Metsakalmistu
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![Tallinna Metsakalmistu.jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Tallinna_Metsakalmistu.jpg/220px-Tallinna_Metsakalmistu.jpg)
Metsakalmistu (meaning Forest Cemetery) is a cemetery in the Pirita district of Tallinn.
Metsakalmistu was originally planned to be a public medieval cemetery. Eduard Vilde was the first to be buried in 1933. The original area of the cemetery was 24.2 hectares, but has since expanded to be 48.3 hectares.
Metsakalmistu was officially opened in 1939. That same year, 15 people were buried in the cemetery.[1] In 1939, the nearby Kloostrimetsa Farm cemetery was created, which eventually, through expansion, became part of an expanded Metsakalmistu.
At first, the designers of the cemetery were unanimous about the general design requirements of the cemetery, but the area was still dominated by the appearance of a wild forest. Initially, there was placement of crosses, girders, ranks, and calcareous stones, the largest size of which were 80x50 cm. Subsequently, the use of natural barriers, such as grass slabs, were built and have been extended to include a moss bed cover, along with borders marked by flowers. Monumental gravestones were not recommended initially for the cemetery, but they still exist to a small extent. At present, the permissible maximum height for a pillar is 1.5 m.
The main chapel of Metsakalmistu was built in 1936, with its main architect being Herbert Johanson. The chapel was vandalized by the Soviet Union after the establishment of the Estonian SSR, but in 1996 it was restored with the support of the Tallinn City Government. In 2006, a columbarium was built.
Tombstones in Metsakalmistu are reserved for notable Estonian people involved in, among other professions, theatre, sports, composing, writing, the arts, journalism, medicine, architecture, and science, as well as other public figures; those who were soldiers in the Finnish Infantry Regiment 200, as well as the veterans of the Estonian War of Independence, are also buried here.[2]
Notable people interred in the cemetery[]
- Evald Aav
- Urmas Alender (cenotaph)
- August Alle
- Ants Antson
- Lydia Auster
- Eduard Bornhöhe
- Heino Eller
- August Englas
- Gustav Ernesaks
- Ants Eskola
- Illar Hallaste
- Helle-Reet Helenurm
- August Jakobson
- Jaak Joala
- Jüri Järvet
- Eugen Kapp
- Nikolai Karotamm
- Kärt Jänes-Kapp
- Paul Keres
- Kaljo Kiisk
- Virve Kiple
- Albert Kivikas
- Paul Kogerman
- Lydia Koidula
- Konstantin Konik
- Johannes Kotkas
- Raimund Kull
- Ilmar Kullam
- Betty Kuuskemaa
- Johannes Käbin
- Heli Lääts
- Ants Lauter
- Artur Lemba
- Astrid Lepa
- Kalju Lepik
- Robert Lepikson
- Voldemar Lender
- Heino Lipp
- Endel Lippmaa
- Viljar Loor
- Sulev Luik
- Ada Lundver
- Meta Luts
- Heino Mandri
- Alo Mattiisen
- Roman Matsov
- Lennart Meri
- Mati Nuude
- Sulev Nõmmik
- Bruno Oja
- Karl Oole
- Georg Ots
- Rein Otsason
- Ülo Õun
- Kristjan Palusalu
- Konstantin Päts
- Paul Pinna
- Voldemar Puhk
- Helmi Puur
- Edgar Puusepp
- Endel Puusepp
- Alfons Rebane
- Salme Reek
- August Rei
- Johannes Semper
- Juhan Smuul
- Sophie Sooäär
- Ülo Sooster
- Olev Subbi
- Lepo Sumera
- Aino Talvi
- Väino Tamm
- Anton Hansen Tammsaare
- Ruut Tarmo
- Otto Tief
- Villu Toots
- Friedebert Tuglas
- Mati Unt
- Artur Vader
- Katrin Välbe
- Raimond Valgre
- Edgar Valter
- Johannes Vares-Barbarus
- Asta Vihandi
- Juhan Viiding
- Edgar Viies
- Aarne Viisimaa
- Vello Viisimaa
- Eduard Vilde
- Silvi Vrait
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Tallinnas abiellumisi rohkem kui sünde". Rahvaleht, 12. jaanuar 1940, nr 10, lk 8
- ^ Metsakalmistu plan
External links[]
- Cemeteries in Tallinn
- 1939 establishments in Estonia