The chilling ruins of Patarei prison (Tallinn, Estonia)

Walk along the oceanfront west of Tallinn’s port and you’ll eventually stumble upon a crumbling prison, dismantled after the Soviets turned tail and left and now turned into a memorial to the innocent victims imprisoned here by the Germans and the Soviets. 

Inside, you’ll find an exhibit titled “communism is a prison,” full of stories of prisoners, conditions, and the communist leaders who made prisons like this the living hell they were (entry cost is currently 8 euros for adults and 5 euros for students). Outside, no matter what time of day, you’ll find crumbling walls, wild graffiti, and a walking path that circles the complex. As many abandoned buildings do, it manages to be both chilling and beautiful. 

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All photos taken with my Sony a6000.