24.03.12
A trip to this area in the nicest times of the year, early spring.
This pathway along the coast (there's sea right in the left) has been demolished by waves since about 2004 or so I think. Only recently I saw that they are repairing it, or, maybe even gaining more land as I read from news. So it's not going to be as it was before.
The Olympic centre hotel again, more views.
It happens.
This house was built for religious sportsmen and it should resemble a church. It is used as such today, actually. My father told me he also helped one day in helping the finishing the building of this by cleaning outside as this was a typical thing to do for students and school pupils back then. The inside of it has been made in a way that the lower part of the tower continues to the building and there is a glass just above it so sunlight comes through. The lower part of the tower looks roughly like the altar area in traditional churches. There can be something original even today, I can't remember exactly. I haven't seen the original interiour though, that would be very interesting, I've only seen it later.
The name Pirita is estonianised version of Birgitta who was a Swedish nun from a town called Vadstena (the mother convent/church is still there) who came here and let built this convent with church at the beginning of 15th century. She/they wanted to build it in the center first (currently known as Old Town) but didn't get the permission as this would've been a competing church and there already were churches there. The convent was allowed to be built behind the border of Tallinn and that river, today Pirita river, was the border in that side so it was built behind it. (By the way, the first bridge was built there only about 100 years ago.) Interesting but also there, the plan was changed and not just once to make the church and everything smaller -- probably because of lack of money. The church was burned down by Russians in Livonian war in 1580's and Ivan IV "Groznyi" was active then. So it didn't last even for 200 years. After this it was still used by locals and was left completely after the next war, Northern war after 1700. In the meantime, pieces of stones were used for other buildings and I think even for some Old Town houses. Around the beginning of 20th century the remains were under the soil already and cows ate grass there. The left, nuns' part was excavated and is presented today for exhibition, it has also been conserved a bit. The right, monks' part around the graveyard is still kept for future excavations. One of the most popular Estonian movies was made in 1969 after a novel by Eduard Bornhöhe (from 19th or 20th century) about the last days of this convent. There is even a book available about making this movie. In 2005 a new convent with the same name was built right next to the old one. I wrote all this from memory, I hope there are no big mistakes. Needless to say, this building and area is one of my favourite in Tallinn so despite this is not a block, I'll include some photos of it. It is the pearl of this area.
Wonderful design.
And the new one, very beautiful.
Taken from "island" that neighbours the convents. There is river flowing around this area and there's only one bridge. It contains remnants of buildings that are probably even older than the convent. And there is an interesting circle of old trees.
Even some people live here.
Then I visited this building. Currently, it is under complete renovation and has been painted white.
I liked it so much that I took extra detailed footage.
The municipality of Pirita.
Now they have closed this open area into the building so now there is some office room with windows. I wonder if they really kept these stairs.
New and old convents.
A bunch od anchors.
Today this house contains a bakery called Muhu Pagarid (Muhu Bakers) and they bake the best bread ever.
01.05.12
View from TV tower. The hotel is in the right, also old convent. New convent is in the centre. The tower of Olympic centre "church" is also visible in the centre.
Right next to TV tower. This "Kalev" is name for a famous soviet-time motorists club (I think) and even the bus stop's name was named "Motoklubi"for years. Just few years ago it was renamed to Teletorn (TV tower).
26.12.12
I walked from Merivälja along the beach (over 3 km) to the other end of Pirita beach. I think it was -10 or -15 degrees Celsius.
With zoom earlier.
With less zoom later or without zoom. The building looks the same size but far away Olympic centre hotel is much smaller than in the previous photo. That's how zoom warps the world.
A magnificent view and walk. The time is 14:33.
In some other walk there was high wind and high water and when I tried to pass this corner, I got wet!
No comments:
Post a Comment