The Hill of Crosses is a site of pilgrimage about 12 km north of the city of Šiauliai, in northern Lithuania. The precise origin of the practice of leaving crosses on the hill is uncertain, but it is believed that the first crosses were placed on the former Jurgaičiai or Domantai hill fortafter the 1831 Uprising. Over the centuries, not only crosses, but giant crucifixes, carvings of Lithuanian patriots, statues of theVirgin Mary and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here by Catholic pilgrims. The exact number of crosses is unknown, but estimates put it at about 55,000 in 1990 and 100,000 in 2006.On September 7, 1993, Pope John Paul II visited the Hill of Crosses, declaring it a place for hope, peace, love and sacrifice. |
|
The Curonian Spit is a 98 km long, thin, curved sand-dunespit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea coast. Its southern portion lies within Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia and it’s northern within southwestern Lithuania. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared by the two countries. Since 2000, the Curonian Spit has been on UNESCO's World Heritage List under cultural criteria "V" (an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture [...], or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change).
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Palanga is an international seacoast resort for active recreation and rehabilitation treatment oriented towards an industry of wide range of entertainment with a developed modern social and service infrastructure. Palanga became a famous resort in early XX century and presently is one of the largest resorts and tourism centres of Lithuania. As a recreation place, it has already operated for a century and a half. Vacationers come here to escape their daily urbanized routines and gain strength from natural resources: the sun, sea water and fresh pine-forests' air.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Klaipėda is a city in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Nemunas River where it flows into the Baltic Sea. It is the third largest city in Lithuania and the capital of Klaipėda County. The city has a complex recorded history, partially due to the combined regional importance of the Port of Klaipėda, a usually ice-free port on the Baltic Sea. Klaipėda's main attractions are the historic buildings in the city's centre, dating from the 13th to 18th centuries. Some of its older buildings have picturesque half-timbered construction, similar to that found in Germany, France, England, Denmark and southern Sweden.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
The village located on the banks of the river Neris(35 km from Vilnius) has been known as the capital of Lithuania before Trakai and Vilnius. Archeological excavations uncovered a medieval settlement dating back to the 12th century. Kernave’s Archaeological and Historical Museum/ Reserve contains several precious exhibits. In Kernave you will be able to climb 5 mounds and enjoy a superb breath- taking view of the river valley graced by the bends of the river Neris. Few great traditional events are held in Kernave every year: on 23d of June - ‘Midsummer’s day’ - with the night fires on the mounds, traditional dances and songs, and on the 5th – 7th of July - ‘Days of live archeology’ - showing re-created handicrafts, life style, heritage of a spiritual culture of the early middle ages.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Country life Open Air Museum of Lithuania is a unique and one of the largest (195 ha) open-air ethnographic museums in Europe. It has the biggest quantity of exhibits (183 buildings and over 86 000 mobile exhibits). The museum presents the mode of life, works, and traditions of peasants and townspeople of all Lithuanian ethnographic areas: Dzūkija, Aukštaitija, Suvalkija, Žemaitija and Lithuania Minor. It was established in 1966, in Rumšiškės on a picturesque coast of Kaunas Lagoon. There are fragments of the villages, authentic farms, century-old buildings with flower gardens, orchards and vegetable gardens, with crosses and wooden roofed poles, technical facilities - mills, forges, a fulling-mill and oil-mill lining along 7 km circular route, meandering between forests, meadows and hills.
In the centre of the museum there is a fragment of a township with its typical buildings, where pots are shaped, amber and wood works are done and weaving process of linen is presented.
The painful past of Lithuanian history is reminded in the sector of Deportation and Resistance. The guided tours, educational programs, calendar feasts, folk group concerts are being organized in the museum.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Kaunas is second biggest town in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas is located at the confluence of the two largest Lithuanian rivers, the Nemunas and the Neris and near the Kaunas Reservoir, the largest body of water entirely in Lithuania. Kaunas has many interesting places to visit: main pbjects are in the Old Town of Kaunas: the Kaunas Castle - a 14th century fortification, Vytautas Church - one of the oldest churches in Lithuania and the oldest church in Kaunas, Kaunas Cathedral Basilica, Pažaislis Abbey - impressive complex of baroque style, House of Perkūnas, M. K. Čiurlionis Art museum - he is one of the famoust composer of Lithuania , Kaunas Fortress, one of the largest defensive structures in Europe, occupying 65 km2 (25 sq mi), a 19-20th century military fortress, which includes a Holocaust and Ninth Fort, Napoleon's Hill, Kaunas Town Hall and many more.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Trakai is one of the oldest Grand Duchy of Lithuania residence and capitals. This small town is located 28 km from Vilnius, it is most famous for its 15th century insular castle housing an exhibition on prehistoric findings and the 17-18th century applied art, the way of life of the Lithuanian Grand Dukes, and the Karaites, brought to Lithuania from the Crimea. Also Trakai are famous for the traditionakl Caraims dish - kibinai. Those who comes to Trakai definetaly must visit Trakai Insular Castle and taste Kibinai.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Now the site of mass executions is commemorated by the memorial to the victims of the Lithuanian holocaust and a small museum displaying the tragedy of Paneriai. Ponar are located six miles outside the city of Vilnius. Here in the Paneriai Forest, close to the railroad tracks, the Nazis killed and burried in the pits over 100,000 civilians, 70,000 of them Jews. Now the site of mass executions is commemorated by the memorial to the victims of the Lithuanian holocaust and a small museum displaying the tragedy of Paneriai.
|
|
Read more...
|
Jewish Heritage sightseeing of the famous city of Vilnius once called Jerusalem of Lithuania. The tour takes to the streets of the former Ghetto area with its monuments to the victims of the Holocaust, the Jewish Cemetery with the mausoleum of the world renowned Gaon Rav Eliyahu and the tombs of the last Vilna rabbis alongside the victims of the ghetto. The tour includes a visit to the Choral Synagogue, the only remaining synagogue that was left intact.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Vilnius - the capital of Lithuania is the biggest town and most popular sight in Lithuania - the cultural, historical and economical place attracting people from all over the world. The first known written record of Vilnius as the Lithuanian capital is known from Gediminas letters in 1323. Vilnius is a cosmopolitan city with diverse architecture. In Vilnius Old Town architecture are combined different styles - gothic, clasicism, baroque, renesaince. There are 65 churches in Vilnius. Like most medieval towns, Vilnius was developed around its Town Hall. The main artery, Pilies Street, links the Royal Palace with Town Hall. Other streets meander through the palaces of feudal lords and landlords, churches, shops and craftsmen's workrooms.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|