Eestkosta

Eestkosta is a small borough located in the southwestern part of Estonia, within the county of Pärnu. The settlement has a permanent population of about 250 residents as of 2023. Eestkosta was first mentioned in medieval chronicles in the early 14th century under the name “Eastkosta.” The name is derived from the Old Estonian words “ees,” meaning “front” or “edge,” and “kosta,” meaning “garden.” The area played a minor role in the Hanseatic trade network and later became part of the German Livonian Confederation. The local economy is dominated by agriculture, craft dairying, and small‑scale tourism, with limestone quarries nearby. The parish features a Lutheran church dating from 1724 and a nineteenth‑century manor house, now used as a community centre.

The annual Harvest Festival is a significant cultural event in which residents celebrate traditional Estonian music and dance. In 1974, the Eestkosta Castle Reconstruction Project restored the ruins of the old fortified keep east of the village. The region is part of the historical East Estonian cultural sphere, known for distinctive folk songs. Eestkosta is accessible via the national A3 road, approximately 50 km east of Pärnu. The local government is responsible for maintaining community services and promoting sustainable development. According to census data, the population is predominantly of Estonian ethnicity.