Põlva
Põlva ( German Pölwe or Pölwa ) is the capital of the circle Põlva. It is located in southern Estonia.
Geography
Põlva is located on the lower reaches of the river Orajõgi, a glacial valley in the Baltics. The city is located about 25 km from Võru and 50 km from Tartu. It is surrounded by the rural community Põlva.
History
The town was first mentioned in the early 13th century. The name is from the Estonian word for knee ( POLV ) come without the origin is clearly established. Supposedly a kneeling sinner was immured in the church! Hence the reference to the knee. This information is based on narratives. Põlva waypoint was an old military road between the north and south of Livonia.
Around 1240, shortly after Christianisation of Estonia, built monks of Saint Bernard Order a church which they dedicated to the Virgin Mary. From 1452 the first mention of the name Põlva. The parish village was under the Bishop of Tartu.
The parish of the same name came in the 16th century as a result of the Livonian War under Russian rule. In 1582 it came as quite Southern Estonia under Polish suzerainty, later it belonged to Sweden. In the Peace of Nystad Estonia and Livonia were ceded to Russia in 1721.
Obtained only with the political independence of Estonia in 1918 Põlva national significance. The population grew sharply. 1931, the railway line from Tartu on Põlva to Saint Petersburg was completed. After that, especially textile and dyeing company in Põlva settled.
On 10 August 1993 Põlva was given city rights. Sister city is the Swedish Vårgårda in Västergötland.
Attractions
Worth seeing is the Church of St. Mary Põlva. The three-nave church was built between the 13th and 14th centuries. It was changed significantly by 1645. The high tower with its red helmet dates back to 1460th The first bell of the church was cast in 1648 in Stockholm, another 1868 in Bochum. At the church, a memorial plaque for the Estonian theologians and folklorists Jakob Hurt (1755-1838) is attached.
Pastor of Põlva was from 1781 to 1819 the founder of Estonian journalism, Gustav Adolph Oldekop ( 1755-1838 ). The same office held in Põlva 1820-1874 Johann Georg Schwartz ( 1793-1874 ), one of the greatest Estonian educators of the 19th century.
At Forest Park Intsikurmu the first Estonian song festivals were held 1855-1857. Some of you participated in over 3500 people.
Personalities
- Signy Aarna (* 1990), football player
- Eneli Vals ( * 1991), football player