LITHUANIA
Exclussive country with glorious as well as painfull history, beautiful landscape and rich heritage.
The official language is Lithuanian, one of two remaining languages in the Baltic branch of the Indo-European languages. It is common to sanscrit and seems to be one of the oldest in the world.
Lithuania was the last country on the European map, that took Christianity. The last lands of Lithuania were turned to the new religion only in 15th century. So old traditions of pagan religion still can be found in fairy tales, songs, folklore, habits, burial mounds. The woods, saint oaks and stones still remain the old times.
At its greatest extent, in the 15th century, it was the largest state in Europe. It was a multi-ethnic and multiconfessional state, with great diversity in languages, religion, and cultural heritage. The consolidation of the Lithuanian lands began in the late 13th century. Unfortunately, from high rise, high fall came at the end of 18th century, when Lithuania gone from the map at all.
The independence was restored in 1918 February 16th , but was lost again after the WWII. Lithuania was forced to become a part of SSSR. The resistance against soviet aggression lasted untill 1953 – almost 10 years, washed by blood of sons and daughters of Lithuania. In 1990 March 11th the independance was restored again. In 2004 Lithuania became the member of European Union and NATO.
In our days the laser industry is one of the high-tech fields in which Lithuania is a firm leader in the world. This industry is mainly focused on the production of equipment and devices for scientific research, and is ahead of other traditional areas of production. It is proud of the quality of the internet and the coverage.
Basketball, swimmers and Dakar Rally riders make the name of Lithuania well known in the world.
01.
MOLĖTAI ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY
The visitors get information about achievements of the world and Lithuanian astronomy, take a look at the telescopes and their equipment. They also have a lecture, illustrated by wonderful photographs of various sky objects: planets, stars, nebulas, star clusters and galaxies, accompanied by space music. On the southern wall of the observatory a sundial is mounted. Near the telescope domes an exhibition of the sacred mythological stones is presented. These stones with dish-like cavities hundreds of years ago were used to collect and keep the sacred water of Perkunas, the pagan thunder god. The interior of the observatory is decorated with the stained-glass windows on the astronomical topics. The Lithuanian Ethnocosmological museum is situated on the nearby Kapeliai hill.
02.
ANYKSCIAI
The Treetop Walking Path complex includes: an information centre, the path, and a watchtower. Original architectural solution: a folk band from Lithuanian ethno-cultural region called the Highland was selected to be the architectural motif of the watchtower. Diamond shaped motifs in the band dominate the facades. The exhibition “Anykščių šilelis” – forest and/or creation” is open in the information center of the Treetop Walking Path complex, the main theme of which is the undiscovered “Anykščių šilelis”. Intrigue awaits under stylized tree leaves that have become important design elements. After lifting the leaves, you can find information about “Anykščių šilelis”, the park’s natural values. Here visitors are not only provided with information, but here visitors can also touch, smell and listen, feel like they are in a real forest.
03.
MANOR OF THE ISLANDS (SALOS MANOR)
The unique natural environment has always attracted people, but the remains of the old settlement have not yet been discovered on the islands. There are no historical domains when exactly the Manor of the Islands was established. It is said that in the 15th century the Islands estate belonged to the Kęsgailas. At that time, the Kęsgailos were an extremely influential family in the Kingdom of Lithuania and had many estates in Samogitia and on the border of Naugarduk.
In the 16th century manors usually performed not only a representative but also a defensive function. Manor houses were usually built on hills, surrounded by a water body and defensive ramparts, fragments of which we can see today.
04.
PAKRUOJIS MANOR
Pakruojs manor was first mentioned in written sources in 1531. The palace was full of art treasures. Among them, there was a particularly interesting and rare collection of fine arts – paintings, graphics and sculptures. Theodore von Ropp is considered the founder of the collection, who traveled to France, Italy, Spain and brought many works of Italian, Dutch, and French artists to the estate.
Since the time of Baron Wilhelm Ropp, the manor has developed a commercial farm, which brought a lot of income. in 1866 a manor pharmacy was established, which served 3,956 residents, and there was a twelve-bed hospital. in 1897 A model credit society operated in Pakruojia, led by Baron Leon von Ropp. 1909 the manor had a brewery and a steam mill. After the First World War, Pakruojs manor was a model farm, famous for industrial animal husbandry.
05.
THE GOLDEN DEER MANOR
The rural tourism homestead is located in the picturesque area of Žemaitija near the Virvytė river. Near the homestead there are such historical places of Žemaitsi as Shatrijas mound, Biržuvėnai manor, Biržuvėnai mound, the spring “Laumės Pėda”, the birthplace of Tad Blindas and the pine tree of the oath. The manor complex consists of: the main castle, several buildings with residential apartments and bedrooms for 80 people, a cafe-bar, a 100-seat conference hall, a 70-seat banquet hall, a 40-seat house with a banquet hall, a building with an outdoor kitchen, a large (with accommodation and hot tub) and small rural saunas. The territory of the manor is paved with stone and wooden walking paths. Here you will also find enclosures for deer and fallow deer, as well as observation towers. There are basketball and volleyball courts, as well as a playground for children. Entertainment: kayaking, cycling, trout fishing in the old channel of the Virvytė River, excursions to historical areas of Žemaitija. A museum of vintage motorcycles has been established in the homestead.
The Golden Deer Manor Vintage Motorcycle Museum is the largest motorcycle museum in the Baltic States, with over 40 rare vintage motorcycle models as well as some unique modern models. The museum exhibits pre-war, post-war and one-of-a-kind motorcycle models produced in 1901-1945. Exhibits were brought to the museum from various countries around the world: America, England, Germany, Russia, etc.
06.
TELSIAI
The capital of Samogitia region of Lithuania. The city is located on the shores of the lake Mastis.
Telšiai settlement, which was first mentioned in written sources in 1450, was created in the 14th or 15th century in the former territory of the Curonian tribe. Some researchers try to connect with Telšiai the Tulsa Valley , that was mentioned in one of the chronicles of the German Order in 1317. According to legend, Telšiai was founded by the giant or hero Džiugas (Telšys), who lived on Džiugas mountain near Telšiai during the Lithuanian battles with the Crusaders.
The task! The Bear is the symbol of Samogitia. How many bears there are hidden in Telsiai?
07.
SAMOGITIAN VILLAGE OPEN-AIR MUSEUM
It is a museum space whose vision is to preserve the heritage of architectural structures characteristic of the Samogitian region, extend the traditions of ethnic culture and nurture the Samogitian identity. The ethnographic museum reflects the 19th – 20th centuries village of Samogitia. Today, three authentic ensembles of homesteads have been established here, which are complemented by the most important objects of the old settlements: cemeteries, a mill, a forge. In the museum, only traditional crops and animals characteristic of the village of Samogitia are grown: Samogitian horses, sheeps, goats, rabbits, etc. Education and events are held here, old crafts and customs of the people of Samogitia are presented to visitors.
08.
COLD WAR EXPOSITION
This is the only exposition in Europe, installed in one of the first former underground ballistic missile launch complex of the Soviet Union. The museum’s historical exposition tells about the five decades of the Cold War. 4 SS-4 medium-range ballistic missiles armed with 2 MT thermonuclear warheads were deployed here.
09.
AMBER MUSEUM
The Palanga Amber Museum exhibits about 5,000 exhibits. At the beginning of it, visitors are given information about the formation of amber. Various morphological forms of amber are exhibited – drops, icicles, lumps of stem and ground amber. In the display cases, there are more than 70 unique pieces of amber, valued not only for their impressive size (the largest – the so-called “Sun Stone” – weighs 3,524 g), but also for the shapes, color nuances, and prints on the surface of the amber. All of this is invaluable scientific material that testifies to the climatic conditions, flora and fauna that existed on Earth during the formation of amber (in the Eocene period).
10.
THE MOUNTAIN OF WITCHES
The Mountain of witches is a unique museum of wooden sculptures in Juodkrante, where devils, witches and other folklore heroes reign, opening up to visitors the natural-mystical spirit of this place.
Most of the sculptures of the The Mountain of witches are located around the picturesque Fir Valley (German: Tannental). This valley is a natural forest amphitheater formed by parabolic dunes, as well as Eve Hill was a place where from the 19th century at the St. John’s Day every year, crowds (up to 1000 people) of Lithuanians from the other side of the lagoon came to pray in the mystical atmosphere and to visit the popular resort of Juodkrantė. This tradition was especially popular before the First World War, but it continued in the interwar period.
11.
NIDA ETHNOGRAPHIC CEMETERY AND „KRIKSTAI“
Next to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Nida is the Nida Ethnographic Cemetery of the 19th-20th centuries, where „krikstai“ typical of the Curonian Spit are still preserved – one of the most archaic forms of tombstones in Lithuania. „Krikstai“ made of thick profiled boards resemble a tree in their silhouette, and you can often see carved birds on their sides. „Krikstai“ have a much wider function than a sign of recognition of the deceased. It can be considered to be the image of the mythological world tree connecting all parts of the universe. In the spiritual sense, it is the path of prayer or prayer to the heavenly realms.
It is also interesting that when making baptisms for men, trees of the masculine family were used – oak, birch, ash, and for women – feminine: spruce, aspen, linden. Horse heads, plants, or bird motifs were carved into men’s christenings, while plant and heart shapes can be seen next to birds in women’s tombstones. The Lithuanians of Little Lithuania (a region) always put „krikstai“ at the foot of the deceased so that “he would have something to stand for when he rises on the day of the last judgment”.
12.
THE DEAD DUNES
On the path of the Nagliai Nature Reserve, which occupies an area of 1,680 hectares and is one of the most interesting objects not only of the Curonian Spit, but of the whole of Lithuania, the Grey, or Dead, dunes, blown by strong winds, open up. They have spontaneous herbaceous vegetation and fragments of old forest soils are visible. These are large sand hills with ravines and erosions blown by strong winds – the longest dunes in Lithuania, protecting one of the saddest stories of the villages of the Curonian Spit. In the years 1675-1854, as many as four Nagliai villages were flooded here, which are still deep under the sand.
13.
DREVERNA
According to the legend, a giant once lived in the vicinity of Dreverna, who was happy to help people. Once an old man wanted to cross the lagoon and collect firewood in the backwater, because there was a great forest growing there. Therefore, the old man asked the giant to fill lagoon with water and the old man could go to the side of the forest. The giant went to fetch Drevernon’s sand, loaded a full bag and went to fill lagoon. But his bag burst and the sand spilled onto the ground.
The giant sat down on the sandbag to patch. His long legs reached the Brukšva meadow, which was overgrown with bushes and many wolves bred there. Hungry wolves ran to the giant and knocked him off his feet. He was so engrossed in his work that he did not feel the bad work of the wolves at all, so he became weak and suddenly died. The next day the people gathered, wept for the good giant, and then sprinkled him with sand. Then a strong westerly wind blew over the high, pointed mound. It is now called the Tombs of Dreverna or the Giant’s Tomb. While burying here, they still find the giant’s bones.
14.
VENTE HORN
On the eastern coast of the Curonian Lagoon, a peninsula protrudes, the length of which is less than six kilometers, and the width is just over two kilometers. Even though it is small, the Horn of Ventės, surrounded by many mysterious stories, is a very important territory of Lithuania and dates back to the 14th century. On the tip of the peninsula, in the 1360s, the German Teutonic Order built Windenburg Castle and a church, but storms and lightning were merciless to these structures and destroyed them. Later, a new church was built here, but its foundations were also washed away by the waves of the lagoon. In the second half of the 20th century, the point of the Vente horn was reconstructed. Its banks were reinforced and raised and paved. A 250-meter-long jetty was built here, which also serves as an icebreaker at the end of winter. These works helped to stop the process of destruction of the Vente Horn peninsula. The first wooden lighthouse was built on the tip of the peninsula in 1837, because there is an unbroken rocky shoal near Vente Cape, which is really dangerous for sailors. Later, this lighthouse was replaced by a red brick signpost, which even today helps nocturnal water wanderers find the shore, and to visitors who have reached the observation deck, the lighthouse offers an unforgettable panorama of the sea.
The Vente Horn peninsula is an ideal place for catching and ringing birds, both geographically and from a natural point of view, as the great bird migration route runs here. In 1929, on the initiative of Professor T. Ivanauskas, an ornithological station, museum and visitor center were established here. The largest bird traps in the world are also located in the corner of Vente, which allow birds to ring all year round.
15.
MINIJA OR MINGE VILLAGE – LITHUANIA VENICE
The fisherman street village. Village houses are located on both sides of Minija (with facades facing the river), preserved from the 19th century. end buildings. Good water transport connections with Rusne, Ventės ragu, Nida and other Curonian Spit resorts. The village was built on the coast of the Curonian Lagoon at the mouth of the Minija River, mentioned since 1540.
In the long run, due to the alluvium carried by the Atmata river, a branch of the Minija and the Nemunas, with the increase of the land area, the village was located away from the lagoon, and the village became a riverside village.
16.
AUKSTUMALA SWAMP (2,4 KM)
Aukstumala educational trail is a mysterious place where travelers have a rare opportunity to get to know the world-famous high bog and learn about its characteristic plants and animals, see the landscape, experience the unique and unique beauty of the bog and understand that the bog is not just a collapsing pool with abysses and with treacherous tourist goggles, but also one of the few remaining refuges for extremely rare plants and animals.
It is interesting that the educational trail winds in the place of the former kúlgrinda (an ancient stone-paved path below the surface of the bog). The kulgrinda, built in the 18th century across the swamp, connected already non-existent villages of the Aukštumala, which at that time had almost 2,000 inhabitants!
17.
RUSNĖ
Rusnė is undoubtedly one of those places where you feel like you are on the edge of the world. The town of Rusnė is located in the Nemunas delta, the father of Lithuanian rivers. It is surrounded not only by rivers that end the journey, but also by the external border of the European Union: just a few yards away by boat, the border posts loom and the Kaliningrad region begins.
The streets of Rusnė smell of freshly smoked fish, and the local tranquility is enchanting.
18.
SUDARGAS MOUNDS
Sudargas mounds, their complex is considered the most important after the Kernavė mounds in terms of history, archeology and culture. The Balnakalnis, Žydkapii, Bevardis, Pilaitė and Vorpilis mounds are the custodians of history. In the Middle Ages, it was one of the most important defensive castles in the fight against the Crusaders. Today, the still bright signs of the greatness of the mounds can be seen far into the distance, the eyes of visitors are delighted by the blue of the Nemunas Belt, the horizons of forests and fields, opening from the tops of the 5 mounds. However, Sudarg is not only rich in mounds – the great-grandfathers of the world-famous writer Jerome David Salinger and other famous people lived in this town.
19.
PLOKSCIAI RIVER-ROAD
Next to Plokščiai (Vaiguviškiai) mound, a small Vaiguva stream flows, which flows into the natural Vaiguva river-street in the town. This is a unique place: local residents can only reach their homes by walking or driving along the stream bed. Several springs flow into Vaiguva, so the water here is always clean and cold, and the bottom is covered with pebbles. The drivable part of the river-street stretches for more than half a kilometer. Here you can enjoy a stroll or a bike ride. Car traffic has recently been banned to reduce pollution.
20.
ZYPLIAI MANOR
By the scale of Lithuanian history, Zypliai manor is “young”. The history of the manor is less than 200 years old. Duke Juozap Poniatovskis (nephew of Stanislaus Poniatovskis, the last king of Poland and Lithuania) became the first owner of Zyplių Manor. He received the estate lands for his military service in Napoleon Bonaparte’s army
Today, the manor is one of the most visited objects in Šakiai district. Here, project presentations, conferences, meetings, celebrations are constantly held, and village theater plays are shown on weekends. The Zypliai Manor Gallery is located in the former stables of the manor, where many works of art are constantly exhibited.
21.
KAUNAS CASTLE
The castle at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris was built in the 14th century to repel the attacks of the Crusaders. It is not only the oldest brick castle in Lithuania, but also the only one with two rows of defensive walls. A settlement was built around this Gothic defensive structure, which grew into the current city. The castle, where, according to legends, the army of Queen Bona Sforza mysteriously hid underground, was first mentioned in written sources as early as 1361. Rebuilt several times, the castle lost its significance in 1408, when Kaunas was granted the rights of Magdeburg, and the entire life of the city moved to the then Market Square (Town Hall). 16th century a prison operated in the castle, where the souls of the prisoners, who have not found peace until now, play in Kaunas Castle at night. Currently, the Kaunas City Museum department operates in the castle, and cultural events of the city take place in the entrances every year.
Santaka Park, called the heart of Kaunas, is located next to Kaunas Castle. Walking in this park you can see how the Nemunas and Neris rivers merge, there are many places to visit. One of them – an altar where pagan rites were performed.
22.
LIFOSA – GYPSUM HILLS
Lifosa gypsum hills in Kėdainiai has its own “Alpes”. JS “Lifosa” white phosphogypsum hills – a unique phenomenon not only in Lithuania, but also in the Baltic countries. Phosphogypsum is gypsum with a small admixture of phosphates (fertilizers), which occurs during the production process of phosphoric acid. The mountains on the side of the fertilizer factory have been poured since 1968. Currently, 21 million tons of phosphogypsum have been accumulated. tons, and the area occupied by the mountains is about 84 hectares, some of which reach a height of 60 meters. The previously formed mountains are now planted, covered with trees and grass.
23.
KAUNAS LAGOON IN JACHT
Kaunas Lagoon is the largest artificial water body in Lithuania formed after the dam of the Nemunas River, that was built for the Kaunas hydroelectric power plant.. It is a Lithuanian Atlantis, 45 villages (721 homesteads) were buried in the bottom of Kaunas lagoon.The lagoon flooded 0.1 percent of Lithuania territory. While preparing the bottom of the future lagoon, the forests, gardens, wells of homesteads closed to the ground, and village cemeteries were raised out.
24.
PAZAISLIS MONASTERY AND CHURCH
The Pažaislis monastery and church ensemble is one of the finest masterpieces of mature Baroque architecture in Northeastern Europe. The sanctuary on the outskirts of Kaunas, at that time in a remote forest, in the 17th century. it was built by Kristupas Žygimantas Pacas (1621–1684), the chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, for the Kamaldu monks. The ensemble was designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Battista Frediani, decorated with moldings by Lombardy sculpture masters and frescoes by the Florentine painter Michael Archangel Paloni. The uniqueness of the ensemble is determined by a unique architectural solution. For the first time in Europe, the concave plane of the church facade was used, a rather rare hexagonal plan, and the axially symmetrical composition of the entire monastery.
25.
BIRSTONAS
Birstonas is a Lithuanian resort famous for its mineral waters. The salty springs of Birštonas have been mentioned since the 15th century. In 1846 Benediktas Balinskis, the doctor of the Stakliskes resort, treated the first patient here who was not helped by the healing springs of Stakliskes, but she had recovered in Birštonas! Before World War I, ~2,000 people were treated here every year.
In addition to drinking mineral water, people are treated with mineral water baths, mud baths and others. In 1927 a mud treatment plant was built – peat for the treatment mud was brought from the Velniabliūdis peat bog. Digestive, locomotor, circulatory, gynecological, kidney, and respiratory diseases are beeing heeled in Birstonas sanatoriums.
26.
MERKINE
Merkinė is one of the oldest settlements in Lithuania, according to archaeological research, people lived here as early as the 10th millennium BC. The 21 investigated settlements date back to the 9th millennium BC and is attributed to various cultural groups, mainly the Svidri culture.
Merkinė was an important strategic point of the defense system of the castles of Panemune of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania – it was first mentioned in 1359 in the annals of Naugard, from 1377 – In the Chronicles of the Teutonic Order. At the confluence of the rivers Nemunas and Merkis stood Merkine Castle, which in 1377 was ravaged by the Crusaders.
27.
TRAKAI
The city is surrounded by lakes, which are full of islands of various sizes (Galvė washes the northern edge of the city, Lukas or Bernardinė lake in the east, Gilušis in the south, Totoriškių lake in the west). Also, at the southern edge of the city, there are Babrukas, Lovka, Plomėnai Lake in the west, and Nerespinka in the east.
Trakai is one of the most visited cities in Eastern Europe, it fascinates with its old wooden architecture and wonderful landscape. The town on the peninsula and the castle of the island, surrounded by lakes on all sides, were an important military and political center and the residence of the grand dukes due to its unique defensive capabilities.
One of the peculiarities that Trakai has long been characterized by is the diversity of cultures. Karaims, Kartvelians, Tatars and other peoples settled here, and therefore the city was enriched with its own traditions, customs and crafts.
28.
VILNIUS
Located at the confluence of the Neris and Vilnelė rivers, Vilnius combines a diverse cultural heritage and is proud of its unique Old Town. Hundreds years old architecture, modern buildings and untouched nature in the heart of the city create a unique harmony – Vilnius is one of the greenest capitals in Europe. However, the modern atmosphere of the city is inseparable from the stories and legends of the Old Town.
29.
THE HILL OF SATRIA WITCH
Satria hill is located in Samogitia region. Archaeological finds were found on the hill: burnt graves, burial urns, tear cups, bowled stones, amber and glass jewelry, stone axes. A wooden castle stood on the top of the hill in the 14th century, and people lived on the slope since the 2nd century BC. Here may have been one of the most important centers of pagan faith, destroyed by the introduction of Christianity. In the Middle Ages, there was even an attempt to rename the hill St. Jozapot’s mountain, but this name did not catch on. The hill is bounded of lots of legends, saying that witches were gathering here.
The eternal fire of Shatria is guarded on the top of Raudonkalnis, which is by the side of Shatria hill. Every day since 2017, volunteers have been watching over the fire in the firehouse and making sure it doesn’t go out. Keeping the eternal fire alive is a restored tradition that was once practiced in the Baltic lands before the establishment of Christianity.