Võru


Võru is a town and a municipality in south-eastern Estonia. It is the capital of Võru County and the centre of Võru Parish.

History

Võru was founded on 21 August 1784, according to the wish of the Empress Catherine II of Russia, by the order of Riga Governor general count George Browne, on the site of the former Võru estate.

Geography and climate

The town is situated on the shore of Lake Tamula.
Võru has a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters.

Culture

The Võru Folklore Festival is held annually in Võru in July since 1995.
Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald, the author of the Estonian national epic "Kalevipoeg", lived in Võru from 1833 to 1877.

Transport

European route E263 is the main connection with the rest of Estonia. Other roads connect Võru with Põlva, Räpina, 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, headquarters of the Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion.

Sports

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

Twin towns

Võru is twinned with: