Maardu: Trails, Lake and City History

Maardu brings together opportunities for exercise in Metsapark, a large natural lake and cultural and historical themes ranging from church architecture to industrial history. Nature and city history thus emerge as different facets of the place. Trails and sports opportunities shape an active perspective, while the lake, church, market tradition and industrial history offer further ways to explore it. When planning a trip, therefore, there is more than one attraction to consider: Maardu offers several themes, which can be given different levels of importance depending on personal interests.

Trails and Activities in Metsapark

Maardu Metsapark has trails three and five kilometres long. They are suitable for walking, running, Nordic walking and cycling; in winters with plenty of snow, cross-country skiing is also possible. The two trail lengths provide a concrete point of comparison when planning exercise, while the opportunity for cross-country skiing is explicitly dependent on snowy winters. The park also has a low adventure course for children and an outdoor gym.

Maardu järv as a Natural Attraction

Maardu järv, also known as Liivakandi järv, is a natural lake open to the public, covering an area of 161.8 hectares. This figure gives the lake a concrete scale among Maardu’s attractions. As a natural feature, it differs from the exercise-focused opportunities in Metsapark. This makes it possible to tailor trip planning more towards the landscape or towards specific activities.

Church Architecture and a Bell

Maardu Peaingel Miikaeli kirik was completed in 1998, built from red bricks in the style of classical church architecture. A large church bell dating from 1902 stands on the grounds; it was brought there from Plaani kirik in Võrumaa. The year the church was completed and the date on the bell represent two distinct historical periods: the church itself was completed at the end of the 20th century, while the bell dates from an earlier time. For those interested in culture, the red-brick building, its classification as classical architecture and the bell’s provenance are distinct aspects to focus on.

Market Tradition, Industrial History and a Nature Trail

A tradition of holding an autumn market began in 2001; in recent years, it has been called Etnolaat. Alongside architectural history and nature, Maardu’s themes therefore also include a market tradition. Maardu keemiakombinaat is cited as the reason Maardu developed into an industrial town. A planned nature and cultural history trail is intended to introduce residents and visitors to Maardu’s main attractions and history. In 2022, its first section was walked from Maardu järv via Kroodi oja to the former Maardu keemiakombinaat and back.

Find the Right Holiday Apartment for Your Plans

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Maardu, start by sorting out your priorities: should trails and exercise, the lake, or cultural and industrial history shape your stay? Then check whether the location of a specific property suits the plans you want to carry out. This way, you can choose your accommodation to match your travel plans rather than giving equal weight to every theme.

Discover more destinations: Keila, Tabasalu, Järveküla, Padise, Pedase, Sõitme, Laagri, Saula

For the broader travel overview: Harju.