"Forbitten city for 50 years" a Paldiski Travel Page by TheaIren

A beautiful resort in the early 20th century, it was closed by Soviet forces for 50 years

with access to civilians prohibited and the area blocked off by fences. Located on the steep, rocky

coastline of Pakri peninsula, it is rising from the ashes. You can still see vestiges of the Soviet era

military all over the city and peninsula. With the unforgettable natural environment surrounding

them, it creates a quaint atmosphere.

Used as a harbour since ancient times, Pakri peninsula and its islands were first inhabited in the 13th century (legend has it by a Swedish prince and his entourage). The advantages of the site as a harbour for big ships have been recognised since the 17th century when the Swedish fleet used it as a stronghold. In the political situation after the Great Northern War it was important for Russia to have a military stronghold on the north coast of the Baltic Sea. The Russian navy searched the whole coastline to find a suitable site, and chose Paldiski as the location of its future port facilities.

Paldiski had three major advantages compared to the other potential sites: it was practically ice-free, extremely deep (essential for big ships), and protected from storms by its islands. In 1718, Peter the Great built a naval port in Pakri Bay. The settlement of Rogerwiek had developed nearby, and in 1762 it was given the name Baltiyskiy Port (Baltic Port). That’s where the town got its name.

The importance of Paldiski as a commercial port increased in the 19th century. Paldiski became the outer port for Tallinn and St. Petersburg. Particularly in winter, sea freight was transported from here by trains. Due to such favourable harbour conditions, the Baltic Railway completed in 1870) was extended to Paldiski. Trading volumes increased for some time, so much so that Paldiski became the third biggest commercial port on Russian territory. Until the October Revolution, it was a commercial port of national importance for Russia. During Soviet times a naval base and training centre for atomic submarine personnel were situated here.

(You can still take a look at the training centre, which is called the ‘Pentagon’ by Estonians.)

Because of its nuclear reactor the whole of Pakri peninsula was closed to civilians. Only the families of Soviet generals lived there.

In 1993, when the Soviet army finally left Estonia and the first Estonians returned to Paldiski, they found a church which had been used as a dance hall and buildings that had been vandalised and abandoned – it was a ghost town.

These days the cheapest real estate in the country is available in Paldiski and the Estonian government has gone to great lengths to restore the city. New life was breathed into it by the opening of its passenger and commercial port. Today you can catch ferries from Paldiski to Kapellskär in Sweden.