We can consider Metsakalmistu Cemetery as one of the richest cemeteries in Estonia for its cultural monuments.
About the cemetery
Metsakalmistu was established as the public city cemetery in Kloostrimetsa in 1933. The area first planned for the cemetey wast 24,2 ha and it has now become 48,3 ha. The official opening of the cementery was organised in 1939.
The chapel was built of limestone between 1935-1936 by the architect H. Johanson. It was then set on fire by the vandals and it was restored with the the help of Tallinn City Government in 1996.
Effect of a natural forest
Metsakalmistu is the cemetery with a natural look, which design requirements caused major arguments and reproaches at that time. Namely, placing crosses, fences and edges was forbidden, maximum dimensions of the gravestone were 80x50 cm. That is how the cemetery has maintained the effect of a natural forest till the present day. In design, monumental gravestones have been avoided later on too. Nowadays, maximum 1,5m is allowed for the height of the stone while for the edges of the burial places, natural lawn edges, covering with moss mat, bordering with flowers etc., are still required.
Important personalities at the cemetery
In Metsakalmistu Cemetery, plots of land have been allotted for the Actors, Athletes, Composers, Writers, Artists, Journalists, Doctors and Architects Union, Memento, Soomepoisid, Veterans of the Estonian War of Independence, Scientists, etc.
The first to be buried in Metsakalmistu Cemetery in 1933 was E.Vilde. The burial place of the family of the first president of Estonia, Konstantin Päts, is also located here. From well-known people, Lydia Koidula, Anton-Hansen Tammsaare, Johannes Kotkas, Paul Keres, Raimond Valgre, Georg Ots, etc., have also been buried here.
The first to be buried in Metsakalmistu Cemetery in 1933 was E.Vilde. The burial place of the family of the first president of Estonia, Konstantin Päts, is also located here. From well-known people, Lydia Koidula, Anton-Hansen Tammsaare, Johannes Kotkas, Paul Keres, Raimond Valgre, Georg Ots, etc., have also been buried here.
Address
Metsakalmistu Cemetery36 Kloostrimetsa Road
1191 Tallinn
Estonia
*Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metsakalmistu#/media/File:Tallinna_Metsakalmistu_kabel.jpg