Jõhvi Estonia

Jõhvi Estonia is a town 50 km from the Russian border that is an important hub for transportation and regional administration.

You can get to Jõhvi via a bus (www.bussireisid.ee) or via the Narva train railway connection (www.edel.ee). Pictured is the Jõhvi bussijaam bus station, which is located in the same building as the Jewe (German for "Jõhvi") Kaubanduskeskus shopping center.

Jõhvi Tsentraal, pictured, is one of the many shopping centers in Jõhvi town (another major one nearby is the Jõhvi Kaubakeskus), which is why the town is a major regional center for shopping.

Perhaps the most famous building in Jõhvi is the St Michael Church and museum (www.johvimuuseumiselts.ee), from the mid-13th century, located on the main road, Rakvere mnt 6b.

The Jõhvi keskraamatukogu or central library of Jõhvi is one of the best ways to get online if you're in town and brought your own laptop, as they provide free wifi connectivity. The library also has guest computers, if you don't have a laptop with you.

One of the best hotels in town is the centrally located Hotell Wironia (www.wironia.ee), which has cheap room rates, quality rooms, free wireless internet connection, buffett breakfast, and the cafe-pub Privaat is conveniently located in the same building.

Being only 50 km from the Russian border, there is a lot of Russian influence in Jõhvi Estonia, as shown by the estimate that 58% of the residents speak Russian as their first language.

Another sign of Russian influence here is the Orthodox Christian Nunnery of Pühtitsa, the largest Russian Orthodox church outside of Tallinn, located 25km south from Jõhvi.

The convent, which was founded in 1891 and is still in operation today, housing some 170 nuns, is one of the famous Estonian sightseeing destinations, providing six churches in the complex that is highlighted by the main building, Dormition Cathedral, built in 1910.

Jõhvi has been an important transportation hub also historically, being at the crossroads on the route from St Petersburg to Central Europe, a route that is today called Via Hanseatica (www.viahanseatica.info).

Jõhvi is increasingly being known as a cultural hub as well, having one the top concert halls in Estonia, build in 2005, and the historical St Michael church also houses concerts due to having excellent acoustics.

To get the most out of your visit to Jõhvi, you can visit the Jõhvi Tourist Information Centre (Rakvere tee 13a, phone: +372 337 0568) when in town, and they also have an official website located at www.johvi.ee.

From Jõhvi Estonia page to Tallinn index page