Pärnu

PärnuNight view of downtown Pärnu, Est.

Pärnu, city, Estonia, at the mouth of the Pärnu River on Pärnu Bay of the Gulf of Riga. First mentioned in 1251 as a member of the Hanseatic League, Pärnu was successively controlled by the Teutonic Knights, the Poles, the Swedes, and the Russians. It is now significant as an Estonian port, holiday resort, and centre of light industry, including food, wood, and leather processing. Pop. (2008 est.) 44,016.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kenneth Pletcher.
Citation Information
Article Title: Pärnu
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 29 November 2010
Access Date: February 22, 2025