Rummu: Discover Prison History and the Quarry

When choosing a stay in Rummu, the main consideration is what you want to focus on: should the day revolve around prison history, the quarry landscape, or activities on and under the water? These themes offer different ways to discover the place.

Prison History and Tours

Murru Prison closed in 2012 and is now presented as a museum. The prison’s main buildings were constructed between the 1960s and 1980s. This also helps place the site’s history in its historical context.

Tours at the Murru Prison Museum include the prison’s interior spaces, cells, punishment areas, work and utility rooms, as well as the surrounding landscape. The tour brings together different aspects of daily life in the former prison and its surroundings.

The audio tour at Murru Prison has nearly 20 stops. It is available in Estonian, English, Russian, German, Finnish and Latvian. Visitors can also use an audio guide or book a tour to explore the Rummu Quarry.

The landscape also bears traces of history: after quarrying ended, water in the Rummu Quarry area covered prison walls and buildings. History and today’s waterscape meet here, so a visit does not have to consist solely of a museum tour.

Lagoon, Trails and Getting Around

Rummu Quarry combines a crystal-clear green-blue lagoon with an artificial hill. This striking combination gives the place its distinctive landscape character. Those interested in how it formed and its former use will find a different way to explore it than visitors focused on activities on the water.

There are several hiking trails in the area around the quarry. The visitor area at Rummu Quarry is open to pedestrians around the clock. As access rules may change, check the latest visitor information before your visit.

The nearest bus stop is about one kilometre from Rummu Quarry. This approximate distance helps you plan your journey; check current information about the stop before making plans.

Water Activities

A seasonal inflatable water park, designed as a floating obstacle course, is available at Rummu Quarry. SUP boards are also rented out seasonally. Check the latest dates for these activities in advance so you can take the season into account when planning.

Rowboats are available to rent for short trips and explorations on the water. Another option is Paekalda: on request, it offers a water tour of Rummu Quarry combined with a guided tour of Murru Prison. This distinguishes a short self-guided outing from a requested experience that combines time on the water with a prison tour.

Rummu Diving offers a SUP or canoe tour on Lake Rummu that includes a visit to Ash Hill. The stated duration is up to 2.5 hours. The offer describes a tour, not a guided tour. One offer for divers includes a theory course, equipment rental, one dive and a day pass.

There is also a beginner diving experience at Rummu Quarry, led by diving instructors, for visitors aged 12 and over. Seasonal booking conditions apply; check the details before planning around this activity. Rummu Diving also offers a snorkelling experience at the quarry and in the underwater prison.

A nighttime light-raft trip at Rummu Quarry lets visitors observe underwater forests, fish and sunken houses. Those who prefer to be active on land can visit the quarry’s disc golf park, which has 12 baskets and is suitable for beginners.

More Leisure Activities

The Rummu Quarry adventure park offers arcade games and electric buggies. The options range from historical tours and trails in the surrounding area to water experiences and other leisure activities. When choosing accommodation in Rummu, your planned focus may be the deciding factor: prison history, the landscape or activities on the water each offer a different emphasis.

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