The Patarei Fortress, built in 1840, originally functioned as part of the Russian defence system and became a Nazi prison during the war, then a Soviet prison and functioned as a prison until 2004.

It was opened to the public in 2014 as a museum of Estonia's dark times and is not a place for the faint hearted.

Incidentally, Estonia lost 7.3% of its population during World War II, and during the Soviet occupation another 10% of the population was sent to Russian gulags.

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Museum of Communism

Today, the Patarei Fortress is home to an extensive museum of communism.

You'll see period photographs and videos, and the most interesting part of the exhibition takes you directly into the prison cells and premises.

Part of the exhibition is also dedicated to Nazism and the Second World War.

Admission and opening hours

The museum is under reconstruction until 2026 and is currently closed.

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