Pärnu with its sand-bed beach and shallow bay warm water is one of the best places in Estonia to enjoy summer holidays and this was the prerequisite for the town-s development into a resort. In the beginning of the 19-th century sea-bathing as a therapy procedure became to be pursued, later on curative sea and peat mud was also found in the vicinity of the town.

The first bathing establishment where procedures with warmed seawater were carried out was established in Pärnu in 1838 (for more information see: http://www.parnu.ee/index.php?id=6). After the founding of the Estonian Republic the resort here was actively developed and a large number of boarding-houses and villas were set up for accommodating summer guests. This applies also to Villa Vasa, established for the Swedes, which nowadays is also part of Sõprus.

After the Second World War the resort was restored under the Soviet regime and the health-resort establishments in Pärnu attained a much wider scope and started to operate around the year. Three sanatoriums were set up and new housing wings were added to the existing facilities. Thus our predecessor, the sanatorium Sõprus that specialised in post-heart attack therapy, incorporated 355 beds already in 1988.

When Estonia regained its independence, Sõprus was transferred to municipal ownership and in 1995 the establishment was reorganised as a public limited company Rehabilitation Centre Sõprus, owned by Pärnu municipality.

Instead of the formerly used six buildings Sõprus is now situated in three buildings and accommodates less persons but continues its long tradition in the field of rehabilitation therapy, at the same time offering beauty and relaxation procedures to prevent health problems – the buildings with historical atmosphere accommodate in fact a truly modern spa-hotel.  

Should you be more interested in the past and present of Pärnu town and resort, you can find additional information on the town homepage: http://www.parnu.ee/index.php?id=4.