Paldiski (Swedish: Rågervik; German: Baltischport), is a town and Baltic Sea port located on the Pakri Peninsula in northwestern Estonia.

Following Estonia's independence in 1918, the port experienced a decline in significance, only to regain importance during the Soviet occupation.

The town is home to the terminus of the Tallinn-Paldiski railway line and serves as the administrative center of Lääne-Harju Parish in Harju County.

A small port, also named Rågervik, was established on the southern coast of the Pakri Peninsula sometime during the 17th century.

[11][10]: 13 The modern, phonetically spelled Estonian name Paldiski first appeared in literature during the first half of the 19th century.

Laoküla village, situated just south-east of Paldiski, was first mentioned in the Danish Census Book in 1241 as Laiduscæ.

[15] It is speculated that the sales happened as a result of the Saint George's Night Uprising of 1343, to shield the coast from rebellious Estonians.

In 1622, Gustav II Adolf of Sweden granted the lands of the Padise monastery, including Suur-Pakri Island, to Thomas von Ramm, the former bürgermeister of Riga.

He began building a fleet on the Baltic Sea in 1702, established Saint Petersburg in 1703, and by 1710, he had gained full control over Estonia and Livonia.

Upon assuming control, Peter ordered a survey of the coasts of the new territories to identify potential locations for building new ports.

Preparatory work finally started on 20 July 1718, when Peter the Great of Russia ceremoniously initiated the construction of the fortress and the breakwater between the mainland and Väike-Pakri Island.

Many things were built, including bastions and central rampart for the fortress, an almost 300 meter long breakwater for the port, and a lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula.

[25][11] On 20 August 1762, Catherine the Great of Russia gave orders to rename Rogerwiek to Baltiiski Port.

She also tasked Burkhard Christoph von Münnich, a known fortification expert, with finishing the long-lasting project of fortifying the port.

Between 1787 and 1820, Baltiiski Port also held the status of a county town, which resulted in a court and other governmental institutions being established.

[26]: 15 On 6 March 1790, during the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790, Swedish warships sailing under Dutch flags seized the port for a day and destroyed its artillery batteries.

[27][10]: 13  Rogerwiek Bay was blockaded by Swedish and English ships in the fall of 1808 as part of the Finnish War.

The town's civilian population had grown significantly, reaching around 500 inhabitants[26]: 15 The construction of the St. Petersburg-Tallinn-Paldiski railway was finished in 1870, with the intent to utilize the ice-free port of Baltiiski to transport goods to St. Petersburg.

Near the end of the war, Russia started building fortifications around the town and established artillery batteries at the tip of the peninsula.

In 1940, the whole population of Paldiski and the Pakri Islands were forcibly relocated and replaced by Soviet military personnel.

Sometimes when the real combat bombs were used, the small earthquakes created from it could be felt in Paldiski and at the nuclear reactors.

When approaching the Pakri Islands or leaving from the target, the flight routes were often over Paldiski and this led to few incidents.

Derelict Soviet-style apartment buildings made up much of the town, and the relics of military bases were widespread.

Operation «Ämblik» (Spider) was conducted in Paldiski on 16 March 1993 by 33 Estonian police officers and 40 border guards to establish law in the area, including in the Russian military base.

For example, on 9 March 1993, several Russian armed forces officers were detained by Estonian authorities in Tallinn due to an attempt to sell firearms.

The housing blocks in the town do not all appear dilapidated and abandoned, and several have been refitted and re-painted in recent years.[when?]

[35] On 20 July 1718, Peter the Great of Russia ceremoniously initiated the construction of the breakwater between Väike-Pakri island and the mainland, which was never fully completed.

[51] As part of the town's redevelopment, this once near-derelict station has been renovated and painted in bright yellow and white colours.

[58] The 2015 music video for Alan Walker's popular song "Faded" was in part filmed in or around Paldiski.

The Soviet submarine base of Paldiski is a major location in the video game Girls' Frontline.