In ancient times, the area now known as Võsu was part of Revala Parish, then situated in the north-western part of Viru County. According to Danish researcher Paul Johansen, Võsu was mentioned for the first time in 1346. Be that as it may, historical accounts first note the settlement’s existence on 3 April 1510, when it forms part of an agreement regarding the transfer of Palmse Manor. Nevertheless, archaeological findings confirm that the area surrounding Võsu was settled long before the medieval period. Võsu Beach was a fishing site for Palmse Manor. The principal income for the coastal folk here came from fishing, seafaring, and accompanying trade, with contraband traffic added later. The main earner for Palmse Manor was vodka distillation – this important product was also sold in local taverns.  In 1777, Hans von der Pahlen, Palmse Manor’s then-current owner, had a tavern built right here on the Rakvere road which gave rise to other buildings and evolved into the centre of the settlement of Võsu. From 1880 the building also supplied guest rooms, boasting the fanciful moniker of Hotel de la Baltique. The market next to the tavern traded in fish, grain, and other produce that was left over from the establishment’s principal activity, but also in smuggled goods such as salt, sugar, coffee, rum, and spirits. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, Võsu Customs Station was established in the centre of the settlement to enable the proper taxation of goods that crossed the state border for the benefit of the ruling Russian empire. The customs station also arranged operations that were targeted at catching smugglers. To the latter end, the so called coastal knights (‘randrüütlid’ in Estonian) were employed – mounted coastal guards who operated along the beaches in the Baltic States during the Russian empire period. In 1893, postal services began to operate from Võsu, followed by the telegraph. Later, a fire service storage building was erected in Võsu, and this remains in its place to this day. As a bus service emerged, the village folk began to gather at the triangle which forms in the road immediately outside the tavern (thanks to it being the junction of three streets). Locals tended to venture towards the waiting area to meet their loved ones who were travelling to Võsu, as well as being able to take a good look at what was going on in the settlement. A new Võsu centre developed when the post office was relocated to Mere street (‘mere’ is Estonian for ‘sea’) in 1911.