A tour around ‘The Battery’, an eerie, abandoned soviet prison with a terrible history
© Images by Hiatus.Design
Patarei Prison (‘The Battery’ in English), located in Tallinn, Estonia, is a chilling and historically significant site that reflects the nation’s turbulent history, that we had a chance to tour in winter 2024.
Originally constructed in the 1840s as part of Peter the Great's Naval Fortress, it transitioned into a prison in 1920 after Estonia gained independence. Over decades, it became a harrowing symbol of political repression, particularly during the Nazi and Soviet occupations of Estonia in the 20th century.
Under Soviet rule, Patarei was a security service prison where thousands of individuals were detained, often before execution or deportation to labour camps in Siberia.
Today, Patarei is recognised as one of Europe’s most well-preserved classical military structures and a potent reminder of totalitarian atrocities.
Plans are underway to develop the site, one of which is to establish a museum focusing on crimes of communism, preserving its grim legacy while educating visitors about the history of political terror.
The complex, designated as one of Europe’s most endangered cultural heritage sites, features preserved prison cells, execution rooms, and courtyards, offering an authentic yet sobering experience of life under oppressive regimes.
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