Võru (; vro, Võro; german: Werro) is a

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...

and a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

in south-eastern

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

. It is the

capital Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...

of Võru County and the centre of

Võru Parish Võru Parish ( et, Võru vald; vro, Võro vald) is a rural municipality of Estonia, in Võru County Võru County ( et, Võru maakond or ''Võrumaa''; vro, Võro maakund) is a county in southern Estonia. It is bordered by Valga County and P� ...

History

Võru was founded on 21 August 1784, according to the wish of the Empress

Catherine II of Russia , en, Catherine Alexeievna Romanova, link=yes , house = , father = Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst , mother = Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp , birth_date = , birth_name = Princess Sophie of Anhal ...

, by the order of Riga Governor general count

George Browne George Browne may refer to: *Sir George Browne (died 1483) (1440–1483), took part in Buckingham's rebellion *George Browne (archbishop of Dublin) (died 1556), Anglican bishop in Ireland * George Browne (by 1517–62 or later), MP for Berwick-upon ...

, on the site of the former Võru estate.

Geography and climate

The town is situated on the shore of

Lake Tamula Lake Tamula is a lake in southern Estonia, located on the southeastern side of the town of Võru. The lake has an area of 2.313 km², average depth is 4.2 m and maximum depth 7.5 m. On 11 September 2010 Estonian shot putter Taavi Peetre drowned ...

. Võru has a

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freezing ...

(''Dfb'' according to the

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

) with warm summers and cold winters. Võru has one of the most continental climates in Estonia: both the temperatures of 35.6 °C, which is the highest temperature ever recorded in the country and - 43.4 °C, which is very close to the coldest temperature ever recorded in the country (after Jõgeva) are recorded here. Precipitation is usually higher in early summer to late autumn, and lower in late winter to early spring.

Culture

The

Võru Folklore Festival Võru Folklore Festival ( et, Võru folkloorifestival) is an international festival which is focused on folklore-related activities and takes place annually in Võru, Estonia. This festival is the oldest and biggest annual folk festival in Estoni ...

is held annually in Võru in July since 1995.

Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald ( – ) was an Estonian writer who is considered to be the father of the national literature for the country. He is the author of Estonian national epic ''Kalevipoeg''. Life Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald's pare ...

, the author of the Estonian

national epic A national epic is an epic poem or a literary work of epic scope which seeks or is believed to capture and express the essence or spirit of a particular nation—not necessarily a nation state, but at least an ethnic or linguistic group with as ...

" Kalevipoeg", lived in Võru from 1833 to 1877.

Transport

European route E263 European route E 263 is a Class B road part of the International E-road network. It runs only through Estonia, begins in Tallinn and ends in Luhamaa, Võru County, and shares exactly the same route as Estonian national road 2. Route: Tal ...

is the main connection with the rest of Estonia. Other roads connect Võru with Põlva,

Räpina Räpina ( vro, Räpinä, german: Rappin) is a town in Põlva County, Estonia. Räpina was administrative centre of Räpina raion from 1950 until 1961, currently it is the administrative centre of Räpina Parish. The oldest commercial enterpri ...

, Antsla and Valga. The Valga– Pechory railway, which passes through Võru, is currently inactive. The Võru train station is unused as of 2014.

Military

Võru is home to

Taara Army Base The Taara Army Base ( et, Taara sõjaväelinnak) is a military installation of the Estonian Defence Forces located in Võru, in South Estonia. History The Taara military facilities were built between 1926 and 1928. Structure The Taara Army Base ...

, headquarters of the Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion.

Sports

Võru is home to Võru Stadium, the home ground of II liiga football team

Võru JK Võru JK was an Estonian football club based in Võru. The club was founded in 2001 and was dissolved in the end 2016 when the team merged into Võru FC Helios. The team last played in the II Liiga II liiga is the fourth level of football ...

Twin towns – sister cities

Võru is twinned with: * Alūksne, Latvia *

Bad Segeberg Bad Segeberg (; Low German: Sebarg) is a German town of 16,000 inhabitants, located in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, capital of the district (Kreis) Segeberg. It is situated approximately northeast of Hamburg, and west of Lübeck. It is famo ...

, Germany *

Chambray-lès-Tours Chambray-lès-Tours (, literally ''Chambray Lès, near Tours'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Indre-et-Loire Departments of France, department, central France. It is the birthplace of professional association football, footballer Adam Ou ...

, France *

Härryda Härryda () is a Urban areas in Sweden, locality situated in Härryda Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 968 inhabitants in 2010. Despite its name it is not the seat of the Municipalities of Sweden, municipality, which is the mu ...

, Sweden *

Iisalmi Iisalmi (; sv, Idensalmi) is a town and municipality in the region of Northern Savonia in Finland. It is located north of Kuopio and south of Kajaani. The municipality has a population of (), which makes it the second largest of the five towns ...

, Finland *

Joniškis Joniškis (; Samogitian language, Samogitian: ''Juonėškis'') is a town in northern Lithuania with a population of about 9,900. It is located 39 kilometers north of Šiauliai and 14 kilometers south of the Lithuania–Latvia border. Joniškis i ...

, Lithuania *

Kaniv Kaniv ( uk, Канів, ) city located in Cherkasy Raion, Cherkasy Oblast (province) in central Ukraine. The city rests on the Dnieper River, and is also one of the main inland river ports on the Dnieper. It hosts the administration of Kaniv urb ...

, Ukraine *

Laitila Laitila (; sv, Letala) is a town and a municipality of Finland. It is located in the Southwest Finland region, and it is from Laitila to Turku. The municipality has a population of () and covers an area of of which is water. The population de ...

, Finland *

Landskrona Landskrona (old da, Landskrone) is a town in Scania, Sweden. Located on the shores of the Öresund, it occupies a natural port, which has lent the town at first military and subsequent commercial significance. Ferries operate from Landskrona t ...

, Sweden *

Pechorsky District Pechorsky District (russian: Печо́рский райо́н) is an administrativeLaw #833-oz and municipalLaw #420-oz district (raion), one of the twenty-four in Pskov Oblast, Russia. It is located in the northwest of the oblast and borders wi ...

, Russia *

Smolyan Smolyan ( bg, Смолян) List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, is a town and ski resort in the south of Bulgaria near the border with Greece. It is the administrative and industrial centre of the homonymous Smolyan Province. The town is built ...

, Bulgaria * Suwałki, Poland

Notable people

Priit Aimla Priit Aimla (born 19 April 1941 in Võru) is an Estonian writer, poet, humorist and politician known for several stage plays and books. During 1992 to 1995, he belonged to Riigikogu, having been elected as a member of the Independent Royalist ...

(born 1941) writer, poet, humorist and politician was born in Võru. *

Helmut Ajango Helmut "Mike" Ajango (November 30, 1931 – November 15, 2013) was an Estonian-born architect based in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin in the United States.Moses Wolf Goldberg Moses Wolf Goldberg (June 30, 1905 – February 17, 1964) was an Estonian chemist who, along with Leo Henryk Sternbach, developed a process for the synthesis of biotin (a B vitamin) in 1949. Biography Moses Wolf Goldberg was born in Rūjiena ...

(1905–1964), Estonian-Jewish chemist, lived in Võru as a child. *

Sulev Iva Sulev Iva (born 3 October 1969 in Võru), also known under the Võro-styled pen name of Jüvä Sullõv, is a Võro identity advocate, and a founding fellow at the Võro Institute. He has authored numerous subjects on Võro-related topics, and ...

(born 1969), Võro identity advocate, founder of Võro Institute. * Meelis Kanep (born 1983), Estonian chess grandmaster, was born in Võru. *

(1803–1882), Estonian writer and folklorist, the author of Estonian national epic " Kalevipoeg", lived in Võru from 1833 to 1877. *

Ain Mäeots Ain Mäeots (born 25 December 1971) is an Estonian stage, film, and television actor and stage, film, and television director and producer. Early life and education Ain Mäeots was born in Võru, Võru County, in 1971. He has one brother. He is ...

(born 1971), Estonian actor and director, was born in Võru. *

Innar Mäesalu Innar Mäesalu (born 2 August 1970, in Võru) is an Estonian politician. He was a member of XII Riigikogu XII Riigikogu was the twelfth legislature of the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu The Riigikogu (; from Estonian ''riigi-'', of the st ...

(born 1970), Estonian politician *

Marianne Mikko Marianne Mikko (born 26 September 1961) is an Estonian politician and former Member of the European Parliament and formeMember of the Parliament of Estoniafor the Social Democratic Party, part of the Party of European Socialists. Mikko was born ...

(born 1961), Estonian politician. *

Hilje Murel Hilje Murel (born 17 December 1975) is an Estonian stage, film, and television actress. Early life and education Hilje Murel was born in the town of Võru in Võru County. She is a 1998 graduate of the EMA Higher Drama School (now, the Estonian ...

(born 1975), Estonian actress, was born in Võru. *

Priit Narusk Priit Narusk (born 8 December 1977, in Võru) is a retired Estonian cross-country skier. He represented Estonia at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmonte ...

(born 1977), Estonian cross-country skier, was born in Võru. *

Erki Nool Erki Nool (born 25 June 1970, in Võru, Estonia) is an Estonian decathlete and former politician. Life and career Nool grew up in an impoverished environment in the southern part of Võru. His father was a worker in a furniture factory and his ...

(born 1970), Estonian decathlete and politician, was born in Võru. *

Erki Pehk Erki Pehk (born 23 March 1968) is an Estonian conductor and artistic director of opera music festival PromFest. Childhood Erki Pehk was born in Võru, Estonia in the family of Heino Pehk, an established music teacher and choir conductor. Erk ...

(born 1968), Estonian conductor, was born in Võru. *

Anti Saarepuu Anti Saarepuu (born 26 March 1983 in Võru) is a retired Estonian cross-country skier who has competed since 2003. He competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Saarepuu's best finish at the Winte ...

(born 1983), Estonian cross-country skier, was born in Võru. * Leon Sibul (1932–2007), American electrical engineer, was born in Võru. *

Uku Suviste Uku Suviste (born 6 June 1982) is an Estonian singer-songwriter, pianist and music producer. He was scheduled to represent Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, before cancellation of the competition that year. ...

(born 1982), Estonian singer, was born in Võru. *

Kaija Udras Kaija Vahtra (née Udras, born 4 December 1986) is an Estonian cross-country skier who has competed since 2005. At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, she finished 16th in the team sprint, 31st in the individual sprint, and did not finish the ...

(born 1986), Estonian cross-country skier, was born in Võru. *

Debora Vaarandi Debora Vaarandi (born Debora Trull; 1 October 1916 – 28 April 2007) was an Estonian writer, considered to be a leading literary figure in post-World War II Estonia. Many of her poems were set to music. Vaarandi was a recipient of the firs ...

(1916–2007), Estonian poet, was born in Võru. *

Katrin Välbe Katrin Välbe (until 1929 Jekaterina Poska; 31 October 1904 – 5 July 1981) was an Estonian actress. Katrin Välbe was born Jekaterina Poska in Võru to Gabriel and Lydia Poska. Her father was a lawyer and her uncles included statesman Jaan Poska ...

(1904–1981), Estonian actress, was born in Võru. *

Kullar Viimne Kullar Viimne (born 22 March 1980 in Võru) is an Estonian director, scriptwriter, editor and cinematographer. Between 2004 - 2011 he studied at the Baltic Film and Media School of Cinema, Tallinn University. Has furthered his education at fi ...

(born 1980), Estonian fillmaker, was born in Võru.

Gallery

Võru town centre.jpg, Fr.R.Kreutzwald street in Võru Võru town centre near the beach.jpg, Tartu street near the beach Tamula lake in Võru.jpg, Tamula lake in Võru MS Estonia memorial in the central square.jpg,

MS Estonia MS ''Estonia'' was a cruiseferry built in 1980 at the West German shipyard Meyer Werft in Papenburg. In 1993, she was sold to Nordström & Thulin for use on Estline's Tallinn–Stockholm route. The ship's sinking on 28 September 1994, in the Ba ...

memorial on the central square Võro Instituut 2011 03 17.jpg,

Võro Institute Võro Institute ( vro, Võro Instituut, et, Võru Instituut) is an Estonian state research and development institution dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Võro language and culture. History Võro ( vro, võro kiil, links=no ...

Võru Gümnaasium 2018 12.jpg, Võru Gymnasium F R Kreutzwaldi monument Vorus.JPG, Monument to

Võru maavalitsus.JPG, Võru county government building Võru old fire station, 2013.jpg, Old fire station

References

External links

*
Võru Folklore FestivalVõro Institute
{{DEFAULTSORT:Voru Cities and towns in Estonia Municipalities of Estonia Planned cities Populated places established in 1784 18th-century establishments in Estonia Kreis Werro