Võnnu is a small borough in Tartu County, in Kastre Parish, Estonia. It is located about 21 km southeast of the city of Tartu. Võnnu has a population of 552 (2011). Võnnu was the administrative centre of Võnnu Parish.

Name

Võnnu was attested in historical sources as Wenden in 1582, Wendehof in 1630, Wendo Kÿlla in 1638, and Wendohof in 1740. There are several hypotheses about the origin of the name Võnnu. The linguist Lauri Kettunen (linguist) compared the name to võnnuvõõras 'unfamiliar, unknown'. The linguist Julius Mägiste compared the name to Finnish vieno 'gentle, quiet (also referring to running water)', relating it to a swampy place. This view was also endorsed by the folklorist Matthias Johann Eisen.

Notable sites

Saint James's Church of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church (originally constructed, 1232–1236) has been rebuilt several times, and is one of the largest churches in the Estonian countryside.

Notable people