25.7.2022 | Estonia

Enjoy the peace and tranquillity at Padise Monastery

Text Mark Taylor
Photo Andrei Chertkov

You can see for many kilometres from the monastery tower.

For Marje Kidron, the manager of Padise Monastery, the best thing is the peace and tranquillity of the setting. “I encourage everyone who comes to the monastery to just stop, close your eyes and enjoy the silence”.

For this reason, the monastery, which dates back to the 13^th century, is not flooded with information boards like many historic places, each room or area has just a short text.

The highlight of the monastery, which was renovated in 2019, is the view from the top of the tower, where you can see views across the local forests and farmland towards the sea. Everything you can see and beyond once belonged to the monastery. During the medieval period, when the monks were present, the sea was also 1km nearer than it is today.

“The best time to visit Padise Monastery is in the autumn (September), because despite the weather getting colder, the walls of the monastery are still warm. The colours of the trees are also beautiful.” Kidron enthuses.

You can buy your tickets for the monastery from the exquisitely renovated visitors centre, which also has a shop full of local products (nothing comes from more than 20 km away), a small exhibition space, as well as an area upstairs for workshops, and a library.

The monastery church also plays host to regular classical concerts.

Tickets to the monastery cost 6 euros for adults and 4 euros for seniors and students.

It is open from 11-18 Tuesday-Sunday

Come for the monastery, stay for Padise

As well as the peaceful and tranquil monastery, you will also find the beautifully renovated Padise Manor that is now a restaurant and hotel with 20 unique rooms for guests who want to stay longer in the area. In addition, there is the wonderful Padise Kastell café, that has both the look and feel of visiting your favourite grandma. They can even organize a beautiful picnic that you can eat out in the nearby nature.

There is also a 6km hiking trail through the forest along the Kloostri river that will take you to an old hill fort (vanalinnamägi) that dates back as far as the 7^th century.