Harju (county)

Harju (county)

Leave the capital of Harju county behind and find yourself on the edge of the north coast. Here the limestone ground drops away at the massive **Türisalu** cliff where the sea air hits you with full force. Stop the car at **Jägala** waterfall to see the widest natural sheet of water in the country thundering over a rocky ledge into a deep canyon. This landmark is especially powerful during the spring thaw when the water roar echoes through the surrounding birch groves. Explore the dense pine forests near **Laulasmaa** to find the modern **Arvo Pärt** Centre nestled among the trees. The coastal road leads to the **Rummu** submerged quarry where crystal clear water hides a sunken **Soviet** prison. It is a surreal sight with white limestone hills rising like mountains from the flat landscape. You can walk along the sandy ridges of the quarry to get a bird's eye view of the turquoise water and the ruins beneath the surface. The **Keila-Joa** park offers a perfect break with its manor house and tiered cascades. You can walk the forest trails to find hidden suspension bridges over the rushing river. End the day at the **Lohusalu** marina to watch fishing boats return under a vast northern sky. Harju's quiet coastal roads here are lined with blueberry bushes and provide plenty of small pockets to park and watch the sunset over the Gulf of Finland.

Harju (county) highlights

Part of these road trips

Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route
The Heritage Drive
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History of Harju (county)

The bedrock of the Harju county dates back over 450 million years, creating a massive limestone plateau that defined how the area was built. In 1219, Danish invaders arrived at the coast and established a stronghold that eventually became the capital city. For centuries, the region was a playground for Danish and German knights who built heavy stone monasteries like Padise in the 1300s to protect their lands and control the profitable sea trade routes along the northern coast. During the 1870s, a massive railway was finished that connected the local ports to the rest of the Russian Empire, turning the quiet coastal plains into an industrial powerhouse. This era saw the rise of grand manor estates where wealthy families managed vast forests and built the first modern mills powered by the region's waterfalls. The landscape shifted again after 1945 when many coastal areas became restricted military zones, leaving behind hidden bunkers and secret submarine bases that are still tucked away in the pine forests today. The most surreal part of Harju’s history is found at the Rummu quarry, which was a busy limestone mine and prison site throughout the 20th century. When the pumps were turned off in the 1990s, the water rose so quickly that it swallowed the buildings and machinery whole. Today, this sunken world has become a famous stop for road trippers who want to see the remains of the Soviet past peeking out from a crystal clear turquoise lake
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