Luckily for them, non-Christians are allowed to stay in this stylish guesthouse run by the Order of St Bridget – although card-carrying hedonists might be rather unnerved by the spotless white interiors, the crucifixes in every room and the giant chapel next to the foyer, which holds a service every morning at 7.30am.
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rnPirita Klooster (literally, ‘cloisters’) is located next to the ancient ruined monastery of St Bridget, razed to the ground by Ivan the Terrible in 1577. Striking out on its own, the modern convent is shamelessly state-of-the-art, with cool spot lighting, slick elevators and minimalist Scandinavian décor.
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rnRun by nine nuns of the Order who come from all over the world (India, Mexico, Italy and Estonia at last count), it has a very special atmosphere for those seeking real peace and quiet – but luckily there are no restrictive house rules, and guests can come and go as they please. In the summer it tends to be full, since it is walking-distance from Pirita beach, but it’s pretty quiet in winter.