History in
four capitals Vilnius — today’s capital At the confluence of the Neris and Vilnia rivers, in the Old Town of Vilnius, you will find a Classical cathedral — the true heart of the city and of Lithuania — located at the same spot where Mindaugas, king of Lithuania, had a church built in the 13th century. Legendary Gediminas Castle and the recently reconstructed Royal Palace are close by. On one of the Old Town’s main streets you will find the Alma Mater, an ensemble of university buildings with twelve courtyards and over 400 years of academic history, the Gates of Dawn, which hold a miracleworking portrait of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Vilnius Town Hall and other alluring structures. The fast-flowing River Vilnia is a curving natural border between the Old Town and Užupis (meaning “beyond the river”), a unique district of the city populated by artists with its own tongue-in-cheek constitution, flag and president. In the district’s central square stands a bronze statue of its patron, the graceful angel of Užupis. The much larger River Neris represents a natural border between the Old Town and the modern city of Vilnius with its high-rises on Constitution Avenue, including the focal, circular 33-storey Europa building.
Kaunas — the temporary capital For two decades in the first half of the 20th century, between the two world wars, Kaunas was the capital of Lithuania. This was a time when the emerging state was seeking international recognition. It is therefore symbolic that the main street in central Kaunas is called Freedom Avenue (Laisvės Alėja). This 1.7kilometre pedestrian thoroughfare, popular today for strolling, shopping and grabbing a bite to eat, is aligned along a precise east-west axis. St Anne’s Church
The heritage of history and traces of momentous events
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othic, Baroque and Classical styles both dominate and complement each other in the architecture of Lithuania’s towns and cities. Walking along the city streets, you can hear the whispers echoing through time from different historical periods. You can feel the influence of different cultures and sense the traces of past events that make up the country’s complex history. A short trip to the four capitals of Lithuania opens up some fascinating pages of history. Let’s start with Vilnius, the current capital of Lithuania and a city renowned for its Old Town, which in 1994 was designated as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Kaunas is also famous for its 14th century castle, one of the oldest brick castles in Lithuania. Another intriguing building is the 17th century Pažaislis Monastery complex, one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture outside Italy.
Trakai and Kernavė — the medieval capitals Trakai, located between Kaunas and Vilnius, was the 14th century capital of Lithuania. It is renowned for its magnificent castle, the largest of its kind in Eastern Europe, located on an island in a picturesque lake. Trakai Castle and its Castle Museum bear witness to the glorious reign of Vytautas the Great, the ruler of Lithuania in the 15th century. Also situated close to Vilnius, Kernavė, the very first capital of Lithuania, is worth experiencing for its cultural reserve of five 13th-century hill-forts set amid a wide green valley. It was designated as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2004.
Only
in L ithuania
Hill of Crosses
What every Lithuanian is proud of and each visitor admires
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ediminas Castle Tower in Vilnius, the unique paintings of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis in a gallery in Kaunas, the Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai, and the Lithuanian folk art of cross-making and its symbolism, which is listed as a UNESCO masterpiece of intangible heritage of humanity, are just a few of the places and traditions that Lithuanians are proud of and which visitors admire. Be prepared for unexpected and indelible impressions. Experience the geographical centre of Europe, taste honey at the Beekeeper’s Museum, experience the mysticism of wood and stone at the Orvydas Farmstead and admire the beauty of the Sun Stone at the Amber Museum.
Easter Palms
Heritage sites and the Hill of Crosses
History, art and national heritage
The Devils Museum in Kaunas and the genius of Čiurlionis
You can find old manor houses, watermills, wooden churches, and ethnographic villages of thatched and wooden cottages in Lithuania. Three station points on the Struve Geodetic Arc — a chain of survey triangulations stretching through ten European countries from Norway to the Black Sea and inscribed on the World Heritage List — are located in Lithuania. These are located in the villages of Meškonys, Paliepiukiai (Vilnius District) and Gireišiai (Rokiškis District).
The history museums found in Vilnius reveal more about the long, elaborate and often tortuous history of the Lithuanian state. You will also find museums of art, science, theatre, music and cinema in Vilnius. Gediminas Tower offers impressive panoramic views of the city. Another impressive site is the surviving Bastion of the old Vilnius city wall.
The Čiurlionis Museum is dedicated to the incredibly imaginative artwork by the creative genius M K Čiurlionis, who was also a noted composer. Elsewhere in Kaunas is the Military Museum of Vytautas the Great, the Museum of Lithuanian Folk Music and museums on sports, zoology, postage and telecommunications and IT. Collections of paintings by artists from around the world can be seen at the Mykolas Žilinskas Art Gallery.
The hill-fort of Jurgaičiai near Šiauliai, known as the Hill of Crosses, is a favourite attraction for tourists and pilgrims. The hill is literally smothered with crosses — there are over 50,000 crosses, shrines, statues of saints and rosaries on the hill. The Hill of Crosses is considered to be a monument to human faith and survived numerous attempts by the Soviet authorities to destroy it.
Several open-air museums are within easy reach of the capital. These include Europe Park with over 100 sculptures of contemporary art by famous sculptors from around the world, and the Rumšiškės Open Air Museum, the biggest open-air museum in Europe, which demonstrates the lifestyles of different parts of Lithuania before the industrial era. Rumšiškės offers a journey through the ethnographic regions of Lithuania and old and authentic Lithuanian farmsteads painstakingly rebuilt on the site.
The Devils Museum, which holds the largest collection of devils in the world, will make you laugh at the strange facial contortions of some of the figures and distinctly uneasy at some of the others. The only zoo in Lithuania can also be found in Kaunas.
Ar t —
the most eloquent language
Lithuanian National Symphonic Orchestra
Art in Unusual Places
Knowing the art of Lithuania is one way to get to know the country and its people
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009 is an important date for our country and culture since Vilnius and the Austrian town of Linz will jointly become European Capitals of Culture. Lithuania is honoured to be the first of the new members of the European Union to receive such a title. The fact that Lithuania will also celebrate a millennium since its first mention in historical sources means that Lithuanians and visitors from abroad will be able to take part in many and varied events that are already taking place.
Lithunia is a very dynamic country. It has a long and rich culture, but very young in its modern history. People are proud of their country while being open to the globe. An interesting mix....... Elvo from Hong Kong
Aura Dance Studio
Concerts — real music extravaganzas
Remarkable interpretations on the theatre stage
Inspiring exhibitions
Concerts of classical music with symphony orchestras conducted by Saulius Sondeckis, Juozas Domarkas and Gintaras Rinkevičius and performances by the opera singer Violeta Urmanavičiūtė-Urmana and the pianists Mūza Rubackytė and Petras Geniušas have become real feasts of music for listeners both in Lithuania and abroad. The highlight of the summer season is around 100 classical music concerts offered during the Vilnius Festival, the Christopher Summer Festival and the Pažaislis Festival, all of which feature the classical music elite. In 2008, Lithuania will also host the ISCM World Music Days, which will become a regular event.
There are over 30 theatres in Lithuania producing fine performances and original interpretations of classical and contemporary plays. The National Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Kaunas and Klaipėda musical theatres attract crowds of fans of the art of opera.
The Contemporary Art Centre in Vilnius is one of Europe’s best, regularly hosting cutting-edge avant garde art exhibitions. Many cities in Lithuania attract visitors to exhibitions showing pictures from the National Art Gallery. Galleries of both folk and modern art unveil discoveries to all their visitors. You can purchase some of the pieces you like or opt for traditional souvenirs from amber, linen or wood. You can participate in various art events and even speak with the artists themselves.
Various genres of music are enjoyed in Lithuania with events in traditional and non-traditional venues. An atmosphere of vibrant and passionate sounds is offered by the international jazz festivals taking place in Birštonas, Kaunas, Vilnius, Klaipėda and Nida and by Lake Lūkstas.
You can count yourself lucky if you have witnessed a performance by such greats of European theatre as Eimuntas Nekrošius and Oskaras Koršunovas. Their performances are awaited on many theatre stages around the world. Plays produced by Rimas Tuminas or Juozas Vaitkus have become popular in Scandinavia, southern Europe, Iceland and Japan. The innovative dance theatre of choreographer and director Andželika Cholina is much-loved by many fans. And tickets to performances by world-famous theatre and opera director Dalia Ibelhauptaitė are always in great demand.
of city life
Photo by Tomas Tumalovičius
The joys
Europa Business and Shopping Centre
High quality modern entertainment
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fter exploring the cities and their wonderful sights, take a break over a cup of coffee in one of the many pavement and side-street cafés while watching the world go by. After some rest, go shopping, or enjoy a sports game. All this and more can be found in the cities of Lithuania.
Greetings from Hong Kong! What an amazing experience in Vilnius and Siauliai ! People are so friendly there, and I just can’t believe that nightclubs are open until the morning in an Eastern European country! Alex from Hong Kong
Lithuanian National Basketball Team: Šarūnas Jasikevičius
The buzz of city life
Fashion, style and shopping pleasures
A passion for sport
High service and product standards, comfortable hotels, professional guides and all the tourist information required are in place in Lithuania. Days and evenings full of unforgettable impressions await you.
Famous fashion brands, upscale boutiques and bright, friendly and convenient shopping centres are all great enticements to “shop till you drop”. Clothing is widely available by internationally acclaimed Lithuanian designers such as Ramunė Piekautaitė, Julija Žilėnienė, Vida Simanavičiūtė, Aleksandras Pogrebnojus, and Juozas Statkevičius. Statkevičius is the first designer from the Baltic states to present his haut couture collection in Paris. There’s also an abundance of jewellery to buy with amber and countless other precious stones.
You may have heard how passionate we are about our athletes. Many medals have been won by our world-class athletes in the spheres of track and field, cycling and basketball. If you feel like enjoying a high-level sports game, you are welcome to see one in Lithuania. A basketball match is particularly recommended. Basketball in Lithuania is like a second religion that leaves no one indifferent.
In the evenings you may opt for live jazz, blues, rock music or any of a variety of other contemporary or classical styles. Lithuania has it all, virtually every night of the week, as well as nightclubs that feature some of the best international DJs. Labas!
Collection by Juozas Statkevičius
Since 1922, when the first basketball match took place in Lithuania, Lithuanian men’s and women’s basketball teams have reaped impressive rewards. Lithuanian basketball players such as Arvydas Sabonis, Šarūnas Marčiulionis, Jurgita Štreimikytė, and Šarūnas Jasikevičius are stars whose talent is admired by basketball fans all over the world.
Natural
outings
Seaside Bicycle Path
Ventė Cape
On foot or by bicycle, car or kayak
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ithuania boasts of unspoilt natural beauty. Select any type of countryside outing. Five national and thirty regional parks offer pathways for lovers of hiking and cycling, comfortable spots to rest, observation platforms overlooking breathtaking panoramas and also many campsites. For those who relish adventures on water there are kayak tours along fascinating stretches of rivers and lakes.
We chose Lithuania for a weekend break and were absolutely amazed.....loved everything, but its people the most, they are always in such a good spirits:) it was summer when I went there, but after few days of glorious sunshine it started raining, but the Lithuanians I was with didn’t let their spirits down because of it, and went swimming in the lake in the pouring rain! Amazing! Emz (Emyr Thomas) from UK
Canoe Trip
Beauty of unspoilt nature
Peace and adventure on the farmstead
Special attractions for adventurers
The dense ancient forests of Lithuania hide many different types of wildlife including European bison. Valleys and plains with winding rivers and lakes offer the joys of fishing and the country’s exotic marshes are full of unique plants, birds and wild animals. The unique spirit of the past can be experienced in original ethnographic villages in the national parks.
Lithuanians and visitors from abroad are increasingly opting for relaxation at the country’s rural tourism farmsteads. Such destinations invariably offer outdoor, nature-oriented activities and comfortable accommodation. Fully indulge in the beauty of nature. Enjoy fishing, hunting and swimming, go boating, horse riding and hiking. Try out ecological and fresh agricultural products.
If you’re a fan of extreme adventures, you will surely find people like you in Lithuania! They will quickly offer a trip in a hot-air balloon, a glider, a light aircraft or a helicopter. Or perhaps you’d prefer to try parachuting, paintball, extreme go-karting or jeep and quadbike races across sand pits and bogs.
If you like fishing or birdwatching, visit the estuary of the River Nemunas in western Lithuania. Early spring is the best time when villages and farmsteads are often struggling to peak above the flooded plains and flocks of birds travel through here along their migration routes. Ventės Ragas, located on the coast of the Curonian Lagoon, is one of the oldest operating bird ringing stations in Europe.
If your passion is basketball, football, tennis or golf, choose a farmstead that offers facilities for such sports. You will have a pleasant time relaxing since Lithuanians are hospitable, but never pushy.
Or how about going back in time and trying out shooting from Soviet-era guns or a medieval-style bow or exploring the remnants of ancient Lithuanian villages underneath the water in the lakes of Trakai and Plateliai? Many unforgettable adventures can be had while you experience the awesome natural beauty of Lithuania.
The magnificent
amber coast
Curonian Spit, Nida
A symphony of sand, wind and water
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ll Lithuanians love the Baltic coast. At least once a year, everybody travels there to experience the sight of relentless waves breaking along the coast, look for a piece of amber, feel a handful of white sand, or simply rest and enjoy their leisure time.
For me, the highlight of a visit to Lithuania has always been the Curonian Spit. Weather never matters there. I have seen it during a storm, when lightening turns night into day. I have seen it in mid-winter, covered in snow and offering the temptation of walking across the lagoon on the ice. Neil Taylor, UK
Palanga
Palanga — holidays forever
Hospitable Klaipėda
The mesmerising Curonian Spit
No matter when you visit the seaside resort of Palanga, it will definitely impress you. The town offers white sand beaches, fresh pine woods and many attractions: jet skis, kite surfing, peddalos, fishing, horse riding, tennis courts and swimming pools. The EuroVelo 10 (EV 10) cycling track stretches right the way along this gorgeous coastline.
Klaipėda, a port and commercial city located just to the south of Palanga, is the largest city in western Lithuania. Many commercial and cruise ships dock in Klaipėda. Concerts, trade fairs and excursions are offered to city guests. Among the many attractions is the Sea Museum, located within impressive 19th century fortifications. Apart from its many atmospheric display tanks of exotic fish the museum offers daily performances by trained dolphins and sea lions.
The Curonian Spit features one of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe and is inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage list. The unique resort of Neringa connects the lovely fishing villages of Juodkrantė, Preila, Pervalka and Nida, stretching 50 kilometres along the spit. Neringa is a place well loved not just by families on holiday but also by sailors, yachtsmen, kite surfers and paragliders. The Nobel Prize winner Thomas Mann spent several summers in Nida in the 1920s and 30s. You can visit the house where he stayed.
In the evening, take a walk through the peaceful botanical garden surrounding the former manor house of the noble Tiškevičius family. The Amber Museum is located inside the mansion. The majestic building also hosts evening concerts on the terrace. In central Palanga, Basanavičius Street is lined with restaurants, cafés, nightclubs and casinos. Crowds of people walk along this street to the 500-metre long Palanga pier to see the sunset.
All visitors are mesmerised by the sand dunes of Nida. Breathtaking views open up from the crests of these white mountains of sand that tower over Nida, across green patches of pines, the peaceful Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea. There is the feeling here that you are listening to a symphony of wind, sand and water.
Luxurious
spas
Aquapark in Vilnius
Retreats for beauty, spirit and good health
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nique mineral water springs, modern spas, comfortable hotels, natural surroundings, a sprawling water park and regular cultural and sports events are on offer for visitors to Birštonas and Druskininkai, the spa resorts of Lithuania. Both are located in southern Lithuania where the Nemunas, the biggest river in Lithuania, makes a series of huge loops before it turns towards the sea.
I LOVE LITHUANIA; I love Vilnius I never get lost there!!! I’ve been to Lithuania twice already, at first I didn’t know what to expect, but what we found there was a true surprise! We didn’t expect that part of the world to be so beautiful and interesting...I love Vilnius, which is very cosy and clean.... Paddy Nicholson from UK
River Merkys
Paradise for active leisure
Health, beauty and revitalisation
Wonderful natural surroundings
The spa resorts of Lithuania also offer various types of entertainment and active leisure. Many regular cultural and sports events take place in Birštonas and Druskininkai, including a jazz music festival, hot-air balloon fiestas, motorboat racing, strong man competitions, exhibitions, concerts, leisure boat tours and a brand new water park that opened in Druskininkai in 2006 and is known as one of the best equipped parks in Europe.
In the 15–16th centuries, the area of Birštonas and Druskininkai was the location where the rulers of Lithuania used to relax and go hunting. As early as the 19th century, research of the area’s local natural mineral water springs showed that they were similar to those of Europe’s most famous resort springs and that treatments with the curative mineral muds had powerful revitalising qualities.
Birštonas and Druskininkai also offer opportunities to indulge in nature. Breathe in the fresh and soothing aroma of pines and enjoy the ancient hill forts, ethnographic villages and panoramic vistas in the loops in the Nemunas River.
Guests of Druskininkai and Birštonas, about half of whom are from outside Lithuania, say that the wonderful natural surroundings and fresh air stimulate their health and beauty no less than the wonderful spa treatments.
Today, the Birštonas and Druskininkai treatment facilities and beauty salons use state-of-the-art health and beauty treatments. The water, mud and salt used in the treatments are supplemented with natural herbs, oils and honey. The beauty centres offer excellent massages and the best natural cosmetics to pamper your face, body and hair.
Visit the settlement of Liškiava, famous for its picturesque hill fort dating from the 14th–15th century and its church and monastery complex dating from the end of the 17th century. Visit Merkinė to experience the majestic sight of the confluence of the Merkys and Nemunas rivers from its hill fort.
Feasts
all year round
Song Festival
Combining old traditions and modern entertainment
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ll the annual holidays in Lithuania are marked by traditional celebrations that combine elements of old Baltic mythology, folk traditions and modern entertainment. Many of the participants wear national costumes. The most authentic celebrations that follow old traditions are held at Rumšiškės, an impressive open-air museum showing the varying lifestyles of different parts of Lithuania before the industrial era.
We visited Vilnius for the very happy occasion of our dear friends’ wedding and have a wonderful and lasting memory of the hospitality we were shown by the amazing people we met. There was a great atmosphere in the clubs, bars and restaurants (the Lithuanians of all ages party harder and better than any people we’ve met!) On top of that, the weather was fantastic for our visit. We can’t wait to go again one day! Saira Sinclair, UK
Spring holidays Singing “Winter, winter, leave my yard!”, Lithuanians celebrate a jolly Shrovetide holiday that announces the victory of spring over winter. This is the time, of course, when pancakes are the order of the day. A week before Easter is Palm Sunday. On that day all of Vilnius “blossoms” with flower arrangements. This is because the district of Vilnius is famous for its unique “palms” made of dried flowers and sold on Palm Sunday at the palm market. Another regular spring holiday is Casimir’s Fair (Kaziukas Fair), held in Vilnius and dating back to the 17th century. The Old Town streets become a marketplace that highlights crafts made from wood, metal, ceramics and textiles produced by Lithuanian artisans. Lively music played in the streets by folk musicians and hearty national dishes and drinks that tempt the palate add to the atmosphere of frivolity and excitement. Then, during the last week of May, the exuberant international folklore festival “Skamba skamba kankliai” has been taking place in Vilnius for over 30 years.
Coronation of King Mindaugas
Summer holidays
Autumn and winter holidays
Ancient pagan magic accompanies celebrations marking the shortest night of the year — the Summer Solstice (Midsummer’s Eve or St John’s Eve). On the evening of June 23 to the morning of June 24, the customs revive of lighting large bonfires or cressets, singing songs, dancing ritual dances and telling fortunes.
In autumn, Lithuanians and visitors to Lithuania celebrate the Capital Days festival. Then, at the end of September, Lithuanians mark the autumn equinox. It is then that candles are lit on the banks of the River Neris in Vilnius, bringing a spiritual fascination and special atmosphere to everyone.
July 6 is a national holiday — the Coronation of Mindaugas, King of Lithuania. The most vibrant celebration of this day takes place in Kernavė, the medieval capital of Lithuania, and features days of “live archaeology” in which you can get hands-on experience of how our ancestors cooked, treated furs, worked with amber, melted iron ore and made coins and tools. The festival also offers a performance of knights fighting. Every four years, a Song Festival takes place in Vilnius. The Baltic region’s song and dance celebrations are on the UNESCO list of the intangible heritage of humanity. Every year, the port city of Klaipėda hosts the Sea Festival.
Christmas and New Year celebrations complete the holidays of the year and offer many events and surprises that contribute to the festive mood and bring joy to people’s hearts. The month-long Christmas season continues until the parties of the Twelfth Night holiday. In Vilnius, the march through the Old Town of the Three Wise Men and a spectacular performance occur.
Gourmet
pleasures Cold beet soup, cepelinai and beer While in Lithuania you must try cepelinai and cold beet soup. These are the most popular dishes of Lithuania’s national cuisine. Cold beet soup is made from sour cream, kefir, beets, cucumbers and boiled eggs and is served with hot boiled potatoes. It is a popular dish in summer and is available at most eateries. Cepelinai is a zeppelin-shaped meal made from grated potatoes and stuffed with meat, cottage cheese, carrots and other fillings. It takes a few hours to prepare the dish and it is typically served with cold beer. Over 200 types of beer are available in Lithuania.
Pride of ethnic regions There are five ethnic regions in Lithuania and each has its own traditional foods. Aukštaitija (the north-eastern and eastern part of Lithuania) is famous for its soups and dishes made from flour. Wooded Dzūkija (south-eastern Lithuania) boasts various mushroom dishes and dried or cold-smoked sausage with the flavour of juniper berries and special herbs. The most famous product of Suvalkija (the southern and south-western part of Lithuania) is skilandis (pig stomach stuffed with minced meat). This area is also known for its savoury roast duck stuffed with cherries, boiled tench served with apple sauce and apple cheese.
L’Ambra Rossa restaurant, Palanga
From traditional bread to international delicacies
L
ithuanians love to tuck into good, wholesome food. The most popular of the Lithuanian staples are black bread, cottage cheese, cold beet soup, cepelinai, potato sausages, žagarėliai (“twig biscuits”) and šakotis (“tree cake”). The tree cake is a great souvenir to take back home.
Žemaitija (the north-western part of Lithuania) is the area where kastinis, a fresh and savoury dish, is prepared and served with boiled potatoes. On special occasions crabs boiled in beer, beef stewed in beer and roast duck covered in honey and stuffed with hazelnuts are served. A small area near the Nemunas estuary and the Curonian Lagoon called Lithuania Minor is, naturally enough, known for its fish dishes. This area adjacent to the sea offers such delicacies as smoked halibut and eel.
Exclusive offers Food from the various cuisines of the world including Italian, French, Chinese and Japanese, is widely available in Lithuania and will certainly satisfy gourmet palates. Choose whatever you prefer — a cellar bar for chilling out or a place in the sun, a café frequented by young artists, a country inn offering the national cuisine or an upmarket restaurant. Whatever your preference, you will enjoy the many culinary delights Lithuania has to offer.