Pirita Convent

Ruins of the St. Brigit's Convent

Pirita Convent (Estonian: Pirita klooster) was a monastery, for both monks and nuns dedicated to St. Brigitta, in the district of Pirita in Tallinn, Estonia.

The idea of founding the monastery dates to merchants (H. Huxer, G. Kruse, H. Swalbart) of Tallinn of around 1400. In 1407, two monks from the Vadstena Abbey arrived to Tallinn to counsel the merchants. First permit to break dolomite to gather building material for building the complex was acquired in 1417. Convent was constructed under the supervision of the architect Heinrich Swalbart. The main church of the monastery was consecrated on August 15, 1436 by the Bishop of Tallinn Heinrich II. During its heyday Pirita Convent became the largest Catholic monastery in Livonia. However, during Livonian war Pirita Convent was attacked by the Russian troops under leadership of Ivan the Terrible in 1557. They sacked the monastery, looted its riches and burned it down. Pirita Convent was abandoned since then, but adjacent lands were used for the cemetery by the locals.

Several of the merchants who had originally proposed the monastery later became its monks.

See also

• Vadstena Abbey
• Bjärka-Säby Monastery
• List of Christian religious houses in Estonia

External links

• Official website
• Ermak Travel Site of Pirita Convent

Tallinn landmarks
Buildings and structures	Toompea Castle Town Hall Old Thomas Kiek in de Kök St Mary's Cathedral St. Olaf's church St. Nicholas' Church Church of the Holy Ghost Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Saint Catherine's Monastery Town Hall Pharmacy Great Guild Pikk Hermann tower Knighthood House Stenbock House Kadriorg Palace Pirita Monastery Glehn Castle (Tallinn Observatory) Maarjamäe Manor TV Tower Linnahall Patarei Sea Fortress-Prison Independence War Victory Column Bronze Soldier Charles Leroux Monument Russalka Memorial Raekoja plats Walls of Tallinn House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads
Precincts	Historic Centre (Toompea Hill) Kadriorg Kalamaja
Nature and parks	Tallinn Zoo Tallinn Botanic Garden Lake Ülemiste Lake Harku Pirita River Aegna island Kadriorg Park (Japanese Garden) Danish King's Garden Kanuti Garden Kuberneri Garden Komandandi Garden Toompark Hirvepark Harjumägi Lindamägi Tammsaare Park Police Garden Löwenruh Park Glehn Park Jüriöö Park Pae Park Lillepi Park Kakumäe Coastal Park Kopli cemetery Kalamaja cemetery Metsakalmistu cemetery
Beaches	Pirita Beach Stroomi Beach Kakumäe Beach Harku Beach Pikakari Beach
Cultural settings	Museums and galleries Kumu (Art Museum of Estonia main branch) Mikkel Museum Estonian Open Air Museum (Kolu kõrts) Estonian Maritime Museum (Seaplane Harbour) Estonian Firefighting Museum Estonian History Museum Estonian Museum of Natural History Estonian Health Care Museum Estonian Theatre and Music Museum Museum of Estonian Architecture Museum of Occupations Tallinn Car Museum Theatres Estonia Theatre Estonian Drama Theatre Theatre NO99 Russian Theatre Estonian Puppet Theatre Tallinn City Theatre Von Krahl Theatre Other National Library of Estonia Song Festival Grounds Culture Factory Polymer
Science and education	Tallinn University Tallinn University of Technology Estonian Academy of Arts Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Estonian Academy of Security Sciences Estonian Maritime Academy Tallinn University of Applied Sciences Estonian Business School Estonian Academy of Sciences
Sports	Pirita Yachting Centre A. Le Coq Arena Kadriorg Stadium Kalevi Keskstaadion Saku Suurhall Kalevi Spordihall Pirita Velodrome Mustamäe Ski Jumping Hill Tallinn Hippodrome Pirita-Kose-Kloostrimetsa Circuit
Transportation	Port of Tallinn Tallinn Passenger Port Muuga Cargo Port Paljassaare Harbour Bekker Port Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport Railway station Tallinn Bus Station Tallinna Linnatranspordi AS
Events	Estonian Song Festival Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival Tallinn Old Town Days Tallinn Marathon Tallinn Christmas Market Õllesummer

Coordinates: 59°28′00″N 24°50′10″E / 59.46667°N 24.83611°E / 59.46667; 24.83611