Kalamaja Cemetery

Former cemetery in Tallinn, Estonia

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (January 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

The Kalamaja cemetery (Estonian: Kalamaja kalmistu, German: Fischermay Kirchhof or Fischermay Friedhof), in Tallinn in Estonia was once the city's oldest existing cemetery, located in the suburb of Kalamaja in the north of the city. It contained thousands of graves of ethnic Estonian and Swedish residents of Tallinn and stood for at least 400 years, from the 15th or 16th century to 1964 when it was completely flattened and destroyed by the Soviet occupation authorities governing the country at that time.[1] The former cemetery is now a public park: "Kalamaja kalmistupark".

## Origins and use

[edit]

The exact origins of the cemetery are not completely clear, but historians place its foundation to sometime between the 15th and 16th centuries. It was the principal burial ground of the ethnic Swedish and Estonians living in or around Tallinn.

Until the mid to late 19th century the majority of residents of Tallinn were Baltic Germans who had their own separate graveyards within the city walls until 1774, and their own separate cemeteries outside the city after that.

Until its destruction the cemetery had thousands of graves standing of various historical figures from Estonia's history.

## Destruction by Soviet authorities in 1964

[edit]

Shortly after the Second World War and during the second occupation of Baltic states, the suburb of Kalamaja (due to its strategic position as a base for the Red Army on the Gulf of Finland) was turned into a restricted zone for the Soviet military and closed to the public.[1]

In 1964 the cemetery was entirely flattened under the order of Soviet authorities.[2] Gravestones were used to build walls along the ports and sidewalks in other parts of the city and no trace of the cemetery was left standing.[2]

Soviet forces in a coordinated effort to remove all traces of the past, non ethnic Russian, inhabitants of Tallinn also destroyed two further 18th century cemeteries in the city, in the suburbs of Kopli and Mõigu which belonged to the ethnic Estonian and Baltic German communities.

In contrast the Russian Orthodox Cemetery, also established in the 18th century, south of the old town of Tallinn, was left standing.[citation needed]

## Current status

[edit]

Presently the former area of the cemetery is a public park, with no immediate visible indication of its previous status. However a small plaque with a very short description has been put on the site on the side of a restored chapel.

The only surviving evidence of those who were interred there consists of the parish registers of burials and some old detailed maps of the area in the Tallinn city archives.

## Gallery

[edit]

* Fountain in newly reconstructed park

* Surviving gate-belltower from 1780

*   *

## See also

[edit]

* List of cemeteries in Estonia
* Kopli cemetery
* Mõigu cemetery

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Rein Taagepera, Estonia: Return to Independence, Westview Press 1993, ISBN 0813317037, p. 189
2. ^ a b "Kalamaja". Tallinn city website. Retrieved 2008-09-03.

* Adolf Richters Baltische Verkehrs- und Adreßbücher, Band 3-Estland, Riga 1913
* (in German) Schmidt, Christoph. Bergengruens Tod von Reval aus historischer Sicht. Journal of Baltic Studies, 29:4 (1998), 315–325
* Tallinna Kalmistud, Karl Laane, Tallinn, 2002, ISBN 998564168X

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kalamaja cemetery.

* Image of a late 19th or early 20th century map showing the district of Kalamaja and the area of the cemetery Archived 2012-02-23 at the Wayback Machine
* Another photo of the restored chapel from a distance

* v
* t
* e

Tallinn landmarks

Buildings and
structures|

* Toompea Castle
* Town Hall
* Old Thomas
* Kiek in de Kök
* St Mary's Cathedral
* St. Olaf's church
* St. Nicholas Church
* Church of the Holy Ghost
* Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
* Saint Catherine's Monastery
* Town Hall Pharmacy
* Great Guild
* Pikk Hermann tower
* Knighthood House
* Stenbock House
* Kadriorg Palace
* Presidential Palace
* Pirita Monastery
* Glehn Castle (Tallinn Observatory)
* Maarjamäe Manor
* Maarjamäe Memorial
* TV Tower
* Linnahall
* Patarei Sea Fortress-Prison
* Independence War Victory Column
* Bronze Soldier
* Charles Leroux Monument
* Russalka Memorial
* Raekoja plats
* Freedom Square
* Walls of Tallinn
* House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads
* Tallinn Synagogue

Precincts|

* Historic Centre (Toompea Hill)
* Kadriorg
* Kalamaja

Nature and
parks|

* Tallinn Zoo
* Tallinn Botanic Garden
* Lake Ülemiste
* Lake Harku
* Pirita River
* Aegna island
* Kadriorg Park
* Danish King's Garden
* Kanuti Garden
* Kuberneri Garden
* Komandandi Garden
* Toompark
* Hirvepark
* Harjumägi
* Lindamägi
* Tammsaare Park
* Police Garden
* Löwenruh Park
* Glehn Park
* Jüriöö Park
* Pae Park
* Lillepi Park
* Kakumäe Coastal Park
* Iru hillfort
* Kopli cemetery
* Kalamaja cemetery
* Metsakalmistu

Beaches|

* Pirita Beach
* Stroomi Beach
* Kakumäe Beach
* Harku Beach
* Pikakari Beach

Culture|

| Museums and
galleries|

* Kumu (Art Museum of Estonia main branch)
* Mikkel Museum
* Estonian Open Air Museum (Kolu kõrts)
* Estonian Maritime Museum (Seaplane Harbour)
* Estonian Firefighting Museum
* Estonian History Museum
* Estonian Museum of Natural History
* Estonian Health Museum
* Estonian Theatre and Music Museum
* Museum of Estonian Architecture
* Museum of Occupations

|

Theatres|

* Estonia Theatre
* Estonian Drama Theatre
* Theatre NO99
* Russian Theatre
* Estonian Puppet Theatre
* Tallinn City Theatre
* Von Krahl Theatre

Other|

* National Library of Estonia
* Song Festival Grounds
* Culture Factory Polymer

Science and
education|

* Tallinn University
* Tallinn University of Technology
* Estonian Academy of Arts
* Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre
* Estonian Academy of Security Sciences
* Estonian Maritime Academy
* Tallinn University of Applied Sciences
* Estonian Business School
* Estonian Academy of Sciences

Sports|

* Pirita Yachting Centre
* A. Le Coq Arena
* Kadriorg Stadium
* Kalevi Keskstaadion
* Unibet Arena
* Kalev Sports Hall
* Tondiraba Ice Hall
* Pirita Velodrome
* Mustamäe Ski Jumping Hill
* Tallinn Hippodrome
* Pirita-Kose-Kloostrimetsa Circuit

Transportation|

* Port of Tallinn
* Old City Harbour
* Paljassaare Harbour
* Bekker Port
* Tallinn Airport
* Tallinn Baltic Station
* Tallinn bus station
* Tallinna Linnatranspordi AS

Events|

* Estonian Song Festival
* Estonian Dance Festival
* Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
* Tallinn Old Town Days
* Tallinn Marathon
* Tallinn Music Week
* Tallinn Christmas Market
* Õllesummer
* Tallinn Legends

59°26′58.43″N 24°43′47.88″E﻿ / ﻿59.4495639°N 24.7299667°E﻿ / 59.4495639; 24.7299667
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template