2007Viljandi - Set

With about 20,000 inhabitants, Viljandi is the sixth biggest city in Estonia. Located on the bank of Lake Viljandi, it stands out for its varied nature and well-developed infrastructure. Side by side with services and trade woodworking and textile industry and construction companies play an important role. The place is rapidly developing as a tourism destination. The cultural scene in the city is set by the Ugala Theatre, the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy and the annual International Viljandi Folk Music Festival. Viljandi was granted the Riga Charter in 1283. In the 14th century it was admitted to the Hanseatic League. Today’s Viljandi is a pleasant place to live and to visit, a place with rich historical and cultural heritage – a city created for creation. The Viljandi Town Hall was first built after the Great Northern War in 1768–1774 as a one-storied stone house. Its present appearance dates from 1931. The coat-of-arms of the city is one of the oldest among the coats-of-arms of Estonian local governments. The image of a rose with five petals was featured on the small seal of the city as early as in 1429.