Museum of Occupations

Tallinn, Estonia

The Museum of Occupations was opened on July 1, 2003, and is dedicated to the 1940-1991 period in the history of Estonia, when the country was occupied by the Soviet Union, then Nazi Germany, and then again by the Soviet Union. During most of this time the country was known as the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic.

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Address

Toompea 8, Tallinn, Estonia
See all sites in Tallinn

Details

Founded: 2003
Category: Museums in Estonia
Historical period: New Independency (Estonia)

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Michael Gibson (15 months ago)
I recently had the opportunity to visit the Vabamu Museum of Occupation and Freedom in Tallinn, and I was truly moved by the powerful exhibits and poignant storytelling on display. The museum does an excellent job of presenting a nuanced and multifaceted view of Estonia's complex history, covering both the country's struggles under Soviet occupation and its eventual path to independence. One of the things that struck me most about the museum was the way it brought personal stories to the forefront. Through the use of personal artifacts, audio recordings, and interactive exhibits, the museum brought the lived experiences of real people to life in a way that was both educational and emotionally resonant. Overall, I would highly recommend the Vabamu Museum of Occupation and Freedom to anyone interested in learning more about Estonia's history and the struggles for freedom and independence that have shaped the country. It's a thought-provoking and deeply moving experience that I won't soon forget.
Nikita Pearson (2 years ago)
Make sure you're aware of what this museum is. You get given a headset and you listen to 15-20 minute speech in each room (about 7 rooms altogether). It talks about individual people's experiences of living in the USSR as an Estonian. It doesn't talk about the history of Estonia and how they came to join or leave the USSR. They will offer you a joint ticket to visit the KGB prison, be aware the prison is located in the old town about 30 mins walk away. Would definitely recommend visiting the KGB prison and skipping this museum out.
Marcin Tatjewski (2 years ago)
Quite compact but really engaging museum. You can consume the whole exhibition within around 1-1,5 hours. Provides good understanding of the XX century history of Estonia. What's more, when I was there, there was also an additional great exhibition on digitization and innovation in Estonia.
Andre Pinner (2 years ago)
A gem of a museum! It was good to hear about some of the history of Estonia. The free audio guides were very helpful in helping to gain a better understanding of what you can see while visiting the museum. Finished in about 1.5+ hours.
Philipp Heidkamp (2 years ago)
Excellent museum. Well explained you can dive into the history of Estonia. Good guide and friendly staff!
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