Suure Jaani

Suure-Jaani is a town in the northern part of the county of Viljandimaa in Southern Central Estonia, 25 kilometres from the town of Viljandi. The population was 1378 as of 1 January 2000 (according to official statistics). Suure-Jaani is the centre of Suure-Jaani rural municipality.

The oldest archaeological findings from the area date back to the 6th millennium B.C. At the end of the 12th century A.D., the Lehola hill fort of ancient Estonians was built at a location (now known as Lõhavere) approximately two kilometres north-east of the present town border. The hill fort was the centre of the northernmost parish in the historical Estonian region of Sakala and also one of the centre of the Estonians' fight against the conquest of German Sword Brethren in the 13th century. Not much except the hill remains of it but the place (known in Estonian also as Lembitu linnamägi) is still visited as a tourist attraction. However, 2/3 of the hill-fort has been excavated archaeologically.

The present town began to develop around the Church of Great Saint John the Baptist (Groß Sankt Johannis in German), built in the middle of the 13th century. The locality was initially called Walula (or "Valle"), first recorded in 1423(?). The present name "Suure-Jaani" ("Great John"), which has been used since the 17th century, is an Estonian derivate from the German name of the church. Lutheran services are still held at the church.

During the Estonian national awakening period in the 19th century, the town was an important cultural centre.

Suure-Jaani is situated in a hilly region, offering picturesque views with its park, artificial lake and church in the centre of the town.