Cities of Estonia -
Võru – the center of Võru County
The Estonian city of Võru, the administrative center of Võru County, is located several tens of kilometers from the borders with Latvia and Russia. Through Võra it is possible to get onto the arrow-straight Riga-Pskov highway, and from there further towards Latvia. Not very far from Võru on the Russian side is the famous Pechora Monastery.
Situated among the beautiful hills of southern Estonia, the town of Võru enchants its visitors with its wooden architecture, lakes, Estonia's most beautiful coastal promenade, Tamula, and its unusual dialect.
The city of Voru was founded in 1784 by order of Catherine II and built literally from scratch. This made it possible to make it compact and well-planned, which can still be felt today when walking along its straight, perpendicular streets. In addition to the unique network of streets, history is also reminiscent of comfortable, beautiful wooden houses, which have been carefully restored in recent years.
With the same care and love, the unique Võru dialect is preserved and protected in Võru County. It produces TV shows, books and schools, helping to preserve the region's identity. Every two years, a unique and emotional singing festival takes place in the Võru dialect, which gives an unforgettable feeling of togetherness to both locals and visitors.
Võru is a green city, and the color green is also present on the city’s coat of arms and flag. Parks and green areas are zealously cared for here. Recently, a light park was completed in the historical center of the city, along with a water cascade and children's playgrounds; It’s nice to relax in the shade of the park named after the Father of Songs - the Estonian educational writer and folklorist F. R. Kreutzwald.
There are approximately 200 lakes in Võru County, three of which are located in the territory of the city of Võru. One of the most beautiful, Lake Tamula, reaches the city center and is also the symbol of Võru. It's nice to take a walk along the lake shore along the Tamula Trail. A little further from Tamula there is a fairly large and beautiful lake Vagula, in the direction of Väimela there are three more and in the direction of Kose there are also three natural reservoirs. The recently improved coastal area of Tamula is a beautiful holiday destination not only for adults, but also for children.
The city of Võru has a unique theme park in Estonia with a theme park surrounding it.
In July, the Võru Folklore Festival has been held for more than ten years, where, in addition to concerts and dance performances, there are harmonica competitions, street dancing, various craft stalls, and various educational classes are organized. It is also possible to visit the Võru Culture House “Kannel”, which houses the Võru City Theatre, gallery and cinema, as well as Open Studios, where you can not only look at and purchase works by Võru County painters, but also work in the studios yourself.
Võru is the perfect holiday destination for those who love sports and an active lifestyle. Here you can find a sports center with a climbing wall, a stadium, various health trails and ski slopes. No matter what time of year you come to Võru, you will always have the opportunity to exercise: Lake Tamula in Võru and the beautiful lakes in the vicinity of the city seem to be made for swimming and rowing. Motorsports enthusiasts know Võru as the starting point for various rallies. For roller skating and skiing, Võru has a beautiful sports trail in the pine forest. They are well lit and well maintained.
Southern Estonian nature is amazingly diverse and untouched. The natural spa hotel Kubija is located four kilometers from the town of Võru. Near the hotel there are illuminated jogging paths and the Võru-Kubija ski slopes. The “Estonian Alps” of Haanja is just 15 km away. The Haanja cross-country ski track is connected to the Kurgjärve ski slopes, and ski equipment can be rented here. The Haanja Ski Marathon also begins at the Haanja Ski Stadium.
Near the hotel there are Lake Kubia and the dammed Lake Kubia, where there are sandy beaches with swimming areas and a children's playground. You can wander through the surrounding forests, picking mushrooms and berries, or simply admiring nature and enjoying the fresh air.
A small Estonian city with 95 thousand population. I compared it with other Russian cities with a similar number of inhabitants, and came to the conclusion that Tartu is still an unattainable standard for them - in terms of the level of amenities, development, number of services, lifestyle, and population. Today I will talk about an even smaller Estonian city - rather, even a village - Võru, located even closer to the Russian border - just half an hour away by car.
In truth, this is already the second post about Võru - then we came here. The weather was damn unlucky - it was snowing and nothing was visible, so it was definitely worth going back again.
For reference: approximately 13 thousand people live in Võru. A small village, to be honest. Small, but very beautiful, cozy, with all the benefits of civilization, strikingly contrasting with Russian Pechory - approximately identical in number of inhabitants, but much more depressing-looking. As if between these two cities there is half the world, and not some forty kilometers.
1. There are many beautiful lakes in Võru. With soft green banks, covered from time to time by reeds. 
2. There are houses built along the shores of the lakes - but not too close to each other, at a distance. In most cases, the lake has a beach and a pier. 
3. Regardless of the weather, a lifeguard is on duty. Do you see the silver booth in the photo and something orange inside? So, this is the lifeguard in his form. We were in Võru on June 12 - Sunday morning, in windy, rainy and cold weather, so there was not a soul on the beach. And the whole city will be deserted. 
4. As soon as you cross the Russian-Estonian border, it seems that nature immediately changes dramatically. I can’t understand: this is just an illusion because of the cozy narrow roads-alleys, neatly trimmed lawns, which is emphasized by the beauty of the terrain - or this is actually the case. 
5. The most important and largest lake in Võru is called Tamula. The city center is located just near the shore, where a steep promenade and beach have been built. 
6. Assess the degree of improvement provided not only by the authorities, but also by residents of neighboring houses! The lawn is ideal not only next to the walking path, but also behind the fence, next to a private house on the left. 
7. It seems like there is something similar to Russia, but it seems like there isn’t. 
8. Cheese locker rooms:) 
9. Beauty! 
10. Hammocks on a public beach. Anyone can lie down. 
11. We couldn’t resist either:) 
12. The weather is harsh. The lake with her was restless. 
13. There is a recreation center on the shore near the beach. 
14. A number of streets adjacent to the lake are pedestrian. 
15. On the shore there is a small park with a square and a monument in the middle. The granite depicts Friedrich Kretzwald, an Estonian poet, writer, folklorist, educator, doctor and public figure who lived in the 19th century. He is considered the founder of Estonian literature. Friedrich lived in Võru for 44 years, working as a city doctor. 
16. The park on the shore of the lake is very beautiful, quiet, cozy and is also named after Kretzwald. 
17. Pedestrian promenade leading to the main street. 
18. It cannot be said that Voru is a polished city, scrubbed to a shine, and has undergone “European-quality renovation”. And this is its advantage - being neat and well-groomed, it looks like a real city, a city with history, and not a fresh new building. 
19. Narrow long flags are very popular in Estonia, which can often be seen on high flagpoles in the households of local residents. In Estonia, it seems to me, there is healthy patriotism - people love their country, without going to extremes and starting to hate others. The attitude towards Russians is good, although quite wary (some of our fellow citizens are trying hard to harm the image of Russia and the way Russians are presented abroad - I must say, they are doing a good job of it). But if you are a normal person, then no one will say a word to you. I didn’t feel any increased attention to myself and my car with Moscow license plates. 
20. A very colorful street with a small church in an ordinary house. To me, this view was damnably unlike the classic provincial American species. There is nostalgia and love in the heart :) 
21. Several colorful houses on the road leading to the lake.
22. What charming courtyards! By the way, there are almost no fences in Estonia. And if there is, then they are low, transparent, made of chain-link mesh, or wooden. The locals have very good taste in terms of decor - most of the houses are just like in the picture. 
23. I know, I’m repeating myself, but I really liked this courtyard! 
24. Opposite in general - real America with a spacious house and a truck in the backyard :) 
25. These guys were lucky with their location. From the windows there is a stunning view of the lake. 
26. Nice dirt path for walking. 
27. There are a lot of walking routes in Võru. Here is one of the paths leading along the shore of the lake to a pedestrian bridge, along which you can get to the neighboring shore. 
28. Nature is inspiring! 
29. We return back to the embankment. 
30. The coolest benches on which you can either lie or climb up with your feet and sit like that, admiring the lake. 
Voru is a wonderful place. However, like many other towns in Estonia. In this small, charming country, it is difficult to be disappointed in the city, no matter where you come. In any case, now, after a dozen trips there, I got exactly that impression.
Võru(Estonian Võru, Russian Võro, German Werro, before 1917 Russian. Verreaux) is a city in Estonia, the administrative center of Võru County.
City `s history
In honor of the troops of the 3rd Baltic Front and the 35th anniversary of the liberation from German occupation, a Memorial Ensemble - the T-34 tank - was opened in Võru on August 11, 1979. In Soviet times, wedding photographs were taken near the memorial.
The official founding date of Võru is considered to be August 21, 1784, when the Governor-General of Livonia signed a decree on the formation of a new city.
The oldest archaeological find in the current territory of the city of Võru is a female skull found by chance, dating back to the Middle Stone Age (dating back to approximately 4000 BC).
In 1943, the oldest treasure was found in the Tamula settlement, which contained interesting amber pendants and bone objects. A half-hour walk from the city center, through the park on a beautiful suspension bridge, you can reach the historical site of Tamula.
The first mention of the Kirumpäe settlement, which was erected to protect the eastern border of the Dorpat bishopric, dates back to 1322. A large settlement of Kirumpäe traders and craftsmen arose around the stone fort. The modern city of Võru is located a kilometer south of the ruins of the settlement of Kirumpäe, which was finally destroyed during the next Russian-Swedish war in 1656. Kirumpäe was a land trampled by wars; the settlement and the surrounding lands belonged either to the Livonian Order, then to Russia, or to Poland. Under the rule of Poland, namely from 1590, the first mentions of the property adjacent to the fort were made - the estate (manor) of Verro (Veremoise). After the Northern War, when the so-called Russian times, the then reigning Tsarina Elizaveta Petrovna, donated part of the settlement's possessions to Count Bestuzhev-Ryumin. The lands of Kirumpäe were bought and sold, while belonging to the Müller family, one of the Müller daughters received the Verro estate as her property. Müller sold the estate to von Mengden, from whom, in turn, the Verro estate was bought for the newly founded county center.
From this time the history of Võru itself begins, since neither the historical settlement of Tamula nor the Kirumpäe fort can be considered the immediate predecessors of the modern city. In 1783, by order of Tsarina Catherine II, a new district was created from the southern and southeastern parts of the Dorpat district, the center was to become the state estate of Vana-Koyola (Kirrumpyah-Koykul). After some time, Catherine II gave permission to Governor General Georg von Braun to purchase the private estate of Verreaux for the construction of the city. The main building of the estate has survived to this day in its rebuilt form. The founding day of the city of Võru is considered to be August 21, 1784, when the governor general issued a decree stating that the location of the city being built would be the Verro estate and the city would bear the name of the estate.
Võru was founded by order. In 1785, a city plan was approved, which provided for an orderly, full-angle network of intersecting streets. The historical network of streets has been preserved; one-story wooden houses dominate in the old buildings. The unique value and originality is the network of streets and interesting wooden architecture from the point of view of construction. The Lutheran (1793) and Orthodox (1804) churches recall the early years of the city, both dedicated to Empress Catherine II.
In 1950-1991 it was the center of the Võru region.
Attractions
- Monument to Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald and a park named after him on the shore of Lake Tamula
- Suspension bridge in the northern part of Lake Tamula, connecting Võru with the islet of Roosisaar
- Site of an ancient Stone Age site in the area of the suspension bridge to the islet of Roosisaar
- Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald Museum
- Catherine's Church is a Lutheran church built in 1793 with funds donated by Empress Catherine II
- Temple of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church, built in 1806.
Which carefully protects its originality. Even residents of the capital, when they get here, feel like foreigners. You can often hear Vyrussian speech here; a special local dialect is taught in rural schools; Vyrussian newspapers are published in the region and television programs are broadcast in the Vyrussian language. Residents of Võru also highly value their cultural heritage and love to have fun; traditional festivals, concerts and fairs are often held in the city.
Voru - description
The town is considered relatively young; in 2014 it celebrated its 230th anniversary. However, people have settled in this picturesque lake region from time immemorial. The oldest archaeological finds on the site of the modern city of Võru date back to the 4th century BC. Among the famous settlements in this place are the settlements of Kirumpäe and Tamula. Unlike most other cities in Estonia, Võru was not built spontaneously, gradually gaining new residents and expanding its borders. It was formed by order, by order of Catherine II. This explains the strictly ordered network of streets that intersect perpendicular to each other. The city's boundaries have remained unchanged since its founding.
But, despite such a regulated order in terms of development, Võru does not give the impression of a city that lives according to patterns and regimes. Incredibly good-natured and sympathetic people live here. Arriving here, you will immediately feel warm hospitality and cordiality.
Voru - attractions
There are two significant historical figures in the city who are sacredly revered by the residents of Võru. These are Empress Catherine II and Friedrich Kreutzwald - a famous Estonian public figure, writer, poet - author of the great national epic "Kalevipoeg". Therefore, Võru is a place in Estonia where the main attractions associated with these people are collected:
Other attractions in Võru include:
In addition to taking pictures near churches and monuments, you can take other memorable photos in Võru – against the backdrop of unusually picturesque nature. It’s not for nothing that Võru is called the center of lakes and parks. The total in the county is approx. 200 natural lakes, three of them are located within the city. There are also many park-like green areas with beautiful flower beds and alleys.
Hotels in Voru
The city is often visited by tourists. The originality and authenticity of Võru attracts not only foreigners, but also Estonians themselves. Therefore, there are many places where you will be offered accommodation for the night.
For those who are used to choosing hotels when traveling around Estonia, there are the following options in Võru:
If you are vacationing with a large group, you can stay in one of the guest houses in Võru:
There are also several apartments for rent in the city, there is one hostel ( "Kagu" on the Räpina highway 7a) and a campsite in a pine forest near Lake Kubija.
Restaurants and cafesIn each hotel and guest house you will be offered a set meal or ordering dishes from the menu. In the city itself there are also many places where you can have a delicious lunch and dinner:
- Pub Grill Mill(Tallinn highway 36);
- cafe Taevas(Katarina Alley 6b);
- bar "Yle 17"(Juri St. 17);
- pizzeria Peetrei Pizza(Yuri St. 85);
- cafe Katarina(Katarina Alley 4);
- cafe Spring(Petseri str. 20);
- cafe Võru(Yuri street 22).
The city also has two catering center where you can have an inexpensive meal.
Things to do? The main summer vacation spot for tourists in Võru is the shore of Lake Tamula. There is:
The wild lakeside in Võru offers some of the most picturesque photos in Estonia.
In winter, vacationers are invited to have fun in the fresh air, skiing. Just 4 km from the city center there are two ski slopes with a length of 2.5 and 5 km.
Fans of an active lifestyle can visit at any time of the year sports Complex, located on Räpina highway 3a. There is a large stadium with stands and many halls for practicing various sports.
If you come to Võru with children, go to the children's Kratikeskus center. Both children and adults will receive a lot of vivid impressions.
Weather in Voru
The climate in Võru can be classified as cold-temperate. There is quite a lot of rainfall, so if you are going to visit this town, take an umbrella. The rainiest month is usually August, and the driest month is February. Temperatures reach their peak in July. The thermometer can rise to +21-22°C. The coldest time in Võru is in January. Average temperature -7.4°C.
How to get there?
Motorists should take route No. 2. Most often, buses from Tartu and Tallinn pass through Võru, less often from Valga and.
There is also a bus service to Russia. Twice a week there are buses from Võru to Pskov and Pechory.
There is a railway station in the city, but it does not serve passenger trains, only freight ones. Therefore, if you are traveling by train, you need to get off at the station in Põlva and from there get to Võru by bus.
The original route through the Pskov region and Latgale, somehow unexpectedly for me, was supplemented by border cities of Estonia.
Today’s post is about the small Estonian town of Võru. The city is located near the border with the Russian Federation, but there are practically no Russians in the city, and Võru is a typical town in the Estonian hinterland.
Initially, I didn’t plan to go to Estonia, but a trip to Pytalovo was not possible for me, I didn’t want to go to Pushgory, I planned to do Sebezh last, and the other cities of the Pskov region were somehow not attractive.
And the thought came to mind, why not go to Estonia.
I quickly took a bus to Pechory, where it cost 70 rubles by taxi to the Russian-Estonian border.
At the Russian checkpoint Kunichina Gora there were no people, no cars, I passed it in a minute. From the Estonian side it’s the same, there are no people, no questions for me either, just another minute at most to talk about everything. Once upon a time I crossed the border in Narva, and there everything was completely different.
I crossed the border, 20 minutes later there was a minibus to Võru, everything seemed fine. The minibus pulls up, there are at most 4 passengers. But the Estonian driver and a couple of Pskov aunts found each other. A long and tedious nonsense began about their difficult life.
- My salary is 400 euros, why did they make these euros, how good it was when there were crowns, but now everything has become more expensive, I don’t even know how to live, and all this with a specific Estonian accent on top of that.
- But in Pskov there is no work at all, and if there is, the salary is small, and in general the earth will soon fly onto the celestial axis.
And so, without beginning and without end, they did not turn off their idiotic drone.
And that was not all, it turned out that the minibus would now arrive at a certain school, from where it was necessary to pick up the students and take them to the surrounding villages. An hour and a half journey began along broken roads and half-abandoned farmsteads. The farmsteads themselves, like the country roads, were not much different from the Pskov outback.
Finally, we got onto a normal road and soon arrived in Võru.
The hotel is good, 35 euros in total, there is a cafe on the ground floor of the hotel, that is, everything is good and inexpensive.
The central street of the city of Voru. There are not many people, not many cars, but the roads are not bad, the sidewalks are normal, the houses are more or less neat. Estonia is such Estonia.
The street leads to the city lake.
A standard picture for any Baltic city. Unchanging Maxima and five-story Lithuanian buildings
Shopping mall
So I didn’t understand what was in this brick tower
There are plenty of churches here too
Interwar bank building. built 1938
Monument to the residents of Võru who died in the Estonia ferry disaster.
City administration and the Estonian flag above the building
City Lake
Houses on the shore of the lake
2 tallest buildings in Võru
And this house is nearby
My knowledge of Estonian was enough to understand that there was a kitchen in this house.
There is a lot of interesting wooden architecture in the city.
An example of old industrial architecture
Võru has a well-developed service sector, with plenty of cafes and shops. But here they clearly opened something on the first floor, and it obviously didn’t work out.
And this house is for sale
Such landscapes also occur.
Abandoned goods are also available in the city, and not so little. The crisis has by no means passed Estonia.
And people also live in this house with a chimney.
This is where I ended my walk around Võru. In principle, there is nothing particularly noteworthy in the city. But the city is not bad at all, nevertheless. And he has retained his provincial Estonian authenticity and, I think, will retain it for a long time.
If we compare Võru, which has a population of ten thousand, with similar regional centers of the Pskov region, for example, Porkhov or Pechory, then Võru is definitely a more comfortable and lively city.
Despite the fact that in provincial Estonia there is no special wealth, the people live poorly and the crisis is not over yet.
But it’s still better to live here than in the Pskov regional centers. However, this trend did not start yesterday and will not end tomorrow.
Well, I say goodbye to the city of Võru (I’m unlikely to come here on purpose again) and leave by bus to Tartu
