Metsakalmistu (meaning ''Forest Cemetery'') is a cemetery in the

Pirita Pirita is one of the eight administrative districts ( et, linnaosa) of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Pirita occupies a relatively big area, but compared to other districts of Tallinn its population of 17,592 (as of 1 November 2014) is relati ...

district of

Tallinn Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju '' ...

. Metsakalmistu was originally planned to be a public medieval cemetery.

Eduard Vilde Eduard Vilde ( – 26 December 1933) was an Estonian writer, a pioneer of critical realism in Estonian literature, and a diplomat. Author of classics such as ''The War in Mahtra'' and ''The Milkman from Mäeküla''. He was one of the most revere ...

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. 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 The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

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 A columbarium (; pl. columbaria) is a structure for the reverential and usually public storage of funerary urns, holding cremated remains of the deceased. The term can also mean the nesting boxes of pigeons. The term comes from the Latin "''colu ...

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 Infantry Regiment 200 ( fi, Jalkaväkirykmentti 200, JR 200, et, Jalaväerügement 200, JR 200) or soomepoisid (''Finnish Boys'') was a unit in the Finnish army during World War II made up mostly of Estonian volunteers, who preferred to fight aga ...

, as well as the veterans of the

Estonian War of Independence The Estonian War of Independence ( et, Vabadussõda, literally "Freedom War"), also known as the Estonian Liberation War, was a defensive campaign of the Estonian Army and its allies, most notably the United Kingdom, against the Bolshevik westw ...

, are also buried here.Metsakalmistu plan
/ref>

Notable people interred in the cemetery

Evald Aav Evald Aav ( – 21 March 1939) was an Estonian composer born in Tallinn, Governorate of Estonia, Russian Empire. He studied music composition there with Artur Kapp and wrote primarily vocal music to words in the Estonian language. In 1928 he comp ...

* Urmas Alender (

cenotaph A cenotaph is an empty tomb or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been reinterred elsewhere. Although the vast majority of cenot ...

) *

August Alle August Alle ( in Viljandi – 8 July 1952 in Tallinn) was an Estonian writer.Endel Nirk, Arthur Robert Hone, Oleg Mutt, ''Estonian Literature: Historical Survey with Biobibliographical Appendix'', Published by Perioodika, 1987, p215 Early life ...

Ants Antson Ants Antson (11 November 1938 – 31 October 2015) was an Estonian speed skater who competed for the Soviet Union. Biography Antson trained at the Kalev Voluntary Sports Society. Coached by former World, Olympic, and European Champion Boris ...

* Lydia Auster *

Eduard Bornhöhe Eduard Bornhöhe (pen name); born Eduard Brunberg (, in Kullaaru, Rakvere Parish, Kreis Wierland – 17 November 1923, in Tallinn), was an Estonian writer. Bornhöhe is generally considered a pioneer of the genre of the Estonian historical nov ...

Heino Eller Heino Eller (7 March 1887 – 16 June 1970) was an Estonian composer and pedagogue, known as the founder of contemporary Estonian symphonic music. Life Eller was born in Tartu, where he took private lessons in violin and music theory, played i ...

August Englas August Englas (15 January 1925 – 21 March 2017) was an Estonian wrestler who competed for the Soviet Union. Englas was born in Otepää. In the 1952 Summer Olympics, after defeating Adil Atan, Shirang Vithoba Jadav and Max Leichter, ...

Gustav Ernesaks Gustav Ernesaks (12 December 1908 – 24 January 1993) was an Estonian composer and a choir conducting, conductor. Biography Ernesaks was born in Perila, Peningi Parish. He played an integral role in the Singing Revolution and was one of the ...

Ants Eskola Ants Eskola (until 1935 Erhard-Voldemar Esperk;Eskola 1986: 7 17 February 1908 in Tallinn – 14 December 1989 in Tallinn) was a Soviet Union, Soviet and Estonian actor, singer and artist. He appeared in 25 films from 1930 to 1979. People's Artist ...

Illar Hallaste Illar Hallaste (6 May 1959, Kohtla-Järve – 27 October 2012, Tallinn) was an Estonian cleric, politician, lawyer, and businessman, most notable for being a voter for the Estonian restoration of Independence. Education Hallaste studied in Koh ...

Helle-Reet Helenurm Helle-Reet Helenurm (26 January 1944 – 23 February 2003) was an Estonian actress whose career began in 1968 in theatre. She also performed as a radio, television, and film actress until her death, aged 59, of cancer. Early life and education ...

August Jakobson August Jakobson (2 September 1904 – 23 May 1963) was an Estonian writer and politician. He was one of the few Estonian playwright among his contemporaries whose plays were untouched by Soviet censorship and reached other Soviet states. He h ...

Jaak Joala Jaak Joala (26 June 1950 – 25 September 2014) was an Estonian singer, musician and a member of two bands: Kristallid and Virmalised. He began as a flautist, later adding singing and bass guitar. Biography Early life Jaak Joala was born i ...

Jüri Järvet Jüri Järvet (18 June 1919 – 5 July 1995) was an Estonian actor. His name sometimes appears as Yuri Yevgenyevich Yarvet, an incorrect back-transliteration from the Russian transliteration Юри Евгеньевич Ярвет. His birthna ...

* Ottniell Jürissaar * Karl Kalkun *

Eugen Kapp Eugen Arturovich Kapp ( – 29 October 1996) was an Estonian composer and music educator. Characterized by simple harmonies, march rhythms and an appealing melodic style, his music is reflective upon the musical ideas favoured by the Stalinist r ...

Nikolai Karotamm Nikolai Karotamm (October 23, 1901 – September 21, 1969) was an Estonian communist politician. He was a member of the Communist Party of Estonia. In 1925, he emigrated to the Netherlands, where in 1926, he joined the Communist Party of the Net ...

* Kärt Jänes-Kapp *

Paul Keres Paul Keres (; 7 January 1916 – 5 June 1975) was an Estonian chess grandmaster and chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s, and narrowly missed a chance at a World Chess Championship match on five ...

Kaljo Kiisk Kaljo Kiisk (3 December 1925 – 20 September 2007) was a Soviet and Estonian actor, film director, screenwriter and politician. He was best known for his roles as Kristjan Lible from ''Spring'' ( et, Kevade), ''Summer'' (''Suvi'') and ''Autu ...

* Tõnu Kilgas * Virve Kiple *

Albert Kivikas Albert Kivikas ( in Groß-St. Johannis, Livonia, Russian Empire – 19 May 1978 in Lund) was an Estonian writer and journalist. He is best known as the author of the book '' Names in Marble'' ( et, "Nimed marmortahvlil"), the subject of which i ...

Paul Kogerman Paul Nikolai Kogerman ( in Tallinn – 27 July 1951 in Tallinn) was an Estonian chemist and founder of modern research in oil shale. Paul Kogerman was born into a family of gas factory worker (and former sailor). He went to an elementary school ...

Lydia Koidula Lydia Emilie Florentine Jannsen, ( – ), known by her pen name Lydia Koidula, was an Estonian poet. Her sobriquet means 'Lydia of the Dawn' in Estonian. It was given to her by the writer Carl Robert Jakobson. She is also frequently referred to ...

Konstantin Konik Konstantin Konik ( – 3 August 1936) was an Estonian politician and surgeon who served as a member of the Estonian Salvation Committee. Konstantin Konik was born to a working-class family in Tartu; his father made living as a carter. After st ...

Johannes Kotkas Johannes Kotkas (3 February 1915 – 8 May 1998) was a heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler from Estonia who won a gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He held the European title in 1938, 1939 and 1947 and placed second at the 1953 world champion ...

Raimund Kull Raimund Kull (3 October 1882 – 10 October 1942) was an Estonian conductor and composer. Born in Narva, at the time part of the Russian Empire, Kull studied trombone at the St. Petersburg Conservatory from 1900 until 1906. He then worked as an ...

* Ilmar Kullam * Henn-Ants Kurg * Betty Kuuskemaa *

Johannes Käbin Johannes Käbin (), also known by his Russified name Ivan Gustavovich Kebin (; 24 September 1905, Kalvi, Kreis Wierland, Governorate of Estonia, Russian Empire – 26 October 1999, Tallinn, Estonia) was an Estonian Soviet politician who led t ...

Heli Lääts Heli Lääts (24 June 1932 – 16 February 2018) was an Estonian singer (mezzo-soprano) whose career began in the mid-1950s. Lääts predominantly performed estrada, chamber, pop, polka, and jazz music. Early life and education Heli Lääts wa ...

* Ants Lauter *

Artur Lemba Artur Lemba (24 September 1885, Tallinn – 21 November 1963, Tallinn) was an Estonian composer and piano teacher, and one of the most important figures in Estonian classical music. Artur and his older brother Theodor (1876-1962) were the first ...

Astrid Lepa Astrid Lepa (7 April 1924 – 30 November 2015) was an Estonian stage, television, voice, and film actress, screenwriter, and television director whose career began in the 1940s and ended shortly before her death, spanning over sixty years. Earl ...

* Kalju Lepik *

Robert Lepikson Robert Lepikson (14 June 1952 – 1 July 2006) was an Estonian politician, businessman and rally driver/co-driver. As a rally driver, he was the Estonian champion three times, winner of the Baltic Cup and was the head of the Estonian motospo ...

* Voldemar Lender * Heino Lipp * Endel Lippmaa * Viljar Loor * Sulev Luik * Ada Lundver * Meta Luts *

Heino Mandri Heino Mandri (11 September 1922 – 3 December 1990) was an Estonian film and stage actor, designated People's Artist of the Estonian SSR (1986). Biography Heino Mandri was born in the independent Republic of Estonia. He studied acting at Tallin ...

* Alo Mattiisen * Roman Matsov * Lennart Meri * Mati Nuude * Sulev Nõmmik * Bruno Oja * Karl Oole *

Georg Ots Georg Ots (21 March 1920 – 5 September 1975) was an Estonian singer, actor and People's Artist of the USSR (1960). Biography Before studying singing with the Estonian baritone Aleksander Rahnel in Yaroslavl in the rear of the Eastern Fron ...

* Rein Otsason *

Ülo Õun Ülo Õun (30 April 1940 – 7 March 1988) was an Estonian sculptor whose career began in the late 1960s and came to prominence in the 1970s. Õun mainly worked as a portrait and figural sculptor and was known for his works in colored plaster and ...

Kristjan Palusalu Kristjan Palusalu (until 1935 Kristjan Trossmann, – 17 July 1987) was an Estonian heavyweight wrestler and Olympic winner. Palusalu became the first and only wrestler in Olympic history ever to win both the Greco-Roman and freestyle heavy wei ...

Konstantin Päts Konstantin Päts (; – 18 January 1956) was an Estonian statesman and the country's president in 1938–1940. Päts was one of the most influential politicians of the independent democratic Republic of Estonia, and during the two decades prior ...

* Paul Pinna * Voldemar Puhk * Helmi Puur *

Edgar Puusepp Edgar Puusepp (11 September 1911 – 19 December 1982) was an Estonian wrestler and wrestling coach. He competed in the men's Greco-Roman welterweight at the 1936 Summer Olympics, achieving 4th place. He won a silver medal in Greco-Roman w ...

Endel Puusepp Endel Puusepp (russian: Эндель Карлович Пусэп; 1 May 1909 – 18 June 1996) was a Soviet bomber pilot of Estonian origin, who completed over 30 nighttime strategic bombing campaigns during World War II. He was a recipient of th ...

Egon Rannet Egon Rannet (until 1940 Eugen/Jevgeni Brükke; 29 November 1911 – 1 November 1983) was an Estonian writer. Many of his works were affected by socialist realism. He was born in Tallinn Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Esto ...

Alfons Rebane Alfons Vilhelm Robert Rebane, known simply as Alfons Rebane (24 June 1908 – 8 March 1976) was an Estonian military commander. He was the most highly decorated Estonian military officer during World War II, serving in various Wehrmacht and Waffe ...

Salme Reek Salme Reek (10 November 1907 – 9 June 1996) was an Estonian stage, film, radio, and television actress and stage director whose career spanned nearly seventy years; sixty-six of which were spent as an actress at the Estonian Drama Theatre. ...

* August Rei *

Johannes Semper Johannes Semper ( – 21 February 1970) was an Estonian poet, writer, translator and politician. He was born in Pahuvere (now Viljandi Parish), Kreis Fellin, in the Governorate of Livonia. A student and later a prominent scholar at the Univers ...

Juhan Smuul Juhan Smuul (18 February 1922 – 13 April 1971) was an Estonian writer. Until 1954 he used the given name Johannes Schmuul. Career Smuul was born in Koguva village on the island of Muhu to Jüri and Ruudu Schmuul (née Tuulik). He had three ...

Sophie Sooäär Sophie Sooäär (27 September 1914 – 14 March 1996) was an Estonian stage, television, and film actress and singer and dancer. Early life and education Sophie Sooäär (occasionally credited as Sofie Sooäär) was born in Pärnu in 1914. S ...

* Ülo Sooster *

Olev Subbi Olev Subbi (7 March 1930, Tartu – 19 August 2013) was an Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, ...

Lepo Sumera Lepo Sumera (8 May 1950 – 2 June 2000) was an Estonian composer and teacher. Life and career He was born in Tallinn and studied with Veljo Tormis in his teens, and from 1968, with Heino Eller at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (t ...

Aino Talvi Aino Talvi (6 February 1909 – 12 March 1992) was an Estonian stage, film, and radio actress and singer whose career spanned over sixty years. Early life Aino Talvi was born Aino Müller in Tartu to police constable August Müller and Miil ...

* Väino Tamm * A. H. Tammsaare *

Ruut Tarmo Ruut Tarmo (26 April 1896 – 28 January 1967) was an Estonian stage and film actor and stage director whose career spanned more than five decades. Early life Ruut Tarmo was born Harald Rudolf Klein in Tartu in 1896 to Julius Klein and Sohvi Kle ...

* Otto Tief *

Villu Toots Villu Toots (August 24, 1916 – April 10, 1993) was an internationally known Estonian calligrapher, book designer, educator, palaeographer and author. Biography Early life Villu Toots was born on August 24, 1916 in Reval, Russian Empire ...

Friedebert Tuglas Friedebert Tuglas, born Friedebert Mihkelson or Michelson (2 March 1886 – 15 April 1971) was an Estonian writer and critic who introduced Impressionism and Symbolism to Estonian literature.Mati Unt Mati Unt (1 January 1944 Linnamäe, Voore Parish (now Voore, Mustvee Parish), Jõgeva County, Estonia – 22 August 2005, Tallinn) was an Estonian writer, essayist and theatre director. Biography His first novel, written at the age of 18 af ...

Artur Vader Artur Vader (16 February 1920 – 25 May 1978) was the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1970 – 1978. He was born in Gorbovo, Liozna District, Vitebsk Region, Byelorussian SSR. He w ...

Katrin Välbe Katrin Välbe (until 1929 Jekaterina Poska; 31 October 1904 – 5 July 1981) was an Estonian actress. Katrin Välbe was born Jekaterina Poska in Võru to Gabriel and Lydia Poska. Her father was a lawyer and her uncles included statesman Jaan Posk ...

Raimond Valgre Raimond Valgre (born Raimond Tiisel; 7 October 1913 – 31 December 1949) was an Estonian composer and musician, whose songs have become some of the most well known in Estonia. During World War II, Valgre was conscripted into the Red Army and was ...

Edgar Valter Edgar Valter (21 September 1929, Tallinn – 4 March 2006, Tartu) was an Estonian graphic artist, caricaturist, writer and illustrator of children's books, with over 250 books to his name, through 55 years of activity (1950–2005). His most fa ...

* Johannes Vares-Barbarus * Asta Vihandi * Juhan Viiding * Edgar Viies * Aarne Viisimaa * Vello Viisimaa *

Silvi Vrait Silvi Vrait (28 April 1951 – 28 June 2013) was an Estonian singer and music teacher. Biography Vrait was born in Kehra in 1951 to Einar "Edward" Wright, a Minnesota-born American of Finnish ancestry and his Estonian wife Senta (née Schönbe ...

References

External links

Maetute otsing
{{Authority control Cemeteries in Tallinn 1939 establishments in Estonia

Notable people interred in the cemetery

See also

References

External links