Population: 20 756 (2000. a census)
Area: 14,6 km²
Location : South-Estonia, the uplands of Sakala. From Viljandi to Tallinn - 161 km, to Tartu 81 km, to Pärnu 97 km.
Administrative status: town Viljandi is independent unit of local authority and the centre of the county.
In Estonia Viljandi is the sixth largest town which is especially known for its beautiful nature and rich cultural life.
Human and environment-friendly, sustainably developing Viljandi where people can live in harmony with the nature without disturbing it. For more information see the official home page: http://www.viljandi.ee/?id=506

Viljandi is a green town. Lot of parks, lakes, ponds, small streams and beautyful garden suburbs make Viljandi a cosy and friendly place. Here you can see squirrels every day, in early morning-hours you can met fox in the park or rabbits hopping around. Sometimes in spring young elks are walking in the town. Lot of songbirds everywhere and frogs in the bonds and lakes. Take a look at the photo gallery.

First records of civilization in the surroundings of Viljandi date back to the 5th millennium B.C. The first written record of the earthen stronghold of Viljandi was in the year 1154 in the commentaries to al-Idrisi’s world atlas “Geography”. In the 12th century a permanent settlement emerged around the stronghold of Viljandi, which also became the economic centre of the ancient Sakala district. After the fight for freedom in the first quarter of the 13th century Viljandi fell under the rule of the Order of the Brethren of the Sword (later the Livonian Order) and in place of the Sakala wooden stronghold a powerful Order Centre was started in 1224.

Among the most spectacular architectural sights in Viljandi today are the ruins of a medieval Order castle. After having conquered ancient Sakala in a long and weary battle, the Order of the Brethren of the Sword (from 1237 onwards - the Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order) started to rebuild the ancient wooden stronghold of Viljandi with stonework. The stronghold, built and modernised during two hundred years, became gradually the residence of a politically and economically powerful commander (komtuur). Viljandi also became the centre of the commandery which extended to as far as Lake Peipsi.

The income of the masters in Viljandi equalled to that of the Livonian Land Master himself. The political importance is proved by the fact that the komtuur of Viljandi belonged together with the those of Goldingen (Kuldiga), Marienburg (Aluksne) and Tallinn and the bailiff of Paide to the closest retinue of the land master. As many as seven komtuurs managed to attain the high position of a master. The fortifications of Viljandi corresponded to its position of the central base of the Livonian Order. During late Middle Ages the stronghold was a powerful fortification system with triple outwork. The strong walls of the hanseatic town on the northern side of the stronghold offered the fourth defence zone together. The central building of the fortification on three successive hills was the castle, a convent building typical to the Order. The castle was the second largest in Old Livonia after Riga.

Today there is little evidence of the onetime splendour - only . The capitals and other ashlars excavated in 1878-1879 give evidence of the magnificent interior. The capitals dating back to the transitional period from Romanesque style to Gothic, made by (an) unknown master(s), are now stored in the museum of Viljandi.

The 50-metre suspension bridge, one of the symbols of Viljandi, was placed over the 13-metre deep valley in Castle Hills in 1931.