Toila is a village located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. The administrative center of Toila parish in the Ida-Virumaa county of Estonia. Seaside resort.
Early History and Origins (Pre-19th Century)
Toila, located in
Ida-Viru County on Estonia's northeastern coast along the Gulf of
Finland, has roots tracing back to medieval times. The settlement was
first documented in 1428 under the name Tulis, appearing in historical
records as a small village or area within the broader Estonian landscape
under various foreign influences, including Danish, Swedish, and later
Russian rule. By the early 17th century, a farm had been established in
the area, marking the beginnings of more structured agricultural
activity. In 1765, the Toila manor was explicitly mentioned, reflecting
the region's integration into the Baltic German estate system prevalent
during the Russian Empire's control over Estonia. This period positioned
Toila as a quiet rural locale, characterized by its natural features
such as the Baltic Klint cliffs, the Pühajõgi River valley, and
proximity to the sea, which would later define its development.
Prior
to these documented mentions, archaeological evidence suggests human
activity in the broader Ida-Viru region dates back to prehistoric times,
though specific prehistoric sites in Toila itself are not prominently
recorded in historical accounts. The area's geology, including
Ordovician limestone formations and ancient river valleys, hints at
potential early settlements, but Toila's history before the 15th century
remains largely tied to the general narrative of Estonia's Stone Age,
Bronze Age, and Iron Age inhabitants, who were influenced by Finnic
tribes and later Viking-era trade routes along the Baltic Sea.
19th Century: Emergence as a Resort Destination
The mid-19th century
marked a transformative period for Toila, evolving from a sleepy rural
area into a burgeoning air resort. This shift was driven by the growing
popularity of seaside vacations among the Russian, German, Baltic
German, and Estonian urban elite. The fresh sea air, scenic cliffs, and
forested landscapes attracted summer visitors seeking respite from city
life. By the 1870s, the construction of the Tallinn-Saint Petersburg
railway line significantly boosted accessibility, leading to the
proliferation of summer houses (dachas) along the coast and the Pühajõgi
River. This infrastructure development integrated Toila into the broader
Russian Empire's tourism network, positioning it as a fashionable
retreat.
Cultural milestones emerged during this era. In 1881, Abram
Siimon founded the first Estonian country theater in Toila, fostering
local arts and community gatherings. Although the original building
burned down in 1901, Siimon rebuilt it in stone, solidifying Toila's
role as a cultural hub for rural Estonians amid the National Awakening
movement, which emphasized Estonian language and traditions under
Russian rule.
A pivotal development occurred between 1897 and 1899
when Grigori Yeliseyev (also spelled Jelissejev), a prominent St.
Petersburg merchant and owner of luxury grocery stores, acquired
approximately 140 hectares of land, including the Pühajõe Manor and
adjacent properties. Bored with his summer homes on the French Riviera,
Yeliseyev invested five million rubles to construct Oru Palace—a grand,
three-story Italian Renaissance-style building with 57 rooms, a valuable
art collection, terraces, a winter garden, riding arena, and stables.
The surrounding park, designed by renowned Riga landscaper Georg
Kuphaldt, spanned about 100 hectares in a natural, English-style layout
with over 200 species of trees and shrubs, including exotic imports.
This estate not only elevated Toila's status but also symbolized the
opulence of Russian imperial elites in the Baltic provinces.
Early 20th Century: Independence, Culture, and Presidential Era
(1900–1940)
The early 20th century saw Toila thrive as a recreational
and intellectual haven. Before World War I, a major dairy operated in
the area (around 1911), supporting local agriculture. Following
Estonia's independence in 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire,
Toila attracted artists, writers, and thinkers. Notable figures included
poets Henrik Visnapuu, Betti Alver, and Valmar Adams; writers Friedebert
Tuglas and August Gailit; artists Johann Köler and Paul Pinna; and
Russian poet Igor Severyanin, who emigrated to Toila in 1918 and lived
there until his death in 1941. This influx underscored Toila's appeal as
a serene escape during the interwar period of Estonian sovereignty.
Oru Palace's fate shifted dramatically in the 1930s. After the 1917
October Revolution, Yeliseyev emigrated to Paris and sold the estate in
1934 for 100,000 kroons to a group of Estonian industrialists, who
donated it to the state. Insisting on a governmental buyer, Yeliseyev
ensured its public use. Renovations completed in 1936 transformed it
into the summer residence of President Konstantin Päts, symbolizing
Estonia's "Era of Silence"—a time of authoritarian rule emphasizing
national aesthetics and gardening. The palace hosted state functions,
reflecting Päts's vision of a cultured, independent Estonia. By July
1938, Oru Park and Palace were at their zenith, often called the "crown
jewel" of Estonian heritage, as captured in modern virtual reality tours
recreating that era's splendor.
World War II and Destruction
(1940–1945)
The Soviet occupation in 1940 and subsequent German
invasion in 1941 brought devastation. In 1941, retreating Soviet forces
set fire to Oru Palace, reducing it to ruins used as a mine depot. In
1944, as German troops withdrew, they demolished the remnants with
explosives. This destruction mirrored Estonia's broader loss of
independence under successive occupations. Additionally, a German
military cemetery was established in 1944 for about 2,000 soldiers from
the Narva Front, later partially repurposed by Soviet border troops.
Soviet Era (1945–1991)
Under Soviet rule, Toila was incorporated
into the Estonian SSR. Oru Park was renamed Toila-Oru and managed as
part of the Kohtla-Järve green belt forest. Neglect followed the war,
but restoration began in the 1960s, including clearing ruins, rebuilding
terraces, and constructing an open-air stage. A pioneer camp opened in
1954, and in 1956–1957, former estate buildings were converted into a
school, which became Toila Gymnasium in 1998. The park's natural
features were preserved, though the palace's absence left a "charged
void" in the landscape. Toila remained a sanatorium and recreational
site, with a large spa facility operating throughout the period.
Post-Independence Revival (1991–Present)
Following Estonia's restored
independence in 1991, Toila experienced revitalization. In 1997, a
landscape protection plan restored the park's name to Oru Park,
emphasizing its historical and ecological value. Annual events like the
"Oru Park Promenade" began on August 20, commemorating independence with
1930s-themed gatherings. The German Military Cemetery was inaugurated in
2002, now caring for over 1,500 German and 600 Estonian WWII casualties.
Administratively, Toila Parish was formed in 2017 through the merger of
Kohtla-Nõmme Parish, the former Toila Rural Municipality, and Kohtla
Rural Municipality, making Toila its administrative center. Discussions
about joining Jõhvi municipality resurfaced in 2022. The sanatorium was
modernized, and tourism flourished with attractions like virtual tours
of 1938 Oru Palace, hiking trails, and the preserved park featuring rose
gardens, pavilions, and the Silver Spring Cave. Municipal efforts
continue to restore elements like the greenhouse, though full palace
reconstruction remains debated due to costs and heritage guidelines.
Today, Toila's history is a tapestry of natural beauty, cultural
flourishing, wartime loss, and resilient revival, with Oru Park standing
as its enduring symbol of Estonia's complex past.
From the middle of the 19th century, the previously sleepy Toila
developed into a popular air resort. Numerous Russian, German, Baltic
and Estonian townspeople moved here for the summer vacation.
With
the construction of the railway line between the Estonian capital
Tallinn and the Russian capital Saint Petersburg in 1870, the tourist
development of Toila increased rapidly. Numerous summer houses were
built on the Baltic Sea coast and on the banks of the Pühajõgi River.
From 1897 to 1899, the St. Petersburg businessman Grigory Yeliseyev
had the Oru Castle built in Toila. The gigantic building with 57 rooms
stood in a spacious park with native and exotic tree species. The
luxurious construction cost five million rubles. The house housed a
valuable art collection. in 1935, Estonian large-scale industrialists
acquired the property and donated it to Estonian President Konstantin
Päts as a summer residence. The castle was completely destroyed in 1941
during the Second World War. The park is preserved.
After the
First World War and the independence of the Republic of Estonia, the
development of Toila as a recreational destination continued. Among the
numerous artists and intellectuals who spent the summer months in Toila
were Henrik Visnapuu, Friedebert Tuglas, Artur Adson, August Gailit,
Betti Alver, Valmar Adams, Aleksis Rannit, Johann Köler and Paul Pinna.
in 1918, the Russian poet and translator Igor Severyanin (1887-1941)
emigrated to Toila.
Today there is a large sanatorium in Toila,
which was extensively restored and modernized after the restoration of
Estonian independence.
In addition to fishing and tourism, since
1911 there was also one of the largest dairies in Estonia before the
First World War.
Toila also became known as the place of the first Estonian country theater. It was founded in 1881 by the socially and culturally active farmer Abram Siimon (1844-1929). When the theater burned down in 1901, the patron had a new stone building erected. A memorial stone commemorates the theatre life in Toila today.
On August 10, 2002, the German Military Cemetery of Toila was
inaugurated in the immediate vicinity of the Ostsee-Klint. From the
military cemetery, a wide view opens over the Gulf of Finland. The war
cemetery is under the care of the Volksbund Deutsche
Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V. More than 1,500 German and 600 Estonian fallen
of the Second World War have found their final resting place there.
The cemetery goes back to the German military cemetery, which was
created in 1944 for 2,000 fallen of the Narva Front. After the war,
parts of the cemetery were used as a training ground for Soviet border
troops. It is thanks to the vastness of the site that only a small part
of the burial grounds were destroyed in the process.