General information about Tõrva

Tõrva  is a town and municipality in Valga County, southern Estonia. It is situated on the banks of Õhne River. Nearest airports are located in Tartu and Riga and the nearest railway station is in Valga.

According to a folk story there once was a man called Tõnis who made tar („tõrv" in Estonian) from fir and pine stumps in the local woods and this is how the place got its name.

The first written records of Tõrva go back over 130 years in time and are about the inn at the crossing of Valga, Pärnu and Tartu roads. The inn has remained till today. It has been rebult and is the most important historical sight in the town.

Tõrva is the centre of the former Helme paris and the present Tõrva-Helme region. Tõrva has an area of 4.80 km2 (2 sq mi) and a population of 2913 (as of 1 January 2014), making it the second largest of the three towns in Valga County.

Tõrva borough (alev) gained its town rights on 2 July 1926 and town is a summer resort since 1937.

The current mayor  Maido Ruusmann elected on 5 November 2013.

Did you know, that:

  • Tõrva has town rights since 1926 together with Nõmme, Põltsamaa, Tapa and Türi?
  • Tõrva got summer resort rights in 1937 ?
  • Tõrva girls' choir won national TV „Songbattle" in 2009?
  • In Tõrva You can find the highest diving tower in Baltic states (11 m)?
  • Tõrva has 4 lakes?
  • Tõrva is the biggest town in Mulgimaa region?