History Overview

(Translated from Hiking Trail Information Point)

Võhmuta, then known as Wemes or Wames, was first mentioned in 1519. The first information about the owner of these villages dates back to 1593, when a nobleman Heinrich Leiel (Leielen) took power over Võhmuta, Ramma, and Karinu for an indefinite period of time. The villages were subsequently owned by Heinrich Ahnen and later by his widow Elisabeth Ahnen (1615). By 1627 the estate, then owned by Thomas Karre, had grown and stretched to Väinjärv. In 1639 Bogislaus Rosen took possession.

There are written documents that mention the village of Wechmut, which date back to 1657. The first manor house in Võhmuta was built in 1682 by Brigitte Höppener, who also owned Jalgsema, Järsi, and Türje village. Following the Great Northern War in 1726, Võhmuta manor was pledged to Hans Heinrich von Tiesenhausen. Tiesenhausen, whose family also owned Orina (Orgena) manor, took full possession in 1756. 

The development of Võhmuta manor accelerated from 1804 onward when a stylish barn, carriage house and gatehouse were built. In 1813 -1814 when Hans Ludvig von Tiesenhausen’s son returned from war, a victory gate was built at the entrance to the manor, in celebration of the victory over Napoleon’s troops in 1812. In 1834 the manor was sold to Georg Hermann von Baumgarter and it stayed with his heirs for quite some time. In 1841 the estate was bought by Alexander von Essen and from 1860 onward it was owned by Ernst Zoege von Manteuffel, who was forced to leave the manor after it was nationalized. The manor later housed the Võhmuta Primary School and the Kolkhoz Centre.

During the land reform in 1939, Võhmuta parish was a transition zone between the areas of influence of Tapa and Paide. Võhmuta Municipal House was originally located in the former Võhmuta railway station, but was soon transferred to Järva-Jaani. In 1961-1963, during the Soviet era, smaller village councils were merged and boundaries were re-arranged. Võhmuta and Türje village were joined with Tamsalu Village Council and are still a part of Tamsalu rural municipality in Lääne-Virumaa.

One of the local attractions is the manor park with a pond, which needs tidying and maintenance.

Wolf Hole Mountain is also located in Võhmuta. The legend has it that many villagers in the vicinity of Võhmuta lost a lot of livestock. They started investigating and discovered wolf tracks that led to Wolf Hole Mountain. It was a big hill with a large hole at the foot it, which can still be seen. A wolf pack had been hiding their prey there for times of hunger. To this day you can hear the wolves howling on quiet nights, especially in winter.