Viljandi came into being beside an old Estonian hill-fort, later a German fortress, next to a fine large lake. It is believed that Viljandi was a settlement at the crossroads of ancient trade routes. Viljandi was conquered by the Germans crusaders in the 13th century. At the beginning of the 14th century, Viljandi became a member of the Hanseatic League and became an important trading centre. The town flourished until the year 1480, when it was burned to the ground during the war between the Russians and the Livonians. Viljandi was repeatedly overrun, demolished and rebuilt by successive waves of conquerors. Today Viljandi is a quiet holiday town with old wooden houses decorated with turrets, bay windows, and weathervanes.
Viljandi Museum, located in the old town, is a good place to begin your tour of the town. This classical building is the third oldest in Viljandi and stands in the old marketplace. The 18th century Town Hall lies in the centre of the old town. In Castle Park, German Knights of the Sword built Viljandi Order Castle, presumed to have been the largest fortress in the Baltics. A brightly painted red and white suspension bridge leads from the best preserved portion of the castle into the rest of Castle Park. The medieval St. Johns' Church, built in the 15th century, also stands in the castle park.
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