The Latin inscription contains the name of Tsar Peter with the date when he ordered the construction of his house to begin. In another part of the vestibule there are statues of two lions (Antonio Cacova) and the Venus de Milo (copy, G. Vos). You can walk through the long suite of rooms in the palace, admiring the interiors. But they consider it the most luxurious Big hall with its intricate stucco work. The pilasters with elegant capitals are decorated with wreaths of flowers and volutes framing them.
The adjacent park looks no less elegant with its luxurious rose garden, intricately shaped flower beds, gazebos and fountains. One of the most beautiful corners in the park is Swan Pond. White and black swans really swim there, and in summer time a small island in the middle of the pond becomes a stage for concerts. The alleys fan out from the area in front of the palace - a great place for walks in any season. In addition to decorative sculptures, there are statues of famous sculptors and writers. Nowadays (2011), through the efforts of Masone Sone, a famous landscape architect, a real Japanese garden, the only one in the Baltics, was laid out. According to tradition, numerous bright azaleas, irises and clumps of rhododendrons were planted there. Plants have adapted well to local climate and during the flowering period this part of the park is fabulously beautiful.
In addition to the palace, you can see the exhibition in the small house-museum of Tsar Peter I. The small building has two floors furnished with furniture from the era of Peter the Great. Some of the items belonged to the king himself. In addition to the carved massive secretaries and cabinets, the royal table is perfectly preserved; on it lies a map of the Baltic, and a realistically made model of the Shlisselburg, one of the ships.
Peter I liked the new residence and the park surrounding it. During one of his visits, he will notice that the park is empty, there are no people walking along the alleys. Then he was informed about the ban for townspeople to visit the royal estates. To which Peter responded immediately by ordering a public announcement of permission for the residents of Revel to walk freely through the park, enjoying the wonderful views.

Additional Information

In the territory Cardiorga There is a branch of the art museum - the Mikkel Museum and the children's Miia-Milla-Manda. This amazing place, created taking into account children's thirst for knowledge and desire to touch and take into their hands everything that surrounds them. Children are always happy with the time spent here surrounded by unusual toys. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 12:00 to 18:00.
There are several other museums - dedicated to A.H. Tammsaare, a classic of Estonian literature, and one of the most famous national writers of the past, Eduard Vilde. The Kumu Art Museum is located very close by. Its exhibitions cover a large period of time (XVIII - X-XII centuries) in the history and development of Estonian art.
Tour of the palace, museums and big park may get a little tiring. For relaxation, you can choose benches in the rose garden or near the Swan Pond. Or you can visit a cozy local cafe or restaurant, there are several of them, and then head along the alley leading to the sea.
It doesn't matter which month you choose to travel to. Tallinn, the beauty of this old park does not depend on the time of year. Each season has its own charm. In the evening, the park is beautifully illuminated and seems like one of the old fairy tales or paintings by a talented painter.

Kesklinn - the center of Tallinn outside the Old Town - let's delve into the world of Tallinn suburbs. As in Riga, they are extensive, even more diverse, and you can spend several days exploring them. Let's go from east to west - from the semi-resort Kadriorg and P And ritas to the industrial Copley. Well, let's start our walk where we stopped - at the Narva highway.

Kadriorg, or Ekaterinenthal, translated means Catherine's Valley, but in this case Catherine is not the Second, but the First - the wife of Peter the Great, her maiden name was a simple Latvian Marta Skavronskaya from. The Emperor first came to the newly conquered Revel in 1711, and unlike Riga, which was simply strategically irreplaceable, Peter fell in love with Revel. In 1714, he bought the small estate of Drenthal by the sea and began building a palace there, which, however, did not live to see completed. Not far from the palace in 1813, court councilor Georg Witte founded the Revel Waters resort with baths - and it was not about mineral water, but about treatment sea ​​water, and the next 20-30 years, when Riga Jurmala was just emerging, one of the most popular sea ​​resorts The Russian Empire, withered away in the mid-19th century, unable to withstand competition with the same Jurmala or Pernau. More details about its history, and I even saw the abandoned wooden Witte bathhouse (there is a photo at the link) while walking in this area, but I didn’t photograph it, which I regret - its days are generally numbered. However, small boarding houses appeared there later, such as Villa Monrepos, in the 1920s, extremely hot spot, about which the Tallinn (not Revel!) Russian poet Igor Severyanin wrote:
The meat is full of meat, the meat is full of asparagus,
The meat was full of fish and filled with wine.
And having paid for the meat, in a half-meat carriage
Suddenly it rolled towards the meat in a hat with a large feather.
The meat caressed the meat and gave itself to the meat.
And he created meat according to earthly instructions.
The meat was sick, rotten and turned into mass
The foul putrefaction characteristic of meat.

But my main walk was on another day, or more precisely, after, and although I didn’t drink, we still walked until late last day, and the general euphoria, as I have noticed more than once, gives a good half of the alcoholic effect. This is probably why I was lethargic in the morning and looked around Kadriorg rather poorly, missing a few iconic places. The tram from the station took me to final stop- to the former Sloboda, which originated as a settlement for palace servants:

Including its center - the house of the estate manager, by the way, from the mid-19th century, although in appearance it was not the 1920s, but the 1910s. Nowadays there is a museum of the writer Eduard Wilde:

Although the Revel resort itself did not take root, it gave impetus to the development of Sloboda, which turned into an area of ​​suburban dachas:

Unnoticeably passing into Kadriorg Park. Here is a cafe at the entrance - on the other side of Weizenberg Street (that is, behind the back relative to the frame) there is another almost identical house, occupied by a tourist information center:

The obligatory pond with a gazebo on the island, dug under Peter:

A children's playground and a nice wooden building with a boulder at the porch - here in 1936-38, by order of Päts (like any dictator, he was the best friend of all children) Children's park. Continuity is maintained - the children's Kursaal is now a children's museum.

If I had walked further along this alley, I would have come to several more interesting objects. First of all - “Peter’s house”, an outbuilding of the original estate, where Peter and Catherine came while the palace was being built. There is also the chintz manufactory of Christian Frese (1780, heavily rebuilt), now the Russian Museum of Estonia and on the hill the luxurious modern building of the KUMU Art Museum. Here is Peter’s house itself, photo from Wikipedia - here the emperor surpassed himself in asceticism, but that’s why he was great because he did not disdain to live in a house the size of a peasant hut:

I walked in the other direction, past the gardener’s house from the early 19th century:

And he went directly to the Catherine Palace (1718-27) - the most modest of the palaces of the Russian emperors and the most magnificent of the Estonian manors:

According to legend, three unplastered bricks in the wall were laid by Peter personally:

The best view of the palace is from the back side, near the French park:

"Neptune" is an obvious guest from Peterhof, having lost its gilding along the way.

Although I liked these crying lions better:

After Catherine, the palace was empty. Under Anna Ioannovna, park decorations, including the fonts, were taken to Peterhof, and a barracks was placed in the palace. But the estate remained in royal ownership, and was thoroughly restored and improved for the visits of monarchs - first Elizabeth Petrovna (under whom the name Ekaterinental appeared), then Catherine II, then Alexander I, and in general, Kadriorg finally came to life under Nicholas I, when it became a summer residence the Estonian governor, where, however, the St. Petersburg monarchs sometimes came. Here in 1866 the III Baltic Singing Festival took place (not to be confused with the Estonian one, the Germans sang here, and the first festival took place back in 1857).

In general, since the first independence, except for 1929-46, Kadriorg has been the domain of an art museum: there is the palace itself, and KUMU, but for example, in the palace kitchen since 1994 there has been a private collection of Johannes Mikkel, donated to the museum.

And everything would have been fine, but in 1929 the Swedish king came to Tallinn. State Elder Päts decided that it was inappropriate to accommodate such a guest in a hotel, and ordered the restoration of the palace, which had to be completely reconstructed from the inside, since it had neither heating nor sewerage, which the Russian architect Vladovsky handled perfectly without disturbing the baroque appearance. The museum was practically thrown out onto the street, and never returned to the palace - Päts decided to keep the residence for himself, and in 1938 he built another palace above the terrace with fountains. Afterwards, the fascist Reichskommissar managed to live there, and in 1946 the museum returned to Kadriorg. Now a balance has been established - there is a museum in the Catherine Palace, a president in the Presidential Palace, and even a guard of honor stands at the gates:

And from the lower terrace of the Catherine Palace, a straight alley leads to the sea - in its perspective there is another symbol of Tallinn, a monument to the battleship "Rusalka":

Launched in 1866 in St. Petersburg, "Rusalka" did not participate in major wars, did not perform any special feats (although Admiral Makarov served on her), in 1892 she became a coast guard ship, and on September 7, 1893, on the way to Helsinki died in the same way as 101 years and 20 days later the ferry "Estonia" was sunk by this specifically Baltic storm, extremely treacherous - sudden, short and deadly strong. Here it turned out even worse (although, of course, with fewer casualties): none of the 177 sailors on board survived, and the battleship sank so completely that it was found only in 2003. In general, this is the Kursk disaster of the 19th century.

Well, the monument is the creation of Amandus Adamson, the main perpetuator of sunken ships in the Russian Empire (the monument in Sevastopol is also his creation), in my opinion, one of the most beautiful of its era. The inscription on the pedestal: “Russians do not forget their heroes and martyrs,” but I was more impressed by the list of all those who died on the fence pylons.

And behind the monument there is a long beach. Left - Old city, on the right - lonely old houses under the Great Ledge and new buildings on it:

Next is the military memorial in Maarjamäe, dedicated to everyone who fought on the side of the Soviet regime in Estonia: let’s say, the obelisk is dedicated to the Ice Campaign (the ferrying of ships from Revel and Helsingfors to red Kronstadt). The popular name is “Pinocchio’s grave,” and under the Soviets, Russian veterans gathered here, and not at the “Estonian” Bronze Soldier (I told his story in the last part). The paradox is that the first Russian battle here was lost - the Blackheads (military merchants) somewhere here stopped the advance of one of Ivan the Terrible’s troops. I headed towards the memorial - it took about 15 minutes to get to it:

Although the beach on Wikimapia looks tempting, up close it is uncomfortable and littered, and in some places it is completely littered knee-deep with stinking algae. On the horizon is the St. Petersburg ferry:

The Olympic Yacht Club proudly stands on the spit of the Pirita River, and I didn’t go close to it. The Olympics are an amazing thing - in addition to its small part, sailing disciplines for 6 sets of medals, Tallinn received: a Gorhall, a yacht club, a TV tower (it’s also in this area), a 95-meter hotel, a major reconstruction of everything... Here you can’t help but think - Or maybe the Sochi billions were spent on the matter? Surprisingly, the Brazilians won the Tallinn regattas.

Then it was worth taking a walk upstream of the Pirita, where there are all sorts of old villas, elements of the fortress of Peter the Great, all sorts of parks on the Great Ledge and finally the Forest Cemetery, where personalities like Päts or Ots are buried... but I was too lazy. Behind the bridge over Pirita is a rare pre-war bus station in the world (1940), now a regular bus stop:

Already Soviet in time, but pre-war in architect (which often happens in the Baltics) former cinema:

Administration of the Pirita district (1980) and the highway leading through the pine trees on the seashore:

But the final destination of my walk was the most impressive (or even the only?) medieval monument outside the Old Town - Brigid's Monastery:

The turret and cemetery fence of the 17th century hide inside the grindy ruins of a dolomite temple, which feels like the largest in the Baltics. In reality, of course, it’s just a feeling - the length of the cathedral is 60 meters, width - 27, height of the portal - 35, but it looks incredibly gigantic.

The grandiose ruins of the cathedral (they are also in the title frame) and the foundations-basements of other monastery buildings - here without comment:

The most incomprehensible thing in one of the neighboring courtyards:

And the New Brigid Convent, founded in 2001 - all the materials are from Estonia, the bells are from Rome, and the first sisters are from Latin America...

In general, as already mentioned, in Piritu (by the way, the locals never decline such names, and this seems to be a common property of “Finno-Ugric Russian” - try to decline Sortavala or Pitkäranta in the presence of their residents!) it makes sense to make another visit sometime return: here is the Forest Cemetery, and the valley of the Pirita River, and the TV tower (excursion there - Gorhall, Rotterman quarter, Narva highway.
. Business center, Tõnismägi and train station.
Kadriorg and Pirita.
Veerenni and Juhkentali.
Kassisaba and Kristiine.
Kalamaia.
Seaplane harbour.
Northern Tallinn.
Nõmme.
on Jan's night.

Story

During the Northern War (1700-1721), Estonia was annexed to Russia. Revel capitulated in the fall of 1710, and already in December 1711, Peter I, together with Catherine, visited the city for the first time. The king liked the surroundings of Lasnamägi. From here, from the cliff, there was a view of the city and the harbor under construction. In 1714, Peter bought part of their summer estate from Drenteln’s widow for 3,500 thalers into state ownership. The surviving house of this estate was put in order and adapted for the residence of the king. This house is now known as "Peter's house." The modest house was convenient for spending the night and viewing the picturesque surroundings, but its modest size and design did not correspond to its purpose.

The foundation of the new palace and park ensemble began on July 25, 1718 by order of Peter I. The project was drawn up by the Italian Niccolo Michetti. Construction work led by his assistant Gaetano Chiaveri. In 1720, at Michetti’s insistence, Mikhail Zemtsov was sent to Revel, who led the construction of the ensemble for four years according to Michetti’s designs and instructions. From the spring of 1721 until the completion of construction, all work was supervised by Zemtsov alone.

Already in the autumn of 1719, the side pavilions (outbuildings) were covered with tiles, and by the spring of 1721 the interior decoration was completed. Soon after this, Peter I and Catherine lived here for some time. The walls of the main building began to be erected in 1720, and the very next year it was roofed. The capitals of the facade are made of cut stone, consoles and other details of stone decorations were made by the Riga sculptor Heinrich von Bergen. In July 1724, during the last visit of Peter I to Revel, most of the interior of the main building was still in the scaffolding; the main work was largely completed by 1727.

According to legend, during the construction of the building, Peter I personally laid three bricks into its wall. Later, when the outer surface of the walls began to be covered with plaster, the builders left the “royal” bricks unplastered. These three bricks, in the corner pilaster of the northern wing of the palace, remain unplastered to this day.

After the October Revolution, the Revel Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies was located in the Kadriorg Palace.

In 1921-1929 and 1946-1991, the palace was the main building of the Estonian Art Museum. From 1929 to 1940, the palace housed the residence of the state elder (since 1938, president) of Estonia. Currently, the Kadriorg Palace houses a branch of the Estonian Art Museum - the Kadriorg Art Museum.

What to see

Like Italian villas, the Kadriorg palace and park ensemble consists of a palace built on a hill and two pavilions. The facade of the main building is decorated with a protruding projection with a central portal leading to the lobby. In the wall of the lobby there is a cenotaph depicting the Russian coat of arms and an anchor. In the middle of the slab there is a text engraved in Latin, the translation of which reads: “Peter I, by the grace of God, the Tsar of All Rus', ordered a house to be built on this site in Reval in July 1718.” Also in the lobby, three replica sculptures attract attention: the Venus de Milo (work by G. Voss, 1859) and two lions by A. What, similar to those in the Cathedral of St. Peter's in Rome. The suite of palace rooms occupies two floors. The main pride of the palace is the Great or White Hall, richly decorated with stucco. The lower part of its walls is decorated with pilasters topped with openwork capitals with volutes and floral wreaths, and the upper part is rhythmically dissected by decorative blades.

The park has ponds, fountains with gazebos, fancy flower beds and a rose garden. There are alleys leading from the palace, and on an island in the middle of the Swan Pond, concerts are held in the summer. open air. In 2011, Japanese landscape architect Masone Sone created a Japanese garden in the park with rhododendrons, azaleas and irises. In the immediate vicinity of Kadriorg Palace are the residence of the President of Estonia, the house-museum of Peter I and the Kumu Art Museum, covering Estonian art from the 18th century to the present day. Peter's two-story house is furnished in the spirit of Peter's times; the tsar's personal belongings have been preserved - a table with a map of the Baltic Sea laid out on it, a model of the ship "Shlisselburg", two secretarial cabinets, etc. In 1714, Peter I bought this house and the adjacent lands from his widow landowner Drenteln for 3,500 thalers. While the Kadriorg Palace was being built, the All-Russian Emperor was content with a modest burgher dwelling. Returning to his residence a few years later, Peter I expressed surprise that the people of Revel did not go to new park. The guard officer reported to the king that the commandant had forbidden the townspeople to walk around the royal estates. The very next day in Tallinn, the imperial will was announced to the beat of drums: all residents of the city were allowed to visit Kadriorg and enjoy its beauty.

I really love visiting the Kadriorg park in Tallinn. It is beautiful in all seasons of the year. In summer there is a riot of greenery, the play of fountains, a pond on which black and white swans gracefully swim, which tourists and local residents love to feed.

The flower beds are real living pictures, skillfully and carefully created by park workers. Palaces, museums, children's playgrounds, Singing Field. All this will share your summer mood!

In autumn you will find yourself at a real leaf fall ball. Children have plenty of freedom - you can knock down prickly chestnut hedgehogs with sticks (they won’t scold them), and make wreaths from leaves.

In winter, it’s simply nice to wander through sleepy alleys covered with snow, feed the birds and squirrels, which here are completely tame and can trustingly take food right from your palm.

In spring, here you joyfully watch the awakening of nature, breathe in the fresh park air, and your heart also comes to life and thaws.

Interesting fact: Kadriorg, one might say, was the birthplace of Estonian spa culture. And the first such salon was founded on the coast back in 1813 by a certain adviser to Witte.

How to get there

You need to move from Viru Keskus, passing Tallinn University along the Narva Highway. With a brisk step you will get there in 25 minutes.

Story

The very name “Kadriorg” sends us back to the times of Peter the Great, because it was in honor of the Great’s beloved wife Catherine that the park got its name. True, at first it was pronounced as Ekaterinenthal, but later it became understandable to the Estonian ear modern name. “Kadriorg” means “Valley of Kadri,” and Kadri, as you guessed, is the Estonian equivalent of Russia’s favorite name of ancient Greek origin, Ekaterina.

The park is located on 300 hectares. After the capitulation of Tallinn (then Revel) and the annexation of Estonia to Russia during the events of the Northern War of 1700–1721. Peter the Great and his wife first arrived in Revel in 1711.

In Revel, they really liked the place near Lasnamyagi (Bald Mountain), where noble residents of Revel had their summer manors. So Peter I bought one of the plots into state ownership of Russia in 1714. Our king set up his residence in the house there (today it is a museum: house I). Compared to the scale of St. Petersburg, it was very modest.

In the garden adjacent to Peter’s house there grew “unprecedented trees” from Holland - chestnuts. According to the plan, it was decided to create in this unique natural place palace and park ensemble, like in the capital Peterhof. The work was entrusted to the Roman architect Niccolo Michetti and his assistant Gaetano Chiaveri, as well as their “colleague”, St. Petersburg resident Mikhail Zemtsov.

It is believed that Peter the Great himself laid 3 bricks into the wall of the palace, which was finally built in 1727. They are located in the corner pilaster of the northern wing. At the same time, park ponds were created.

Today we can see part of the beauty conceived by Peter in the 18th century. Unfortunately, his ideas were never fully realized. By the way, the king himself, the founder of this Tallinn pearl, ordered that the park be made publicly accessible, that is, with his light hand, Kadriorg became a public property.

Initial layout

Three-level natural landscape localities he himself eloquently suggested how to arrange the location of park areas. In front of the palace, which majestically spread its 2 wings on a ledge like a giant stage, the Lower Garden was supposed to be, behind the palace - a garden of flowers with a fountain Mirage Wall. And above is Mirage Lake with an upper garden.

The lower garden, which had the shape of a cross at its base, was divided by alleys. Even today in its oak grove there are ancient oaks that are older than the palace. Arched bridges spanned the canals. In front of the palace, the space was decorated with flower beds. The upper garden was a courtyard.

Here today they maintain a color scheme that matches the pink walls of the palace. Peter also wanted to create a sculptural cascade of fountains, for which a canal was dug from Lake Ülimiste to feed the ponds and canals of Kadriorg.

But after his death, the new royal court considered it worthy of attention only to complete what Peter had begun. But even in this “unfinished” version, the Kadriorg Ensemble appeared as a grandiose masterpiece in the Baroque style for little Tallinn.

Reconstruction of Kadriorg

IN late XIX V. The lower garden began to look more like dark, dense thickets. In 1897, as part of the Kadriorg renovation project, the oak grove was thinned out. Sea views have become more open. In 1902, at the end of the Marine Alley by the sea, the “Mermaid” monument was erected (a story about it below). In 1934, Swan Pond changed. An elegant rotunda (architect V. Seidra) appeared on the island in the center, in front of which today everyone loves to take pictures. On the site there is a decorative garden - Kivisilla with flower beds, on which, preserving traditions, flowers in the colors of Estonian folk costume are planted even today. There is also a sundial installed there.

To the south of the pond there is a Youth Park with a swimming pool and sports grounds. In the part facing Lasnamäe there is concert hall Singing field. On the lower terrace there is a Rose Garden with a fountain, the building of the Presidential Chancellery is being built (architect A. Kotli), where the Presidential Palace is now located.

Some of the canals of the Lower Garden were eliminated, but a pond appeared, into which from the rocky slopes of the Small wolf gorge-Väike Hundikuristik - a frisky stream runs down. In 1990, Kadriorg Small Enterprise rolled up its sleeves and took on the transformation. Having gained independence, she again draws attention to the unique park that appeared in its capital, by the way, thanks to the Russian Tsar.

In 2000, Catherine's Palace was restored and the Flower Garden with fountains was restored.

In 2005, a bronze sculpture of “Poseidon” (sculptor M. Carmine) appeared in a cascading niche, and in place of the alpine slide - a rose garden with 5,500 rose bushes.
In summer, I highly recommend visiting this wonderful place. Aroma, beauty, tenderness!

In 2006, busts of presidents K. Päts and the legendary L. Meri, whose name the Tallinn airport bears today, were installed in niches in the walls of the Upper Garden.
In 2011, a rare Japanese garden in Europe opened in Kadriorg.
Kadriorg Park is free to visit all year round and around the clock!

Main attractions

I really want you to love this as much as I do. wonderful place recreation! “Kadriorg” is worth dedicating a whole day of your travel time, because there are so many interesting things to see here!

Monuments

You can see their location in Kadriorg on the map.

• Monument "Mermaid" (Russalka mälestussammas) - No. 1. This is the creation of a famous sculptor and painter, academician, one of the founders national art Estonia Amandus Adamson. The monument is located by the sea at the exit from Kadriorg. Dedicated to the 177 sailors of the Russian Imperial Navy who died on the battleship "Rusalka" on September 7, 1893. Created mainly by donations from citizens. Newlyweds certainly come here, and school graduates watch the dawn. A beautiful tradition. Tourists love to take pictures at the monument site. Climb the steps of the stone staircase, opposite which is a bronze bas-relief depicting an armadillo fighting a storm. Read the names of the 12 fallen officers. On the pillars surrounding the monument are the names of the 165 remaining members of the Rusalka crew. Bronze parts were made in St. Petersburg, lanterns - in Reval, granite was brought from Finland.

• Bjust the author of "Rusalka" himself Amandus Adamson, installed in 1962 (sculptor Albert Eskel, architect Allan Murdmaa) - No. 2.
• Monument Estonian teacher, doctor, writer Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald, opened in 1958 (Sculptors: Endel Taniloo and Martin Sachs) - No. 3.

I think you will be interested to know that the main work of this unique writer is the national Estonian epic “Kalevipoeg”, created based on folk tales. And we see images of Kalev and his wife Linda on the wrappers of the most popular Kalev chocolates.

• Monument to the politician and activist Jaan Poska, installed in Kadriorg in 2016 (architects Pille Noole, Yllar Ambos and Ioannis Lykouras, sculptor Elo Liiv) - No. 4.

• Monument to the Estonian sculptor Jaan Koort, established in 1983 (authors: Edgar Vijes and Andres Mänd). The works of Koort himself are presented in the KUMU Museum, located in Kadriorg (which I will also talk about) - No. 5.

• Monument to Gustav Ernesaks- Estonian songwriter, composer and conductor. (2004, work by E. Valli and V. Lillimets). A large 2.5 m sculpture is located on the Singing Field - No. 6.

It feels like the composer is sitting and looking at the song arena. On the base of the monument is the autograph of Ernesaks himself. Children and adult tourists really enjoy taking pictures on his lap.

Museums

For convenience, I offer a map of the museums I describe.

Catherine Palace (No. 1)

Today, one of the 5 branches of the Art Museum of Estonia is located here. It presents works of foreign art from the 16th – early 20th centuries: Western European and Russian painting, graphics, sculpture and applied art (more than 9,000 works). That is, this is the only museum entirely dedicated to masterpieces created outside of Estonia. Its branch is the Mikkel Museum.

The main goal of the Kadriorg Art Museum, so to speak, is “to bring beauty created outside the country to the masses.”

The conferences held here and the scientific publications published here serve this purpose. Therefore, this museum’s network of friendly contacts is wide. It includes collegial relations with museums, restoration centers and scientific institutes in Europe and Russia, and cooperation with institutions in Estonia itself.

Classes for students and student practice are held here. It also has its own educational center - with the pompous name of the Palace School, where more than 1000 excursions and a lot of events for children are organized every year, dozens of youth programs are carried out, as well as Saturday Academy lectures for adults, guide courses are organized, and even birthday celebrations are held.

The museum often hosts chamber concerts and receptions.

Opening hours and tickets

• October–April: Wed: 10:00–20:00; Thu-Sun: 10:00–17:00
• May–September: Wed: 10:00–20:00; Tue., Thu–Sun. 10:00–17:00
• Tickets: adult 4.80 EUR, reduced price - 2.80 EUR, family - 9.30 EUR.
• Free with TallinCard.
• General admission to KUMU, Kadriorg Art Museum and Mikkel Museum - 11 EUR (most convenient option)

Mikkel Museum (No. 2)

Also a branch of the Art Museum of Estonia. Located in a small house of the former kitchen of the Catherine Palace. All exhibits were donated in 1994 by the collector Johannes Mikkel (1907–2006). This is the richest private collection in Estonia. This is such a “micro Tretyakov Gallery”. There are a lot of works of art of different techniques of execution from the period of the 16th – 20th centuries on display here.

Mikkel himself considered himself a philosopher, and with his philosophy he preached, as a collector, that there is no need to look for objects of art, since art itself has the gift of coming to places where it is understood and loved.

Opening hours and tickets

• Opening hours: Wed: 10:00–20:00; Thu–Sun: 10:00–17:00;
• Adult ticket (from 2017) - 5 EUR, discounted ticket - 3.50 EUR, family ticket - 10 EUR

KUMU Museum (No. 3)

I, who have seen enough museums in different parts of the world, was pleasantly surprised by it. Somehow right away! I just plunged into its melody and wanted to sing along! It will take at least 2 hours to explore the galleries of this, another of the 5 branches of the Art Museum of Estonia (and, by right of its scale, the main building, opened in 2006). Estonian art from the 18th century is represented here. to the present day.

I wrote about him in. The museum has a cafe, so you can drink coffee and even have lunch right between viewing exhibitions. I especially draw your attention to the interactive exhibitions of young talented designers and artists that take place here. By taking part in their plans, it’s as if you yourself begin to play some kind of game that has suddenly opened up for you. The museum is good for inspiration and relaxation.

Ticket prices from 2017: adult 8 EUR, reduced price 6 EUR; family 16 EUR

Miiamilla Children's Museum (No. 4)

Branch of the Tallinn City Museum, located near the Swan Pond in cozy house with a turret. Opened since 2009 for children from 3 to 10 years old. Children under 7 years old must be accompanied by adults, for whom everything here will be interesting. A prerequisite is that you need replacement shoes. If they didn’t grab it, the choice is yours - either stomp around in your socks or buy slippers at the checkout.

There is also a nice innovation in this museum: if you come with several children, and one of them is a baby (and there is no one to leave at home), then they will give you a lock for the stroller, with which you can fasten it from the outside and avoid “theft of this vehicle”!

Here children ask questions, twist and turn everything, try it by eye and tooth (probably). It's fun and interesting here! In addition, there is a cozy cafe for you: pastries, juices, coffee, ice cream!

Opening hours and tickets

• You can come here Tue.-Sun.: 12:00-18:00 (ticket office closes at 17:30).
• Tickets: family (two adults and up to four children) - 6 EUR; preferential (children over 3 years old, schoolchildren, students, military personnel, pensioners) - 2 EUR; adult - 3 EUR. Babies under 2 years old - free! Valid Tallinn Card.
• We photograph everything, but only with the condition - no flash!

House-Museum of Peter the Great (No. 5)

Since 1941 - a branch of the Tallinn City Museum.

This is the same residence house whose modesty I have already mentioned. The royal couple Peter and Catherine stayed here starting in 1714.

Emperor Alexander I took care of the preservation of this house when he visited Revl () in 1804. Having seen the condition of this house, he demanded the restoration of the dilapidated “ old palace» Peter I. And, it should be noted that already in the 19th century this museum became popular both among the residents of Revel and their guests. Today, educational lectures, events and excursions are held here (including in Russian).

Opening hours and tickets

• Tickets: adult - 2 EUR; students - 1 EUR; with TallinnCard - free.
• Open: (May–August) Tue–Sun: 10:00–18:00; (October–April) Wed–Sun: 10.00–17.00

Worth a look too

These attractions can be viewed here:

Japanese garden

When I saw this garden for the first time, I was very happy that another wonderful decoration appeared in Kadriorg!

The garden has been open since 2011, created in refined Japanese traditions by landscape artist, hereditary gardener Masao Sone, and occupies 6 hectares. Such parks exist only in London and Amsterdam. The Japanese do not encourage the spread of their gardening school throughout Europe. But they treated Tallinn favorably.

The very formation of a Japanese garden takes a long time, for years, so with every visit I find something new in this corner. On weekdays it is more deserted here, so lovers of meditation have a chance to be in solitude. But in general this place is popular and is becoming more and more visited.

At the exit you will see a boulder brought from Hiroshima. It reminds us of the victims of the atomic bombing. This is a combination of blooming life, and, as I felt, a reminder of its fragility.

It is better to visit here in the summer, during the flowering period of irises, rhododendrons and azaleas. Next to the paths there are information tables telling Interesting Facts about this wonderful place.

Singing field

In Estonian lauluvälja. Song festivals, concerts during the Beer Festival, and various musical events take place here. Indoor Arena - a unique open-air stage built in 1959.

In 2004, it logically appeared here big statue famous Estonian composer and choral conductor Gustav Ernesaks (see section “Memorabilia”).

As for the Singing Field, once as a child I myself participated among thousands of people in this legendary song festival. All Tallinn schools certainly had choirs, and we all prepared in advance for this apotheotic event for the world of culture. No wonder this holiday is on the lists cultural heritage UNESCO.

The atmosphere was amazing. The next holiday will be held in 2019. And in winter, children love to sled here and head over heels from the snowy slopes.

Presidential Residence

Opposite the Catherine Palace there is another palace - the presidential one. It was built in 1938 in the neoclassical style. The president who lives here is guarded by an honor guard of two young men in military uniform. It is interesting to watch the change of security, and this security in general.

We once saw that one of the sentries - a young guy - suddenly returned to his post with 2 paper cups. Apparently, the boys decided to cheer themselves up with coffee. Yes, yes, he passed one glass to another, and right at the post they began to drink with pleasure! And then I imagined something that, in principle, is impossible to imagine! Someone from any of our honor guards, or from the guys who guard the same Buckingham Palace. It's unthinkable! And here! Maybe this means “freedom in Estonian”! In general, these brave guys from the security are usually very friendly. One day they even started joking with us when we were taking pictures near the palace, asking them to be immortalized on camera as well. One day I had to observe another curiosity: in front of this residence, one day a strange-looking “tired traveler” was snoring calmly under an umbrella open from the sun, and no one chased him away. Apparently, this is why this place is considered the “homeliest” of the presidential residences of the Baltic countries.

Where to have lunch

Since it’s really quite possible to stay in Kadriorg for the whole day, it’s time to think about where tired travelers can refresh themselves!

• The restaurant is suitable for lunch "Kadriorg" on A. Weizenbergi 18. Reviews about it are good. You can taste European cuisine with Estonian twists.

• Be sure to check out the cute cafe near Lebidiny Pond "Park Cafe" in the style of a Viennese patisserie. Stylized clothes of the waitresses, engravings on the walls, an open summer terrace, excellent pastries, good coffee.
• The KUMU and Miiamilla museums also have decent cafes.
• There are often nice girls in the park national costumes From trays stylized as carts, they sell roasted almonds of different varieties and some other sweets, so you can also enjoy them.

Finally

Kadriorg is a good place to visit in any season. Here you will always get a lot of wonderful impressions. After all, even in rainy weather or winter, you can visit museums and sit in cozy cafes. And let the natural splendor delight you with its fairy tales. What do I recommend? Take an umbrella, a camera, and wear comfortable shoes. hiking and don't forget to bring a good mood too!