Sights and landmarks in Sillamäe

Sights and landmarks in Sillamäe

1. See

   Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

   A former residential building, modified in the 1990s to become an Orthodox church. It looks a bit unusual, though it's beautifully set next to the river.

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   House of culture

   on the central square, the (Kesk 11) faced by the (Kesk 10). These buildings retain elements like balustrades and flowerbeds, but Soviet statues have been removed.

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   Langevoja waterfalls

   Langevoja juga

   A bit outside the city, the small stream of Langevoja forms two small waterfalls: 1.5 m and 4 m in height, before flowing into Sõtke. The falls can be quite impressive after rains, though they may dry up in the summer.

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   Memorial to Soviet soldiers

   A set of concrete blocks with metal bas-reliefs depicting faces of soldiers.

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   Mere puiestee

   Приморский бульвар/Primorski bulvar

   From the central square, stairs lead down to the "boulevard to the sea" as the street is named in both Estonian and Russian. The iconic view of Sillamäe, it looks more like a place next to the Black Sea, Lake Geneva or the Mediterranean than in Northern Estonia.

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   Monument to the peaceful atom

   Built in 1987 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Russian revolution, which is stated on the plaque, it's one of the increasingly few Soviet monuments in independent Estonia. It depicts a worker lifting up an "atom" that is comprised of electrons but no nucleus.

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   Rodina cinema

   (Kesk 11) faced by the (Kesk 10). These buildings retain elements like balustrades and flowerbeds, but Soviet statues have been removed.

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   Sillamäe museum

   Sillamäe muuseum

   The local museum has a range of different exhibitions related to geology, oil shale and the related industry, daily life during different eras, music including radios, record players and instruments, a collection of dolls and various temporary exhibitions.

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   Sinimäe

   The hills around this village were the site of a battle between Estonians and Soviets in July 1944. The Soviets lost the battle and their advance westwards was halted for two months. Estonians remember it as a great military achievement at gather here every year at a memorial to Estonian SS fighters. The Russians nowadays forming the majority this part of the country unsurprisingly disagree and are protesting against the gatherings. Around the village there's also a Soviet military cemetery and a memorial to the 1920s Estonian War of Independence erected in the 1990s. In Sinimäe there is a small military museum too.

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    Town hall

    The town hall was built after the Second World War though unlike most other buildings from this era it's not entirely in Stalinist style but draws elements from Tallinn's old town too, in addition to the Kremlin in Moscow.

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    Viivikonna

    Abandoned mining community with the reputation of a ghost town.

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    bath house

    (Kesk 10). These buildings retain elements like balustrades and flowerbeds, but Soviet statues have been removed.

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    Catholic church

    Built in 2001 in modern style.

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    Ukuoru Falls

    A waterfall 7.5 m in height near the seashore.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Sillamäe (CC BY-SA 4.0).