Härjapea
Tallinn's former Härjapea river was buried underground in 1937. Two hours retracing its path — how the medieval city drew its drinking water and why it disappeared.
Overview
Härjapea River Walk — Tallinn’s forgotten river
Härjapea was Tallinn’s river — buried underground in 1937. Walk with me along its former path and I’ll share how the medieval city got its drinking water from it and why it ultimately disappeared.
Did you know that a mysterious river flows right beneath the heart of Tallinn? The Härjapea River, which once laid the foundation for the city’s industry and supplied its people with water, has now been channeled into underground pipes. This fascinating tour takes you on a journey through history, retracing the river’s former course.
The story of the Härjapea is filled with watermills, industrial development, and the twists and turns of urban planning. We begin our tour where one of the river’s many watermills once stood. The shimmering pond near the gates of the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces is the last visible memory of this water-rich era. From there, we move along the edge of the Inner City Cemetery (Siselinna kalmistu) and through Kalev Stadium. Looking at the landscape here, you can clearly trace where the river once carved its path. We then reach Juhkentali Street, where you can see the surviving fragments of an old watermill with your own eyes. This area also hides a pond known in local folklore as the “pasatski tiik” (scoundrels’ pond), reminding us of a more colourful and less polished chapter of the city’s past.
The Härjapea River was the beating heart of Tallinn’s industry. In the Maakri district, leather and paper factories thrived precisely because of this flowing water. Today, only memories remain of the Kuremäe Convent’s Tallinn outpost and the old Kompasna suburb, but it was right along their borders that the Härjapea once flowed. The tour ends symbolically at Reidi Road.
The walk along the forgotten Härjapea River is approximately 5 km long.
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Highlights
- Walk along Tallinn's former Härjapea river
- Stories of medieval water supply
- Why the river was buried in 1937
- City planning misfires
- 2h guided walk
Important Info
The tour can also be done on bikes upon request.