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Viljandi

The town we see now results from the vision of August Maramaa, who was mayor for nearly 20 years before World War Two. He gave Viljandi its gardens, its landscaped lakeside and its pine trees, as well as its central square.The Castle dates from the 13th century and becomes the musical j centre of the town during the summer Do not miss the Paul Kondas Art j Gallery to admire the pictures he knew would never be exhibited during • his life-time under the Soviet Union. He only started painting when he wai 50 years old; how lucky we are that he did so and how sad that he died in | 1985, so close to the restoration of Estonian independence.

Admire the unexpected rose garden around the Town Hall and then walkf down the 150 steps to the Lake. On May I, you could even join the thoi>| sand or so local people who run the 12.5 kilometres around it.