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Viljandi

Coordinates:58°22′N25°36′E/ 58.367°N 25.600°E/58.367; 25.600
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Viljandi
Town
Clockwise from top: Viljandi town hall; Old water tower; downtown; Ugala theatre; University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy, St. John's church; Sakala Centre
Flag of Viljandi
Flag
Coat of arms of Viljandi
Coat of arms
Viljandi is located in Europe
Viljandi
Viljandi
Location within Europe
Viljandi is located in Baltic Sea
Viljandi
Viljandi
Location withinBaltic Searegion
Viljandi is located in Estonia
Viljandi
Viljandi
Location within Estonia
Coordinates:58°22′N25°36′E/ 58.367°N 25.600°E/58.367; 25.600
CountryEstonia
CountyViljandi
Founded1283
Government
• MayorMadis Timpson
Area
• Total14.62 km2(5.64 sq mi)
Elevation
83 m (272 ft)
Population
(2019)
• Total17,407[1]
• Rank6th
Ethnicity
•Estonians94%
•Russians3%
• other2.1%
Time zoneUTC+2(EET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+3(EEST)
Postal code
71020
ISO 3166 codeEE-897
Websitewww.viljandi.ee

Viljandi(Estonian pronunciation:[ˈvilʲːjɑnʲːdi],‹See Tfd›German:Fellin,Latvian:Vīlande,Polish:Felin,Swedish:Fellin) is atownandmunicipalityin southernEstoniawith a population of 17,407 in 2019.[1]It is the capital ofViljandi Countyand is geographically located between two major Estonian cities,PärnuandTartu.The town was first mentioned in 1283, upon being granted its town charter by Wilhelm von Endorpe. The town became a member of theHanseatic Leagueat the beginning of the 14th century, and is one of five Estonian towns and cities in the league. The once influential EstoniannewspaperSakalawas founded in Viljandi in 1878.

Symbols

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The flag of Viljandi is bi-coloured, its upper part is light blue and lower part white. The city's shield-shaped coat of arms is light blue, with a white rose in the middle. Viljandi is the white rose city – in midsummer there are 720 white roses flowering in front of the city hall, planted for the town's anniversary in 2003. In summer, the White Rose Day is celebrated in Viljandi.

History

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The first records of civilization in the surroundings of Viljandi date back to the 5th millennium B.C. The first written record of the earthenstrongholdof Viljandi was in the year 1154 in the commentaries toal-Idrisi's world atlasGeography.

In the 12th century, a permanent settlement emerged around thestrongholdof Viljandi, which also became the economic centre of the ancient Sakala district.

In 1211 thehillfortof theEstoniansin Viljandi was besieged by a joint army ofGermans,Latvians,andLivonians.The LivonianSword Brethren(later theLivonian Order) captured the hillfort in August 1223 from a contingent of the people ofRuthenians,who joined forces with the insurgent Estonians. In place of the Sakala wooden stronghold a powerful Order Centre was started in 1224. The following year the Grand MasterVolquinled the construction ofViljandi Castleat the site of the former hillfort. Viljandi (Fellin) castle was one of the largest in theBaltic region.It was a major fortification of theLivonian Orderand was appointed a commander from 1248. The fortress was continually rebuilt and modernized over the next two-hundred years.

In the 13th century, a medieval town arose on the northern side of the stronghold. The Hamburg-Riga townbylaws,lands and population of it were first recorded in 1283. During the first half of the 14th century, Viljandi joined the influentialHanseatic League– the town had become an important stop for merchants on their way to Russia and back. In 1365, the town council was party when peace between Denmark and Hansa was concluded.

In 1470, Johann Wolthus von Herse, then master of the order, took up residence in the castle. In the Middle Ages, Viljandi was a typical small commercial town, which got its main income from transit trade. The local trade and handicraft played an equally important role. In 1481,Ivan III of Russialaid siege to the castle but could not take it. The decline of Viljandi started during theLivonian Warand in 1560, the forces of KnyazAndrey KurbskyofMuscovite Russiasucceeded in seizing and demolished the town and the stronghold.

During thePolish–Russian Warin the first quarter of the 17th century, the town and the stronghold were destroyed. Under Swedish rule in the 17th century the town bylaws of Viljandi were cancelled.

After theGreat Northern War,Russians seized the power and Viljandi was without laws until the year 1783, when in the course of the regency reforms ofCatherine IIViljandi became a district town. This involved the re-establishment of town bylaws. The economic and political importance of Viljandi started to increase. The population, meanwhile, having decreased to the minimum, started to rise again; handicraft, trading and cultural life were enlivened.

In 2005, Estonian Match, the successor of the 100-year-old Viljandi Match Factory, made a six-metre match, which was registered as the largest match in the world in theGuinness Book of Records.

Ruins ofViljandi Castle

Climate

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Climate data for Viljandi (normals 1991–2020, extremes 1824–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 9.6
(49.3) 		10.5
(50.9) 		17.4
(63.3) 		27.3
(81.1) 		31.1
(88.0) 		33.6
(92.5) 		34.2
(93.6) 		34.5
(94.1) 		29.0
(84.2) 		21.5
(70.7) 		13.7
(56.7) 		11.4
(52.5) 		34.5
(94.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −1.7
(28.9) 		−1.5
(29.3) 		3.2
(37.8) 		10.9
(51.6) 		17.2
(63.0) 		20.8
(69.4) 		23.3
(73.9) 		21.8
(71.2) 		16.4
(61.5) 		9.2
(48.6) 		3.3
(37.9) 		0.1
(32.2) 		10.2
(50.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.0
(24.8) 		−4.4
(24.1) 		−0.7
(30.7) 		5.6
(42.1) 		11.4
(52.5) 		15.3
(59.5) 		17.9
(64.2) 		16.5
(61.7) 		11.7
(53.1) 		5.9
(42.6) 		1.2
(34.2) 		−2.0
(28.4) 		6.2
(43.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −6.4
(20.5) 		−7.3
(18.9) 		−4.2
(24.4) 		0.9
(33.6) 		5.6
(42.1) 		10.1
(50.2) 		12.9
(55.2) 		11.9
(53.4) 		7.9
(46.2) 		3.1
(37.6) 		−0.8
(30.6) 		−4.1
(24.6) 		2.5
(36.5)
Record low °C (°F) −35.2
(−31.4) 		−35.7
(−32.3) 		−29.1
(−20.4) 		−18
(0) 		−5
(23) 		−0.9
(30.4) 		3.6
(38.5) 		1.5
(34.7) 		−4.4
(24.1) 		−13
(9) 		−21.9
(−7.4) 		−34.7
(−30.5) 		−35.7
(−32.3)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 60
(2.4) 		47
(1.9) 		40
(1.6) 		39
(1.5) 		47
(1.9) 		84
(3.3) 		76
(3.0) 		89
(3.5) 		61
(2.4) 		79
(3.1) 		63
(2.5) 		62
(2.4) 		747
(29.4)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) 13.3 10.4 9.2 8.1 8.2 10.6 10.0 11.4 10.2 12.6 11.9 13.8 129.7
Averagerelative humidity(%) 90 87 79 69 66 71 75 79 83 88 91 91 81
Source:Estonian Weather Service[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Culture

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Viljandi is sometimes called the cultural capital of Estonia, partly due to theViljandi Culture Academybeing located there. Ugala Theatresince 1920, Viljandi has had the Ugala drama theatre. The tradition of open-air performances dates back to the same year.

Viljandi Puppet Theatre

Sakala Centre

Viljandi Librarybuilt in 2002 is also a venue for exhibitions, meetings with famous people, culture seminars, etc.

Kondas Centreis dedicated to Estonian naïve artist Paul Kondas. The center hosts exhibitions of representatives of naïvism and is also a meeting place for artistic people.

Estonian Traditional Music Centrelocated in the Traditional Music Storehouse, a restored store house on Kirsimägi in the Castle ruins. The mission of the center is to promote and teach traditional music.

Viljandi Folk Music Festival

Demographics

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Ethnic composition 1922-2021
Ethnicity 1922[8] 1934[9] 1941[10] 1959[11] 1970[12] 1979[13] 1989[13] 2000[14] 2011[15] 2021[16]
amount % amount % amount % amount % amount % amount % amount % amount % amount % amount %
Estonians 8667 92.2 10998 93.3 10890 98.0 15422 86.1 17971 86.3 19469 87.0 20093 87.1 18995 91.5 16443 94.1 16230 94.1
Russians 124 1.32 204 1.73 119 1.07 - - 1912 9.19 2013 9.00 1899 8.23 1085 5.23 648 3.71 508 2.95
Ukrainians - - 2 0.02 - - - - 151 0.73 212 0.95 363 1.57 194 0.93 128 0.73 169 0.98
Belarusians - - - - - - - - 50 0.24 90 0.40 100 0.43 55 0.26 35 0.20 33 0.19
Finns - - 20 0.17 12 0.11 - - 373 1.79 381 1.70 344 1.49 241 1.16 105 0.60 93 0.54
Jews 131 1.39 121 1.03 0 0.00 - - 22 0.11 16 0.07 15 0.06 6 0.03 8 0.05 3 0.02
Latvians - - 41 0.35 17 0.15 - - 26 0.12 35 0.16 33 0.14 8 0.04 3 0.02 14 0.08
Germans 332 3.53 345 2.93 - - - - - - 54 0.24 49 0.21 10 0.05 7 0.04 17 0.10
Tatars - - 0 0.00 - - - - - - 9 0.04 14 0.06 8 0.04 6 0.03 6 0.03
Poles - - 13 0.11 17 0.15 - - - - 20 0.09 20 0.09 7 0.03 8 0.05 11 0.06
Lithuanians - - 6 0.05 1 0.01 - - 19 0.09 19 0.08 30 0.13 21 0.10 15 0.09 13 0.08
unknown 0 0.00 6 0.05 2 0.02 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 68 0.33 9 0.05 22 0.13
other 142 1.51 32 0.27 51 0.46 2494 13.9 290 1.39 50 0.22 120 0.52 58 0.28 58 0.33 126 0.73
Total 9396 100 11788 100 11109 100 17916 100 20814 100 22368 100 23080 100 20756 100 17473 100 17245 100

Religion in Viljandi (2021)[1]

Unaffiliated (83.4%)
Lutheran (9.2%)
Orthodox (3.0%)
Others Christians (3.1%)
Others Religions (0.9%)
Unknown (0.4%)

Geography

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Viljandi Culture School
Lake Paala (previously called the Valuoja reservoir) in Viljandi

The town is situated on the north-western shore ofLake Viljandi,which lies in the primeval valley. Green zones cover 27% of the town area. Public green areas cover about 418ha,including 92 ha of parks. The largest is the nature-protected Castle Park, but also Valuoja Park, Kiigepark, Uueveski Park are worth mentioning. The main tree species areoak,lime,birch,andpine.The grandest tree-lined avenues are Maramaa (named afterAugust Maramaa,twice the mayor of Viljandi) and Lembitu avenues. Among foreign species,American larchcan be found in Köler avenue andDouglas firin Uus street.

Economy

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There were 871 businesses in Viljandi on 1 May 2005, 50% of them in service, 45% in trade, and 5% in production areas. The major industries represented are the construction materials industry, textile industry, and food and bakery industry. In 2005, the Investor of the Year title was awarded to the waterworks operator AS Viljandi Veevärk, the Employer award to AS Toom Tekstiil, and the Sponsor of the Year title to AS Viljandi Metall. Unemployment rate among the working-age population in Viljandi was about 3%.[when?]

Transport

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Viljandi railway station

At the moment, 3 modes of transport can be used – free local buses, road and rail. One of the most important is theViljandi railway station,which was opened in 1897, through which theLelle-Viljandi railway and the Viljandi-Mõisakülarailway pass.

Education

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There are 7 schools and 7 kindergartens in Viljandi, a vocational secondary school and a university college. Special interests are catered for by a variety of institution providing extracurricular studies and activities in such fields as sports, music etc. The Youth Centre of Viljandi County is successful in offering various information and consulting services.

Schools in Viljandi

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Primary Schools

See also:Viljandi school shooting

Grammar Schools

Vocational education

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Vocational education can be acquired at Viljandi Joint Vocational Secondary School.

Higher education

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Higher and applied higher education can be acquired atViljandi Culture Academya college of the University of Tartu.

Extracurricular educational institutions

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  • Viljandi Music School
  • Viljandi Sports School
  • Viljandi Art School
  • Viljandi Youth Hobby Centre

Sports

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There are sports events in Viljandi for both top athletes and amateurs. Family sports events, Sunday skiing trips, cycling tours in spring and autumn are very popular. In the city there are 53 sports clubs, a large sports hall and the new sports hall of Maagümnaasium. Also, the country's first artificialspeed skating ovalwas opened in 2014.[17]Soon, the jogging and cycling track around Lake Viljandi will be completed. A new skateboarding and roller-skating area has been built in Männimäe. At the lakeside are tennis courts and the city stadium.

Several races are held in Viljandi – around Lake Viljandi and Lake Paala and up and down the Trepimägi stairs. The longest tradition – therace around Lake Viljandihas been organised since 1928. This race takes place annually on 1 May, with the number of participants being about 1300 in the recent years. The winners' names are cut into stone columns. The legendary Hubert Pärnakivi, whose monument is also a tribute to the race, was an 11-time winner of the race.

Other popular fields of sport in Viljandi are handball, football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, archery and rowing.

Legends

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Boatman of Viljandi

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Often the popular song is sung about the Boatman of Viljandi or the legend of him is told. Long-long ago, as a young man he had once taken a young girl across the lake on a summer evening and fallen hopelessly in love with the girl's blue eyes. Nobody knows what happened on the lake, but on the other side, the girl just waved him good-bye and left... However, the Boatman, a grey old man now, is said to row on the lake to this day, longing to see those wonderful blue eyes again.

According to another story, it was a boatman fromGaujawho had dedicated a song to his loved one. As the young woman had moved near Viljandi, the song had changed, too.

International relations

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Viljandi as historic Hanseatic town is a member of the internationalCity League the Hanse.

Twin towns – sister cities

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See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in Estonia

Viljandi istwinnedwith:[18]

Events

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  • Viljandi Folk Music Festivala music festival with a focus on European folk music. It is traditionally held in the end of July. In the year 2006, over 24,000 people attended the concerts. As such, it is the largest annual music festival in Estonia. Due to this, Viljandi is sometimes called the Estonian Capital of Folk Music.
  • Early Music Festival
  • Notafe Festival– originally 'Noore Tantsu (Young Dance) Festival': Annual experimental theater festival founded in 1993, traditionally held in mid July.
  • Winter Folk Dance Festival
  • "Theatre in Suitcase" puppet theatre festival
  • Rock Ramp Festival.In 2013, the 7th festival was held.[19]In 2014, last Rock Ramp took place.[citation needed]
  • Viljandi Hanseatic Daysare traditionally held in June every year. The program covers different activities and events like a Hanseatic fair, where people can buy and sell traditional goods. The Viljandi Hanseatic Days also offer concerts and live performances from local and foreign performers. Different workshops are opened. Medieval sports games take place by theLake Viljandi.
  • International Hanseatic Dayswill be held in Viljandi from 2015.
  • Grand Race around Lake Viljandi

Notable residents

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[edit]
  • Panoramic view of the town
    Panoramic view of the town
  • St. Paul's church (Pauluse kirik)
    St. Paul's church (Pauluse kirik)
  • Viljandi castle. Ruins at the southern end of the hill with Lake Viljandi in the background
    Viljandi castle. Ruins at the southern end of the hill withLake Viljandiin the background
  • Viljandi Folk Music Festival held annually within the castle ruins
    Viljandi Folk Music Festival held annually within the castle ruins
  • Viljandi Town Heritage Conservation Area
    Viljandi Town Heritage Conservation Area
  • Main building of University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy on Tallinna tänav 16 in Viljandi
    Main building ofUniversity of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academyon Tallinna tänav 16 in Viljandi
  • Viljandi manor main building
    Viljandi manor main building
  • Grand Hotel Viljandi
    Grand Hotel Viljandi
  • Main building of Viljandi Gümnaasium
    Main building of Viljandi Gümnaasium

See also

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References

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  1. ^ab"Statistikaamet".Retrieved10 October2019.
  2. ^ "Climate normals-Temperature".Estonian Weather Service.Retrieved2 February2021.
  3. ^ "Climate normals-Precipitation".Estonian Weather Service.Retrieved2 February2021.
  4. ^ "Climate normals-Humidity".Estonian Weather Service.Retrieved2 February2021.
  5. ^ "Rekordid"(in Estonian). Estonian Weather Service.Retrieved7 April2021.
  6. ^ "Kliimanormid-Sademed, õhuniiskus"(in Estonian). Estonian Weather Service. Archived fromthe originalon 22 February 2012.Retrieved1 February2021.
  7. ^"World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedDecember 21,2023.
  8. ^1922 a. üldrahvalugemise andmed. Vihk I ja II, Rahva demograafiline koosseis ja korteriolud Eestis(in Estonian and French). Tallinn: Riigi Statistika Keskbüroo. 1924. p. 33.ISBN9789916103067.
  9. ^Rahvastiku koostis ja korteriolud. 1.III 1934 rahvaloenduse andmed. Vihk II(in Estonian and French). Tallinn: Riigi Statistika Keskbüroo. 1935. pp. 47–53.hdl:10062/4439.
  10. ^Eesti Statistika: kuukiri 1942-03/04(in German and Estonian). Tallinn: Riigi Statistika Keskbüroo. 1942. pp. 66–67.
  11. ^Katus, Kalev; Puur, Allan; Põldma, Asta; Sakkeus, Luule (1996).Rahvastiku ühtlusarvutatud sündmus- ja loendusstatistika: Viljandimaa 1965-1990.Sari C (in Estonian and English). Tallinn: Eesti Kõrgkoolidevaheline Demouuringute Keskus. pp. 31–32.ISBN9985-820-20-7.
  12. ^Население районов, городов и поселков городского типа Эстонской ССР: по данным Всесоюзной переписи населения на 15 января 1970 года(in Russian). Tallinn: Eesti NSV Statistika Keskvalitsus. 1972. p. 76.
  13. ^abEesti Vabariigi maakondade, linnade ja alevite rahvastik. 1. osa, Rahvaarv rahvuse, perekonnaseisu, hariduse ja elatusallikate järgi: 1989. a. rahvaloenduse andmed(in Estonian). Tallinn: Eesti Vabariigi Riiklik Statistikaamet. 1990. pp. 31, 36.ISBN978-9949-7193-2-7– via Digar.
  14. ^"RL222: RAHVASTIK ELUKOHA JA RAHVUSE JÄRGI".Estonian Statistical Database(in Estonian).
  15. ^"RL0429: RAHVASTIK RAHVUSE, SOO, VANUSERÜHMA JA ELUKOHA JÄRGI, 31. DETSEMBER 2011".Estonian Statistical Database.Retrieved4 February2021.
  16. ^"RL21429: Rahvastik Rahvuse, Soo, Vanuserühma Ja ELukoha (Haldusüksus) Järgi, 31. DETSEMBER 2021".Estonian Statistical Database(in Estonian).
  17. ^EISBAHN VILJANDI
  18. ^"Sõpruslinnad".viljandi.ee(in Estonian). Viljandi linn.Retrieved2021-03-29.
  19. ^""Rock Ramp" toob 38 esinejat ".Sakala(in Estonian). 6 July 2013.Retrieved3 March2024.
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