Helme, Estonia
Encyclopedia
Helme is a small borough
in Helme Parish, Valga County
, in southern Estonia
. It's located only 2 km (1 mi) northwest of the town of Tõrva
by the Valga–Pärnu
road (nr. 6). Helme has a population of 182 (as of 1 January 2010).
Helme church parish was first mentioned in 1329 during a Lithuanian raid. Most of the neighbouring land was fiefed in the 15th–16th centuries. Livonian Order
castle in Helme (Ordensburg Helmet) was probably built in the first half of the 14th century. The site on a steep hill is believed to have been used as a stronghold earlier by Sackalians in the Ancient Estonia
. By its ground plan the order castle was 120×60 m oval shaped structure, surrounded by two moat
s. There was a borough beside the castle in the Middle ages, it was mentioned until the 17th century. The castle was destroyed by the Swedes
during the Russo-Swedish War in 1658. Nowadays only parts of the walls with high window holes have survived.
Populated places in Estonia
Populated places in Estonia are settlements or territorial units within a municipality. Populated places have no administrative functions. A group of populated places form a rural municipality with local administration...
in Helme Parish, Valga County
Valga County
Valga County , or Valgamaa, is one of 15 counties of Estonia. Its capital is Valga, which is located on the Estonian-Latvian border. It is situated in southern part of the country and borders Põlva County and Võru County to the east, Latvia to the south and to the west, Viljandi County and Tartu...
, in southern Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. It's located only 2 km (1 mi) northwest of the town of Tõrva
Tõrva
Tõrva is a town and municipality in Valga County, southern Estonia. It is situated on the banks of Õhne River. Tõrva has an area of and a population of 3,101 , making it the second largest of the three towns in Valga County....
by the Valga–Pärnu
Pärnu
Pärnu is a city in southwestern Estonia on the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It is a popular summer vacation resort with many hotels, restaurants, and large beaches. The Pärnu River flows through the city and drains into the Gulf of Riga...
road (nr. 6). Helme has a population of 182 (as of 1 January 2010).
Helme church parish was first mentioned in 1329 during a Lithuanian raid. Most of the neighbouring land was fiefed in the 15th–16th centuries. Livonian Order
Livonian Order
The Livonian Order was an autonomous Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order and a member of the Livonian Confederation from 1435–1561. After being defeated by Samogitians in the 1236 Battle of Schaulen , the remnants of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword were incorporated into the Teutonic Knights...
castle in Helme (Ordensburg Helmet) was probably built in the first half of the 14th century. The site on a steep hill is believed to have been used as a stronghold earlier by Sackalians in the Ancient Estonia
Ancient Estonia
Ancient Estonia refers to a period covering History of Estonia from the middle of the 8th millennium BC until the conquest and subjugation of the Estonian people in the first quarter of the 13th century during the Northern Crusades.-The Mesolithic Period:...
. By its ground plan the order castle was 120×60 m oval shaped structure, surrounded by two moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
s. There was a borough beside the castle in the Middle ages, it was mentioned until the 17th century. The castle was destroyed by the Swedes
Swedish Empire
The Swedish Empire refers to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721 . During this time, Sweden was one of the great European powers. In Swedish, the period is called Stormaktstiden, literally meaning "the Great Power Era"...
during the Russo-Swedish War in 1658. Nowadays only parts of the walls with high window holes have survived.