Viljandi - attractions

Viljandi takes the seventh place among Estonian cities in terms of population and area. During his history he experienced both high highs and desperate falls. At one time, Viljandi was the largest trade center of the Hanseatic League, and several years later it was almost completely destroyed and even deprived of the status of the city. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of this southern town have not lost their cheerfulness and cheerfulness. Former ruins turned into comfortable cozy streets, historical buildings were restored, the city was returned to its title. Today, Viljandi in Estonia accepts thousands of tourists, showing its sights cordially.

Delightful nature

It is not surprising that during the time of the rebellious Middle Ages, fierce battles were fought over the city. After all, it is located just in a fabulous place. Crystal clear air, soft flat-hilly landscape, the shore of a beautiful deep-water lake, dense coniferous forests. In addition to all this pristine magnificence, in Viljandi there are also man-made natural attractions:

Also around Viljandi Lake there is a hiking trail. Its length is 13.5 km, here you can walk or ride bicycles, I contemplate a picturesque picture around.

Historical buildings and structures

The oldest surviving fragment of the architectural structure in Viljandi is the ruined wall of the fortress of the Order. Its construction was started in the distant 1224, but finally the castle was built only by the middle of the XVI century.

The fortress was surrounded by a deep 15-meter ditch, it was rather problematic for tourists to reach it. Therefore, in 1931 it was decided to build a suspension bridge (the last reconstruction was carried out in 1995).

The castle with the bridge is not all that you can see in Viljandi. There are also:

The architectural attractions of Viljandi attract with their distinctiveness and diversity. In this small town you can meet the centuries-old monumental structures, and interesting examples of the modern Estonian era.

Monuments and sculptures

The people of Viljandi deeply revere the memory of their great compatriots, so there are so many monuments in the city:

Well, perhaps, the most famous monumental landmark of Viljandi in Estonia is strawberry sculpture. There are 8 in all, and they are located all over the city. These unusual monuments are dedicated to the local artist-naivist - Paul Kondas, who became famous all over the world thanks to his film "Strawberry Eaters".

What else to see in Viljandi?

To get to know the city even closer, we advise you to visit the Viljandi Museum, which was placed in the building of the former city pharmacy. Expositions are quite diverse and very informative. There are stuffed animals and birds living in these parts, a lot of archaeological finds of different epochs, garments, ancient decorations, mock-ups of medieval settlements and much more. There are permanent museum halls, as well as temporary thematic exhibitions. The museum is open daily from 11:00 to 18:00. The entrance ticket costs € 2, the family ticket costs € 4, the children's ticket costs € 1.

In 2003, a museum was opened dedicated to the life and work of the already mentioned Paul Kondas. It is located on the street Peak 8.

There is another place in Viljandi that is sure to visit - the Guild of Craftsmen on Väike-Turu street 8. Here you can watch the work of various masters and take part in interesting master classes, creating original souvenirs from memory, made of paper, glass , ceramics and other materials. The cost of participation in master classes costs € 7-8. The guild is open every day except Sundays.