After World War II, the Lahemaa coast became a border zone of the USSR, where various military facilities were built. To this day, the military heritage is quite strongly felt when moving around Lahemaa. Given that the coastline of Lahemaa National Park spans over 100 kilometers, numerous former Soviet-era border guard posts can be found, especially near the tips of peninsulas that stretch far into the sea. True, most of them have been privatized by today. And/or they are in such poor condition that safety may not be guaranteed when visiting them. However, two exciting military heritage-related attractions can be found in Lahemaa, more precisely on the Juminda Peninsula.
The first of these is located in Juminda village and commemorates the evacuation of Soviet forces from Tallinn at the end of the summer of 1941. During the events known as the Juminda mine battle, approximately 60 ships were sunk, and an estimated 15,000 people lost their lives at sea. The event is commemorated by a memorial stone erected on the beach in Juminda village. Additionally, the Maritime Museum has put together an exhibition “Hell on the Baltic Sea. The Juminda Sea Tragedy of 1941”, which will become a permanent exhibition at Hara Harbour by the 2024 tourist season at the latest.
Another prominent representative and attraction of military heritage in Lahemaa is Hara Harbour. The former submarine and naval fleet degaussing station offers an exciting atmosphere on the southwestern shore of Hara Bay with its powerful concrete structures, alongside which a marina with its accompanying infrastructure has been developed today. You can find interesting and detailed reading about Hara Harbour here.
The largest area by surface area where the military heritage is strongly felt by visitors is located on the Pärispea Peninsula – a military base and town in Suurpea village, and a radar hill with its associated facilities near Purekkari Cape. Due to the poor or very poor condition of the buildings, it is definitely not recommended to enter them. We also draw attention to signage indicating private property and its protection, and ask for respect for it.
Be sure to plan your visit to Lahemaa’s military heritage as part of your Lahemaa Tour. For a more complete experience, take a local guide.
