Palace and park ensemble kadriorg. Kadriorg Park in Tallinn: address, opening hours, how to get there? What you need to know before visiting Kadriorg

Even if you only have one day to see the sights of Tallinn, Kadriorg Park should definitely be included in the list of places to visit. After all, this is not just a corner of nature in the middle of the city.

Several museums are collected there, a Japanese garden is laid out, fountains are noisy. And the main pearl of the park is the imperial palace. In this article we will tell the entertaining story of Kadriorg.

The park itself is open all year round. Entrance to it is absolutely free. But the museums located on its territory have opening hours. How to get to the park, what is better to visit - we will tell in this short essay. We will back up our story with photographs.

The history of the foundation of the park

As a result of the Northern War, in the first years of the 18th century, Revel (modern Tallinn) fell into the possession of Russia. In the autumn of 1710, the troops entered the city, and already in 1711, Peter the Great and his wife arrived here.

Ekaterina really liked the surroundings around the Lasnamägi hill. This land belonged to a certain widow of Drenteln. In 1714, the tsar bought the land from her for three and a half thousand thalers. Moreover, the land immediately passed into state ownership. Peter the Great decided to build a summer residence here.

The estate of the Drentelnov family was urgently converted to suit the needs of the royal couple. The structure has survived to this day under the name "Peter's House". But this building of modest size did not correspond to the status of an autocrat. Therefore, the king ordered to build a real palace nearby.

Since the wife of Peter the Great really liked these lands, he named the residence Ekaterinental, which means “Catherine's Valley” in German.

Later this name was changed to the Estonian way. "Valley" in the local dialect is "org". And the name Katya in Estonian sounds like Kadri. This is how Kadriorg Park got its modern name.

Construction of the palace complex

The site on which the autocrat wished to build a summer residence turned out to be difficult. Everywhere ground waters lay at a shallow depth. In some places the land was heavily swamped. Therefore, before starting to build the palace building, the workers dug ponds, later called Lebedins.

This was done to drain the area. On the drained site, the Italian masters of palace and park art Nicolo Michetti and Gaetano Chiaveri began the construction of the main building with outbuildings. As a model, they took a typical Renaissance country villa-palazzo with elements of baroque and classicism.

It is known that Peter the Great was keenly interested in the construction of his residence. He personally put three bricks into the masonry. The workers did not cover these stones with plaster to separate them from others. Bricks remain "bare" until now. They are located in the corner pilaster in the north wing of the palace.

The king also chose the color of the plaster. It was then called "Mars" - in honor of the god of war. With the color of dried blood, the king wanted to emphasize that he did not inherit the palace and the Kadriorg park, but as a result of the battle.

Kadriorg park

Photos of this wonderful place are reminiscent of illustrations of either Versailles, or the untouched nature of Estonia, with its meadows and groves, or even the landscapes of Japan. And there is nothing surprising in this. The central alleys adjacent to the imperial palace were laid out in the style of a regular French park.

The Swan Pond is only a fragment of the cascade of ponds that can be seen in Versailles. Just like in the palace of the French kings, the far corners of the garden were made according to the canons of English park art, that is, the wildlife was only slightly retouched, and beautiful paths were laid among the meadows and groves.

According to the then fashionable philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Catherine the First decided to take up gardening. But now nothing remains of the cabbage patches and the apple orchard at the back wall of the palace. But earlier it stretched to the Mirage Pond (now the Presidential Palace stands there).

The newest attraction of Kadriorg Park is the Japanese Garden. It only appeared in 2011. The project for him was developed by the famous landscape designer Masao Sone. Despite the harsh Estonian climate, you can see blossoming flowers in the Japanese garden from early spring to late autumn.

Park buildings

Kadriorg is famous for the fact that it has never been a closed territory. The residents of Tallinn could walk around the park, admire the flowers and black swans swimming in the ponds. Therefore, Ekaterinenthal got its affectionate Estonian name.

What other buildings, besides the Imperial Palace, can be seen in Kadriorg Park? Of course, the "House of Peter the Great", which, in fact, is an old family estate of Estonian landowners. After the death of the king and his wife, it was abandoned, but restored again under Alexander the First and turned into a museum - the oldest in Tallinn.

The Mirage Pond was overgrown at the beginning of the 20th century. It was covered with earth, and a palace was erected on the resulting site, in which the first president of Estonia, Konstantin Päts, settled in 1938. Heads of state still not only work there, but also live there.

On the border of the park rises the modern building of the Museum of Kumu. On Lydia Koidula Street, adjacent to the green zone, there is another building, which previously housed a cotton manufactory. Now there is the Russian Museum of Estonia.

Next to the Imperial Palace you can see the outbuildings, which used to be the master's services: a kitchen, a cellar, a guardhouse. Now these buildings are occupied by a cafe and an exposition of the Mikkel Museum.

What you need to know before visiting Kadriorg

The area of ​​the park is quite large. Even if you plan to just enjoy nature and not go to any museum, you need to set aside at least an hour to explore it. There are many beautiful sculptures in Kadriorg Park in Talin that you will want to take pictures of.

Out on the coast of the Baltic Sea. One ticket is valid for all museums. It doesn't matter which exhibition you want to start your tour of the temples of art with. Tickets can be purchased at any of the museums in Kadriorg.

Despite the fact that during the years of the October Revolution the Council of Workers' Deputies of Revel was located there, the vestibule, the large hall and some other rooms retained rich stucco and beautifully decorated. Now the Palace houses the Art Museum.

How to get to Kadriorg Park (Tallinn)

The address of this vast green area is quite simple: Kadriorg, A. Weizenbergi 37, Tallinn. It is easy to get here from the city center. All residents of Tallinn know this landmark of the capital of Estonia and will be happy to show you the way.

The large street of Laagna Tee passes by Kadriorg, which extends on one side of it, and on the other there is another green area. This is Pae Park, famous for its beautiful large lake.

The easiest way to get here is by tram. Kadriorg is listed as the final stop of routes 3 and 1. After getting off the tram, you need to go further in the direction of travel until you see the gate to the park.

You can also come here by bus. Stop "Kadriorg" (not the final one!) There are routes 5, 1A, 8, 35, 34A, 38, 63 and 60.

If you came to Tallinn by car, do not rush to leave it in paid parking lots on Laagna Tee Avenue. Look for a small Valge street. Free parking is located next to the KUMU Museum, which can be reached via an underground passage.

Want to get to the park faster? Cross the road, walk along the KUMU fence and go down the stairs. Before you will be the Presidential Palace.

Which museums to visit

We have already mentioned that the entrance to Kadriorg Park (Estonia) is free. And to visit the numerous museums located in this green zone, a single ticket is valid. So when choosing a temple of art, you can proceed only from your own taste preferences.

The richest collection in the Imperial Palace. In addition to the enfilade of rooms where Peter the Great and Catherine the Great once lived, you can admire paintings and sculptures by foreign masters. In KUMU there is an exposition of the Art Museum. Peter's house will be of interest to those who are interested in this period of Russian history. A private collection of paintings is in the Mikkel Museum.

If you came to the park with a child, call Miyamilla. This museum houses a collection of toys from different eras and peoples. On the territory of Kadriorg there are also houses, whose exposition is dedicated to the classics of Estonian literature Tammsaare and Eduard Vilde.

When to go to museums

Even in bad weather, you can walk in the Kadriorg park. You need to know the opening hours of museums so as not to “kiss the doors”. In the warm season (from May to September) closed on Mondays, and in the cold - also on Tuesdays.

On the rest of the week, museums are open from ten in the morning to five in the evening, with the exception of Wednesdays, when the doors for the last visitors are closed at 20:00.

Ticket price

To get into the museums of the Kadriorg park (it doesn’t matter - one or all at once, if you have time), an adult needs to pay less than five euros (365 rubles). For children, schoolchildren, students, pensioners there is a reduced ticket. It costs only 2.80 euros (about 200 rubles).

It is better to visit museums with the whole family. "Family ticket" in this case will cost only 9.30 (683 rubles). Travelers strongly recommend purchasing a tourist "Tallinn-kart". It, among other bonuses, gives the right to free admission to all museums of Kadriorg.

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Kadriorg park

The famous Kadriorg Park is perhaps one of the main attractions. Numerous tourists come to the capital in order to look into this stunning beauty and its 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 the Tallinners themselves, there is a historical district bearing the same name. The famous writer Eduard Vilde once lived in one of its unique wooden houses.

Kadriorg - the beautiful valley of Catherine

At the beginning of the 18th century, the Russian Tsar Peter I decided to build a summer residence near the sea for his wife Catherine. Construction, led by the 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 building of the palace. He also participated in the planning of the future park.

True, neither the emperor himself nor his wife Catherine saw the park complete. Therefore, many of Peter's ideas remained unfulfilled. But, nevertheless, all the royal people stayed here during their visits to.

Palace garden in the style of the 18th century

The most beautiful park Kadriorg consists of two gardens - the Upper, built in the same style as Tsarskoye Selo and Peterhof, and the Lower. Natural park landscape - numerous meadows with stunningly beautiful flower beds, well-groomed alleys and gardens. Among visitors, the most popular place is the Swan Pond with a 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 footpath has been laid from the royal palace to the sea, which leads to one of the most beautiful Tallinn park sculptures - the famous 16-meter one.

I really like to visit 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 where black and white swans gracefully swim, which tourists and locals love to feed.

The flowerbeds 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. Expanse for children - you can knock down prickly hedgehogs of chestnuts with sticks (they won’t scold), make wreaths of leaves.

In winter, it's just nice to wander along the sleepy alleys covered with snow, feed the birds and squirrels, which are completely tame here and trustingly can take food directly from your palm.

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

Interesting fact: It can be said that Estonian spa culture was born in Kadriorg. And the first such salon was founded on the coast in 1813 by a certain adviser Witte.

How to get there

It is necessary to move from Viru Keskus bypassing Tallinn University along the Narva highway. With a brisk step get there in 25 minutes.

Story

The very name “Kadriorg” sends us back to the time of Peter the Great, because it was in honor of the beloved wife of the Great Catherine that the park got its name. True, at first it was pronounced as Yekaterinenthal, but after that it turned into a modern name that is understandable to Estonian ears. “Kadriorg” means “the valley of Kadri”, and Kadri, as you guessed it, is the Estonian analogue of the name of ancient Greek origin, beloved in Russia, 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 Reval, they really liked the place near Lasnamyagi (Bald Mountain), where noble Revelers had their summer estates. So Peter I bought one of the plots into the state ownership of Russia in 1714. In the house located there, our king arranged his residence (today - a museum: house I). Compared to Petersburg scale, it was very modest.

In the garden adjacent to Peter's house, "unprecedented trees" from Holland grew - chestnuts. According to the plan, it was decided to create a palace and park ensemble in this unique natural place, as in the capital Peterhof. The case was entrusted to the Roman architect Niccolo Michetti with his assistant Gaetano Chiaveri, as well as their "colleague" - Petersburger Mikhail Zemtsov.

It is believed that Peter the Great himself laid 3 bricks in 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 a part of the beauty conceived by Peter in the 18th century. Unfortunately, his ideas were never put into practice until the end. By the way, the king himself, the founder of this Tallinn pearl, ordered that the park be made public, that is, with his light hand, Kadriorg became public property.

Initial layout

The three-level natural landscape of the area itself eloquently suggested how to arrange the location of park areas. In front of the palace, majestically spreading 2 wings on a ledge like a giant stage, the Lower Garden was supposed to be, behind the palace - a flower garden with a fountain Mirage wall. And above - Mirage lake with the upper garden.

The lower garden, which had the shape of a cross at its base, was divided by alleys. In its oak forest, even today there are centuries-old oaks that are older than the palace. Arched bridges were thrown over the canals. In front of the palace, the space was decorated with flower beds. The upper garden was a courtyard.

Here and today they support the color scheme of flowers to match the pink walls of the palace. Peter also wanted to create a sculptural cascade of fountains, for which a canal was dug from Lake Yulimiste, which fed the ponds and canals of Kadriorg.

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

Reconstructions of "Kadriorg"

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

To the south of the pond, the Youth Park appears with a swimming pool and sports grounds. In the part facing Lasnamäe, there is a concert venue of the Song Festival Grounds. On the lower terrace there is a Rose Garden with a fountain, the building of the Presidential Office (architect A. Kotli) is under construction, where the Presidential Palace is now located.

Part of the canals of the Lower Garden have been liquidated, but a pond has appeared, into which a brisk stream runs down from the rocky slopes of the Little Wolf Gorge - Väike Hundikuristik. In 1990, the Small Enterprise of Kadriorg takes on the transformation, rolling up its sleeves. Having gained independence, she again draws attention to the unique park that appeared in her 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. Karmin) appeared in the cascading niche, and a rose garden with 5,500 rose bushes replaced the alpine hill.
In the 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 the niches of the wall of the Upper Garden.
In 2011, the rarest Japanese garden in Europe was opened in Kadriorg.
Park "Kadriorg" is free to visit all year round and around the clock!

Main Attractions

I really want you to love this wonderful place of rest just like me! Kadriorg should be given a whole day of your trip, because there are so many interesting things here!

monuments

On the map you can see their location in Kadriorg.

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

• Bjust the author of "Mermaid" 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 Estonian national epic Kalevipoeg, based on folk tales. And we see the images of Kalev and his wife Linda on the wrappers of the most popular Kalev chocolates.

• Monument to politician and activist Jaan Poska, installed in Kadriorg in 2016 (architect Pille Noole, Üllar Ambos and Joannis Likuras, sculptor Elo Liiv) - No. 4.

• Monument to Estonian sculptor Jaan Koort, installed in 1983 (authors: Edgar Vieyes 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.

One gets the feeling that the composer is sitting and looking at the song arena. On the base of the monument is an autograph of Ernesaks himself. Children and adult tourists really like to be photographed on his lap.

Museums

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

Catherine Palace (№1)

Today one of the 5 branches of the Art Museum of Estonia is located here. Here are works of foreign art of the 16th - early 20th centuries: Western European and Russian painting, graphics, sculpture and applied art (more than 9,000 works). That is, it 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 the beautiful, created outside the country, to the masses”.

The conferences held here and the outgoing scientific publications serve for this purpose. Therefore, the network of friendly contacts at this museum is wide. It includes collegial relations with museums, restoration centers and scientific institutes in Europe and Russia, cooperation with the institutions of 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 lectures from the Saturday Academy for adults, guide courses are organized, 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, preferential - 2.80 EUR, family - 9.30 EUR.
• With TallinnCard - free of charge.
• General admission to KUMU, Kadriorg Art Museum and Mikkel Museum - 11 EUR (the most convenient option)

Mikkel Museum (#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 collector Johannes Mikkel (1907–2006). This is the richest private collection in Estonia. Such is the “micro Tretyakov Gallery”. Here is a mass of works of art of different techniques of execution of the period of the 16th-20th centuries.

Mikkel himself considered himself a philosopher, and with his philosophy he preached, as a collector, that it is not necessary to look for art objects, since art itself has the gift to come 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 (since 2017) - 5 EUR, reduced ticket - 3.50 EUR, family ticket - 10 EUR

Museum KUMU (№3)

I, who had seen enough museums in different parts of the world, was pleasantly surprised by it. Here's something right away! Just plunged into his melody, and wanted to sing along! It will take at least 2 hours to visit the galleries of this one of the 5 branches of the Art Museum of Estonia (and by the right of 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 exhibition displays. I especially draw your attention to the interactive exhibitions of young talented designers and artists that take place here. Taking part in their plans, you yourself seem to start playing 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 6 EUR; family 16 EUR

Miiamilla Children's Museum (#4)

The branch of the Tallinn City Museum is located near the Swan Pond in a cozy house with a turret. Open since 2009 for children from 3 to 10 years old. Children under 7 years old will certainly be accompanied by adults, for whom everything here will be interesting. Mandatory condition - you need a change of shoes. Not captured, the choice is yours - either stomp in 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 will fasten it from the outside and avoid "theft of this vehicle"!

Here, children ask questions, twist and turn everything, try it by eye and by mouth (probably). It's fun and interesting here! In addition, for you - a cozy cafe: 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 from 3 years old, schoolchildren, students, military personnel, pensioners) - 2 EUR; adult - 3 EUR. Babies under 2 years - free! Active Tallinn Card.
• We photograph everything, but only with the condition - without a flash!

House Museum of Peter the Great (№5)

Since 1941 - a branch of the Tallinn City Museum.

This is the same house-residence, the modesty of which I have already mentioned. Here the royal couple Peter and Catherine stopped from 1714.

Emperor Alexander I took care of the preservation of this house, who visited Revl () in 1804, seeing the state of this house, he demanded to restore the dilapidated "old palace" of Peter I. And, it should be noted that already in the 19th century this museum became popular both among Revelians and their guests. Today, educational lectures, events and excursions are also held here (including in Russian).

Opening hours and tickets

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

Also worth seeing

These sights can be seen 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 the refined Japanese tradition 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 garden school throughout Europe. But they treated Tallinn favorably.

The very formation of the Japanese garden takes a long time, for years, therefore, with each visit to I find something new in this corner. On weekdays, it is more deserted here, so meditation lovers 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 commemorates the victims of the atomic bombing. Such 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 of irises, rhododendrons and azaleas. Near the paths there are information tables that tell interesting facts about this wonderful place.

singing field

In Estonian lauluvälja. Song festivals, concerts during the Beer Festival, various musical events are held here. The indoor arena is a unique outdoor stage built in 1959.

In 2004, a large statue of the famous Estonian composer and choir conductor Gustavs Ernesaks appeared here (see the Memorials section).

As for the Singing Field, once in my childhood I myself participated among thousands of people in this legendary song festival. There were certainly choirs in all schools in Tallinn, and we all prepared in advance for this apotheotic event for the world of culture. No wonder this holiday is on the list of UNESCO cultural heritage.

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

presidential residence

Opposite the Catherine Palace is another palace - the presidential one. It was built in 1938 in neoclassical style. The president living here is guarded by a guard of honor of two fellows in military uniform. It is interesting to watch the change of guards, and for this guard in general.

We somehow saw that one of the sentries - a young guy - suddenly returned to his post with 2 paper cups. Apparently, the lads decided to cheer up coffee. Yes, yes, he passed one cup to another, and right at the post they began to drink with pleasure! And then I imagined something that, in principle, it is impossible to imagine! Someone from any of our guards of honor, or from the guys that guard the same Buckingham Palace, would also run for coffee. It's unthinkable! And here! Maybe that's what "freedom in Estonian" means! In general, these brave guys from the security are usually quite friendly. Once they even started joking with us when we took pictures at the palace, asking them to be immortalized on camera. Once I had to observe another curiosity: in front of this residence, one day, some strange-looking “tired traveler” was snoring calmly under an umbrella opened from the sun, and no one drove him away. Apparently, this is why this place is known as the "most homely" of the presidential residences of the Baltic countries.

Where to dine

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

• Good restaurant for lunch "Kadriorg" on A. Weizenbergi 18. Reviews about him are good. You can taste European cuisine with Estonian zest.

• Be sure to check out a cute cafe near the Lebidin Pond "Park Cafe" in the style of a Viennese patisserie. Stylized clothes of waitresses, engravings on the walls, an open summer terrace, excellent pastries, good coffee.
• The Kumu and Miiamilla museums also have decent cafes.
• In the park, often nice girls in national costumes from stalls stylized as carts sell fried almonds of various varieties and some other sweets, so you can also feast on them.

Finally

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

Kadriorg is considered a prestigious district of Tallinn. The calm area is famous for its rich history and main attractions - Kadriorg Palace and Park. Now on its territory is the residence of the Estonian president and a number of embassies of other states. The preserved wooden houses are also of interest. Prominent figures of Estonian literature and art lived in them in the 1920s and 1930s.

Story

The construction of the palace and park ensemble is an initiative of Peter I, who founded a military harbor in Reval (the former name of Tallinn). The king liked these places overlooking the sea, so he decided to create his residence here. The complex was named in honor of the wife of Peter the Great - Catherine I, initially it was called Ekaterinenthal (which translates from German as the valley of Catherine), later the Estonians remade it into their usual Kadriorg. The lack of extra funds to finance the maintenance of the palace in the 19th century led to the need to rent out some areas, for example, private houses began to be built on them.

Soon the area became a place of concentration of suburban dachas - the proximity of the sea affected. Natural resources - healing sea air, a green area with a vast park - prompted the idea of ​​organizing a whole balneological resort with bathing salons, boarding houses and restaurants. However, already in the 1860s, the previously fashionable resort ceased to compete with the more favorable climate of the Black Sea coast; recreation there became more affordable thanks to the construction of railways.

The bathing salon was rebuilt as a summer casino for naval officers, and then the building was completely demolished - now there is little resemblance to this page in the history of Kadriorg. Gradually, the territory of the park turns from a place of rest for the nobility into a place of pastime for ordinary residents. Today, Kadriorg is an area for comfortable living and a popular tourist destination.

Attractions

The tourist part of Kadriorg is famous for its palace and park complex, which houses historical buildings and museums.

Kadriorg park

The arrangement of the park began in 1718, it consisted of three levels. When creating a regular park, decorative techniques borrowed from different countries were used. The Italian style was traced in the arrangement of the terraces, the Dutch style in the improvement of the canals, while the flower compositions gravitated towards Russian traditions. In the 19th century, a landscape park began to be built, consisting of various types of deciduous trees, boulders and klint. During the Second World War, the park was badly damaged, it took several years to restore it. Today it is a wonderful place for outdoor recreation.

The regular park adjoining the palace is considered to be its real decoration. Its bright flowerbeds and bizarre landscape compositions are admirable. During the reconstruction, a folk park was also created - a place for recreation and holding concerts and other entertainment events. In 2011, the arrangement of the Japanese Garden began in Kadriorg, it was based on plants, stones and water. A Japanese landscape designer worked on the creation. The garden shows all the versatility of the beauty of nature. The original idea to place only Japanese plants here had to be abandoned - not all of them were able to adapt to the local climate.

There are several monuments in the park, among them the monument dedicated to the memory of the sunken battleship Rusalka stands out for its majesty and expressiveness.

Castle

Peter I, known for his irrepressible energy, decided to build his summer residence in Revel. The development of the palace project was entrusted to the Italian architect Nicolo Michetti, other foreign and Russian architects also took part in the construction. The king actively participated in the process of creation and even laid some bricks in the foundation of the building, the builders decided to leave some of those bricks unplastered in memory of this.

Peter expressed his thoughts about the interior decoration of the palace, according to his design, the main hall, richly decorated with stucco molding, was created. This hall is the only one preserved the way the king intended it to be. The rest have undergone significant changes over time. Now the palace houses an art museum, which presents a collection of works of Western European and Russian art.

Museums

In memory of his stay in these places, Peter managed to save house, he stayed there with Catherine I. There is a museum where you can see things that belonged to the tsar and his wife, and learn more about the historical period of the reign of Peter the Great.

Eduard Vilde Museum is located in the former house of the Kadriorg castellan. Here, in the apartment on the first floor, the famous writer lived the last 6 years of his life. Visitors will be interested to see the preserved interiors and get acquainted with the life and work of the writer.

Another museum on the territory of Kadriorg bears the name Mikkel- a collector who donated his collections to create a museum. The collection includes works by European artists of the 17th-18th centuries, graphic works and porcelain items.

The modern building houses KUMU- the main building of the art museum of the country. Here you can see works of Estonian art from the period of the beginning of the 18th century to the end of the 20th century, and there is also an exhibition of contemporary art for visitors.

Another interesting place is the museum-library of the park, which houses an exposition dedicated to the history of the park. The library stores specialized literature on landscape and garden architecture.

There is also a children's museum in Kadriorg, it is called miyamilla. In it, children get acquainted with the world around them in a fun way.

How to get there

You can get to the palace and park complex by trams No. 1, 3, you need to get off at the Kadriorg stop. You can also get to the stop "J. Poska" on buses No. 19, 29, 35, 44, 51, 60, 63.

You can also get to Kadriorg by taxi, there are services in Tallinn: Amigo Takso, Tallink Takso, Tulika Takso, Uber, Yandex. Taxi.

Kadriorg: video