KGB Cells Museum
About This Museum
It's a startling fact that this unassuming building in central Tartu was, until 1991, an active KGB detention center. You don't walk into a polished gallery here; you descend into the city's grim underbelly. The air feels heavy and cold, and the original cell doors still slam shut with a chilling finality. It’s a profoundly unsettling experience that connects you directly to Estonia's recent history of oppression.
Collection Highlights
The main exhibits are the cells themselves—tiny, graffiti-scarred rooms with peeling paint and crude prisoner carvings. You'll also find interrogation room reconstructions and a collection of personal effects that tell silent, powerful stories of those who were held here.
Visitor Information
It's not a large museum, so an hour is plenty, but the atmosphere is intense. Be prepared for steep stairs and a real chill in the air, both physical and emotional.
Architecture & Building
From the outside, it's just a dour, yellow-painted administrative building that blends into the streetscape, which is precisely what made it so effective.
Contact & Location
Address: KGB kongide muuseum, 15b, Riia, Riiamäe, Kesklinn, Tartu linn, Tartu maakond, 51010, Eesti
Phone: +372 746 1717
Website: Visit Website
