In last week’s blog post I talked about my top 10 list of things to do while in Old Town Tallinn where I briefly mentioned the Kadriorg Palace. Although it is not technically in Old Town, it is nearby and definitely is a must-see. Someone said it was a 15-minute walk from the city center of Tallinn but after a day of already walking the town, we opted to take an UBER for the very short drive there and back.
Although it is near the city center, the palace still felt secluded in its own way. Driving out, we noticed beautiful parks with statues and ponds intermixed with incredible 19th and 20th century villas built by wealthy families of the times. This palace, set up by Russian royalty back in the day, was so monumental that the Estonian presidential palace was built right up the hill from Kadriorg. Although it was mid-September when we visited, the palace felt rather empty of visitors, so it was nice to feel we had the grounds to ourselves.
This Baroque masterpiece was a gift from Peter the Great of Russia to his wife, Catherine between 1718 and 1725 and was designed in the same opulent style as the buildings in St. Petersburg. The palace is well preserved by the government, so the beautiful architectural details are nearly intact.
It was originally used as the royal summer residence for the Russian royals where affluent members of society could enjoy beautiful architecture and the tranquility of nature. Kadriorg also became a major Russian seaside resort in the early 19th century but it thrived the most under Czar Nicholas I in the 1830s and 1840s. You can see lovely paintings illustrating Tallinn’s importance throughout the palace.
The palace is magnificent in its classic regal extravagance, but the highlight is the two-story grand hall. It is considered by some as one of the best examples of Baroque design in all of Northern Europe. Although much of the palace has gone through transformations throughout the centuries, the grand hall is almost true-to-form as it was back in Peter and Catherine’s day. The fresco on the ceiling is beautiful and the surrounding detail is exquisite. Above the fireplace, you can see the initials of Peter and Catherine, which are surrounded by symbols of imperial power (crowns and eagles) – these details remind us for whom the palace was built. No wonder the hall is often referred to as the Baroque Pearl of the North!
The surrounding 18th century well-manicured gardens are also impressive. Strolling through the grounds, I immediately thought this would be a perfect summer get away for the Russian royals. There is a beautiful park planted with numerous types of trees and with many open fields. Also, on these grounds is a beautiful swan pond with a gazebo and a Japanese garden.
Since the palace is so beautiful, it is fitting that it also houses the Kadriorg Art Museum (a branch of the Art Museum of Estonia), one of the nation’s top museums. An impressive collection is kept displaying art from the 16th through 20th centuries – over 60,000 pieces reside here! One of my favorites was an oil on canvas painted in 1853 called Port of Tallinn, Morning. You can see so much of what the Port and Old Town would have looked like at that time, even down to the tall ships in the port.
Kadriorg Park is also home to other museums -- just across the street is the Mikkel Museum, another art museum that used to be the palace’s kitchen house. Those interested in art will find Dutch and Flemish paintings, Chinese porcelain, and etchings by Rembrandt. Just farther up the road is Estonia’s largest art museum, the Kumu which was named the best museum in Europe in 2008. This modern complex opened in 2006 and is a center for contemporary art from the 19th and 20th centuries.
We really did feel like royalty walking the palace and grounds. But like any royal, we were getting hungry and took an UBER back (well that’s not exactly royal) to Old Town. This is a must-see destination when visiting Tallinn. I certainly can’t guarantee if the crowds will be minimal but crowds or not, it is worth adding to your list!
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Thanks so much Elizabeth for your comments. This is such a lovely palace to visit -- not only is it a special palace, but a wonderful museum as well. Yes, the paintings are incredible to see. Thanks again.
Tallinn sounds very interesting, the palace and the grounds are just the sort of place I’d like to see too. Those painting s would I’m sure be wonderful to see first hand. Thanks for sharing your information, impressions and photos from this visit.