🔊 Listen The construction of Kadriorg Palace and the regular park started in the summer of 1718 under the Russian Tsar Peter I and the Italian architect Nicola Michetti. At the request of Peter I, anyone could visit the park, which is why the imperial park was public from the very beginning. The lower and upper palace gardens were designed in a strictly French style. The park area from the palace to the sea followed the English style. The regular park in front of the castle was not maintained until the beginning of the 20th century, which is why the park is not the same as it was. After additional plantings a dark garden was formed, where the nature of the regular park only remained as a road network. Since 2000, the upper garden has been restored and the lower garden is also restored step-by-step.

In 1937, 20 × 2 m summer flowerbeds in the national pattern were planted south of the Swan Pond. A sundial was installed between them. In the same year, the Apollo Square was also built. There, the oldest sculpture of the park is situated – Belvedere Apollo. An open-air concert place with a band pavilion, a fountain, and a rock garden was also built. Now, Rose Hill is located there.

The Presidential Palace built in Kadriorg in 1938 just next to the Kadriorg Palace is the official residence of the Estonian President.

In 2011, the Japanese Garden was opened, which surrounds the North-East Pond. In 2016, a boardwalk was completed in the oak wood, which makes it possible to explore the natural marsh in detail.

In terms of area, the largest part of the park is the nature park, which is full of oak woods where oaks grow that are older than the palace itself. The boulders have been left there and footpaths have been built to preserve the natural impression. Today, two different parks – a regular park and a natural park – can be distinguished in the Kadriorg Park.

For more information go to www.kadriorupark.ee/en