Pirita Convent

Tallinn, Estonia

Pirita Convent (Pirita klooster) was a monastery, for both monks and nuns dedicated to St. Bridget. In 1407 two brothers from St. Bridget Order Convent in Vadstena, Sweden, had arrived to Tallinn to promote with advice and other assistance the expansion of order to Estonia. In 1417 finally the first limestone quarry permit was obtained from the town with the help of the Grandmaster of the Livonian Order and the building of the Pirita convent started. The completed church was consecrated on August 15, 1436 by Tallinn’s Bishop Heinrch II.

The Pirita Convent operated over 150 years and was the largest nunnery in Old Livonia. It was brutally destroyed by Russian army short invasion in late January 1575. In addition, the nearby village was also destroyed. The local inhabitants never restored most of the buildings. As late as in last century – in the 1930s - potato field covered the former nuns quarters and the potatoes were stored in the former hypocaust of the abbess’s residence.

Today the beautiful park with the convent ruins is administrated by the Bridgettine sisters. The museum is opened year round.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 1417
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in Estonia
Historical period: Danish and Livonian Order (Estonia)

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Diego Ricardo Garcia (14 months ago)
Very historical side in many ways wort the visit to walk around the dungeon like former monastery and church quiet impressive and quiet well connectable to the near by beach park. No staff completely digital purchase of tickets and entry in the museum
Michal Zubornak (16 months ago)
Truly an amazing experience. I was the only person here(Sunday morning), and it was magical. My top spot of whole Tallinn!
Віталій Ликтей (17 months ago)
very atmospheric place… in person much more impressive than in the photo… a place worth visiting… entry is cheap…
Aivis S. (17 months ago)
What a place! You can imagine and feel historical aura here. Definately, worth to visit this place. Open 24/7. Ticket machine at the entrance. At night this place is even magical.
Bryan Kearney (2 years ago)
If you're ever in Tallinn, pop along to these Pirita Abbey ruins. About a 30-minute stroll up the coast. It's definitely worth the walk. A very tranquil space. There's also a harbour and beach just the other side of the road!
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Doune Castle

Doune Castle was originally built in the thirteenth century, then probably damaged in the Scottish Wars of Independence, before being rebuilt in its present form in the late 14th century by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany (c. 1340–1420), the son of King Robert II of Scots, and Regent of Scotland from 1388 until his death. Duke Robert"s stronghold has survived relatively unchanged and complete, and the whole castle was traditionally thought of as the result of a single period of construction at this time. The castle passed to the crown in 1425, when Albany"s son was executed, and was used as a royal hunting lodge and dower house.

In the later 16th century, Doune became the property of the Earls of Moray. The castle saw military action during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms and Glencairn"s rising in the mid-17th century, and during the Jacobite risings of the late 17th century and 18th century.