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Lituania

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_________History Edit This The earliest evidence of inhabitants in present-day Lithuania dates back to 10 000 BC. Between 3 000-2 000 BC the cord-ware culture people spread over a vast region of Eastern Europe between the Baltic Sea and the Vistula River in the west and the Moscow-Kursk line in the east. Merging with the indigenous population they gave rise to the Balts a distinct Indo-European ethnic group whose descendants are the present-day Lithuanian and Latvian nations and the now extinct Prussians. The first written mention of Lithuania occurs in 1009 AD although many centuries earlier the Roman historian Tacitus referred to the Lithuanians as excellent farmers. Spurred by the expansion into the Baltic lands of the Germanic monastic military orders (the Order of the Knights of the Sword and the Teutonic Order) Duke Mindaugas united the lands inhabited by the Lithuanians the Samogitians Yotvingians and Couranians into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) in the 1230s and 40s. In 1251 Mindaugas adopted Catholicism and was crowned King of Lithuania on July 6 1253; a decade later civil war erupted upon his assassination until a ruler named Vitenis defeated the Teutonic Knights and restored order. From 1316-41 Vitenis' brother and successor Grand Duke Gediminas expanded the empire as far as Kiev against the Tartars and Russians. He twice attempted to adopt Christianity in order to end the GDL's political and cultural isolation from Western Europe. To that purpose he invited knights merchants and artisans to settle in Lithuania and wrote letters to Pope John XXII and European cities maintaining that the Teutonic Order's purpose was to conquer lands rather than spread Christianity. Gediminas' dynasty ruled the GDL until 1572. In the 1300s through the early 1400s the Lithuanian state expanded eastward. During the rule of Grand Duke Algirdas (1345-77) Lithuania almost doubled in size and achieved major victories over the Teutonic and Livonian Orders at the Battles of Saule (1236) and Durbe (1260). However backed by the Pope and the Catholic West European countries the Orders continued their aggression which greatly intensified in the 2nd half of the 14th century. During the period Algirdas' brother Kestutis (Grand Duke in 1381-82) distinguished himself as the leader of the struggle against the Teutonic Order. The ongoing struggle precipitated the 1385 Kreva Union signed by the Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila (ruled in 1377-81 and 1382-92) and the Queen of Poland Jadwyga. Jogaila (Jagiello) married Jadwyga in 1386 and became the King of Poland. One of the conditions of the union was Lithuania's conversion to Christianity (1387) which intensified Lithuania's economic and cultural development orienting it towards the West. The conversion invalidated the claims by the Teutonic Order and temporarily halted its wars against Lithuania. Lithuania's independence under the union with Poland was restored by Grand Duke Vytautas. During his rule (1392-1430) the GDL turned into one of the largest states in Europe encompassing present-day Belarus most of Ukraine and the Smolensk region of western Russia. Led by Jogaila and Vytautas the united Polish-Lithuanian army defeated the Teutonic Order in the Battle of Tannenberg (Gruenwald or Zalgiras) in 1410 terminating the medieval Germanic drive eastward. The 16th century witnessed a number of wars against the growing Russian state over the Slavic lands ruled by the GDL. Coupled with the need for an ally in those wars the wish of the middle and petty gentry to obtain more rights already granted to the Polish feudal lords drew Lithuania closer to Poland. The Union of Lublin in 1569 united Poland and Lithuania into a commonwealth in which the highest power belonged to the Sejm of the nobility and its elected King who was also the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Mid-16th century land reform strengthened serfdom and yet promoted the development of agriculture owing to the introduction of a regular three-field rotation system. The 16th century saw a more rapid development of agriculture growth of towns spread of ideas of humanism and the Reformation book printing the emergence of Vilnius University in 1579 and the Lithuanian Codes of Law (the Statutes of Lithuania) which stimulated the development of culture both in Lithuania and in neighboring countries. The rising domination of the big magnates the 16-18th century wars against Russia and Sweden over Livonia Ukraine and Byelorussia weakened the Polish-Lithuanian Republic. The end of the 18th century witnessed three divisions of the Commonwealth by Russia Prussia and Austria; in 1795 most of Lithuania became part of the Russian Empire. Attempts to restore independence in the uprisings of 1794 1830-31 and 1863 were suppressed and followed by a tightened police regime increasing Russification the closure of Vilnius University in 1832 and the 1864 ban on the printing of Lithuanian books in traditional Roman characters. Because of his proclamation of liberation and self-rule many Lithuanians gratefully volunteered for the French Army when Napoleon occupied Kaunas in 1812 during the fateful invasion of Russia. After the war Russia imposed extra taxes on Catholic landowners and enserfed an increasing number of peasants. A market economy slowly developed with the abolition of serfdom in 1861. Lithuanian farmers grew stronger contributing to an increase in the number of intellectuals of peasant origin which led to the growth of a Lithuanian national movement. In German-ruled Lithuania Minor (Königsberg or Kaliningrad) Lithuanian publications were printed in large numbers and then smuggled into Russian-ruled Lithuania. The most outstanding leaders of the national liberation movement were J. Basanavicius and V. Kudirka. The ban on the Lithuanian press finally was lifted in 1904. During WW I the German army occupied Lithuania in 1915 and the occupation administration allowed a Lithuanian Conference to convene in Vilnius in September 1917. The Conference adopted a resolution demanding the restoration of an independent Lithuanianstate and elected the Lithuanian Council a standing body chaired by Antanas Smetona. On February 16 1918 the Council declared Lithuania's independence. 1919-20 witnessed Lithuania's War for Independence against three factions: the Red Army which in 1919 controlled territory ruled by a Bolshevist government headed by V. Kapsukas; the Polish army; and the Bermondt army composed of Russian and German troops under the command of the Germans. Lithuania failed to regain the Polish-occupied Vilnius region. In the Moscow Treaty of July 12 1920 Russia recognized Lithuanian independence and renounced all previous claims to it. The Seimas (parliament) of Lithuania adopted a constitution on August 1 1922 declaring Lithuania a parliamentary republic and in 1923 Lithuania annexed the Klaipeda region the northern part of Lithuania Minor. By then most countries had recognized Lithuanian independence. After a military coup on December 17 1926 Nationalist party leader Antanas Smetona became President and gradually introduced an authoritarian regime. Lithuania's borders posed its major foreign policy problem. Poland's occupation (1920) and annexation (1922) of the Vilnius region strained bilateral relations and in March 1939 Germany forced Lithuania to surrender the Klaipeda region (the Nürnberg trials declared the treaty null and void). Radical land reform in 1922 considerably reduced the number of estates promoted the growth of small and middle farms and boosted agricultural production and exports especially livestock. In particular light industry and agriculture successfully adjusted to the new market situation and developed new structures. The interwar period gave birth to a comprehensive system of education with Lithuanian as the language of instruction and the development of the press literature music arts and theater. On August 23 1939 the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact pulled Lithuania first into German influence until the Soviet-German agreement of September 28 1939 brought Lithuania under Soviet domination. Soviet pressure and a complicated international situation forced Lithuania to sign an agreement with the USSR on October 10 1939 by which Lithuania was given back the city of Vilnius and the part of Vilnius region seized by the Red Army during the Soviet-Polish war; in return some 20 000 Soviet soldiers were deployed in Lithuania. On June 14 1940 the Soviet Government issued an ultimatum to Lithuania demanding the formation of a new Lithuanian government and permission to station additional Red Army troops. Lithuania succumbed to the Soviet demand and 100 000 Soviet troops moved into the country the next day. Arriving in Kaunas the Soviet government's special envoy began implementing the plan for Lithuania's incorporation into the U.S.S.R. On June 17 the alleged People's Government headed by J. Paleckis was formed; rump parliamentary elections one month later were held whereupon Lithuania was proclaimed a Soviet Socialist Republic on August 3. Totalitarian rule was established Sovietization of the economy and culture began and Lithuanian state employees and public figures were arrested and exiled to Russia. During the mass deportation campaign of June 14-18 1941 about 7 439 families (12 600 people) were deported to Siberia without investigation or trial; 3 600 people were imprisoned and over 1 000 massacred. Lithuanian revolt against the U.S.S.R. soon followed the outbreak of the war against Germany in 1941. Via Radio Kaunas on June 23 the rebels declared the restoration of Lithuania's independence and actively operated a Provisional Government without German recognition from June 24 to August 5. Lithuania became part of the German occupational administrative unit of Ostland. People were repressed and taken to forced labor camps in Germany. The Nazis and local collaborators deprived Lithuanian Jews of their civil rights and massacred about 200 000 of them. Together with Soviet partisans supporters of independence put up a resistance movement to deflect Nazi recruitment of Lithuanians to the German army. Forcing the Germans out of Lithuania by 1944 the Red Army reestablished control and Sovietization continued with the arrival of Communist party leaders to create a local party administration. The mass deportation campaigns of 1941-52 exiled 29 923 families to Siberia and other remote parts of the Soviet Union. Official statistics state that over 120 000 people were deported from Lithuania during this period while Lithuanian sources estimate the number of political prisoners and deportees at 300 000. In response to these events an estimated several ten thousand resistance fighters participated in unsuccessful guerilla warfare against the Soviet regime from 1944-53. As a measure for integration and industrial development Soviet authorities encouraged immigration of other Soviet workers especially Russians. Until mid-1988 all political economical and cultural life was controlled by the Lithuanian Communist Party (LCP). First Secretary Antanas Snieckus ruled the LCP from 1940-74. The LCP in turn was responsible to the Communist party of the U.S.S.R. In 1947 Lithuanians comprised only 18% of total party membership in 1947 and continued to represent a minority until 1958; by 1986 they made up 70% of the party's 197 000-strong body. During the Khrushchev thaw in the 1950s the leadership of the LCP acquired limited independence in decision-making. The political and economic crisis that began in the U.S.S.R. in the mid-1980s also affected Lithuania and Lithuanians as well as other Balts offered active support to Gorbachev's program of social and political reforms. Under the leadership of intellectuals the Lithuanian reform movement Sajudis was formed in mid-1988 and declared a program of democratic and national rights winning nation-wide popularity. On Sajudis' demand the Lithuanian Supreme Soviet passed constitutional amendments on the supremacy of Lithuanian laws over Soviet legislation annulled the 1940 decisions on proclaiming Lithuania a part of the U.S.S.R. legalized a multi-party system and adopted a number of other important decisions. A large number of LCP members also supported the ideas of Sajudis and with Sajudis support Algirdas Brazauskas was elected First Secretary of the Central Committee of the LCP in 1988. In December 1989 the Brazauskas-led LCP split from the CPSU and became an independent party renaming itself in 1990 the Lithuanian Democratic Labor Party. In 1990 Sajudis-backed candidates won the elections to the Lithuanian Supreme Soviet. On March 11 1990 its chairman Vytautas Landsbergis proclaimed the restoration of Lithuanian independence formed a new Cabinet of Ministers headed by Kazimiera Prunskiene and adopted the Provisional Fundamental Law of the state and a number of by-laws. The U.S.S.R. demanded to revoke the act and began employing political and economic sanctions against Lithuania as well as demonstrating military force. On January 10 1991 U.S.S.R. authorities seized the central publishing house and other premises in Vilnius and unsuccessfully attempted to overthrow the elected government by sponsoring a local "National Salvation Committee." Three days later the Soviets forcibly took over the TV tower killing 14 civilians and injuring 700. During the national plebiscite on February 9 91% of those who took part in the voting (76% of all eligible voters) voted in favor of an independent democratic Lithuania. Led by the tenacious Landsbergis Lithuania's leadership continued to seek Western diplomatic recognition of its independence. Soviet military-security forces continued forced conscription occasional seizure of buildings attacking customs posts and sometimes killing customs and police officials. During the August 19 coup against Gorbachev Soviet military troops took over several communications and other government facilities in Vilnius and other cities but returned to their barracks when the coup failed. The Lithuanian government banned the Communist Party and ordered confiscation of its property. Despite Lithuania's achievement of complete independence sizable numbers of Russian forces remained on its territory. Withdrawal of those forces was one of Lithuania's top foreign policy priorities. Lithuania and Russia signed an agreement on September 8 1992 calling for Russian troop withdrawals by August 31 1993 which now have been completed in full despite unresolved issues such as Lithuania's compensation claims. ____________Currency The local currency is the Lithuanian Litas (LTL) [Add Practical address] tax cabs Edit This The best way of getting a taxi in Vilnius is dialing one of the short numbers 1411, 1444, 1421, etc. If you take a taxi cab in the street, probably you will have to pay double price for your trip. (If you are in a hurry - just find a cab and dial a number shown on the side of the car - you are usualy told to get inside it, and you save some money) type: Money matters World66 rating: [rate it] ___________People Edit This Population: 3 600 158 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 376 034; female 360 446) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1 155 733; female 1 238 671) 65 years and over: 13% (male 159 526; female 309 748) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: -0.45% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 10.57 births/1 000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 12.94 deaths/1 000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: -2.09 migrant(s)/1 000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 14.75 deaths/1 000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.83 years male: 62.76 years female: 75.21 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 82.6% Russian 6.7% Polish 7% Byelorussian 1.6% other 2.1% Religions: primarily Roman Catholic others include Lutheran Russian Orthodox Protestant evangelical Christian Baptist Islam Judaism Languages: Lithuanian (official) English Polish Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1989 est.) ___________Festivals Edit This Add Lithuania festivals below Contributors August 05, 2005 change by reen [Add Festival] Baltic Prog Fest Edit This International Progressive Rock festival World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.balticprogfest.com date: July 25th - 26th address: Arvydo Sodyba, Kernave Akaciju aleja Edit This Lithuanian traditional song contest... World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 8 37 543223 url: www.akacijualeja.lt address: hhttp://www.akacijualeja.lt/ email: kulautuva-sen@takas.lt :::::::::::::::Alytus Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Alytus is the sixth largest city of Lithuania. Abundant with forests and verdurous hills Alytus is divided by a 16 km winding of the Nemunas River. The lands of Alytus are spread on the both banks of Nemunas River. The river divides the town into right bank town (The First Alytus) and the left bank town (The Second Alytus). It is said that Alytus is named after the runlet Alytupis that runs by the mound side. The first Alytus was mentioned in 1377 in the written historical chronicles. After the seven years the detailed route to Alytus castle is described in Teutonic “The Description of Lithuanian Roads”, this castle defended the main roads to Trakai and Vilnius from crusaders. Eventually the castle developed into the township. In 1581, the 15th of June the King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania Steponas Batoras announced a privilege according to which Magdeburg law gave Alytus the city rights. Together with city rights Alytus got its coat of arm and self-governance. More than 1000 town-dwellers lived then, a great many of them went into trade typical for the town-dwellers of that time – artisans, innkeepers and tradesmen. Alytus owned market place with buildings for tradesmen and artisans, Church and the Town Hall were built, and fairs took place. Time and again the armies converged on the town, it was destroyed by fire, a plague killed hundreds of people, and hence it did not avoid our country political and historical events. In the XIX century Alytus town became the fortress of the thirds grade, and therefore the three barracks and three bridges were built, strongholds were mound, the roads were paved. Both parts of Alytus divided by the river Nemunas were united into one administrative unit and the town got the status of the centre of the region during the World War I and the German occupation. After Lithuanian’s Independence, the town has started a new period of its existence – Alytus became the county town and the cultural and educational centre of Dzukija region. In 1932 the town was declared the resort. Only few old buildings remain, because during the first days of the World War II, the downtown was severely ruined. Nowadays the town is proud of its traditions, culture, the impressive and unique landscape and its hospitable and sincere people. Alytus is one of the youngest cities in Lithuania according to the age of the population – 21,4 % of population is young people among the 70,000 people. There are 40 nursery schools, secondary schools, vocational training colleges, colleges of music and art, workmanship schools, various trades are taught in the Youth centre. The only non-university Southern Lithuanian higher educational institution – Alytus College is also established in Alytus. During II World War Germans murdered some 60 thousand Jews in Alytus. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: www.alytus-tourism.lt ::::::::Palanga Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Baltic Sea Sunset Baltic Sea Sunset Batvinas [space] www.space.666.lt Beautiful resort on the Baltic sea coast. Close to Klaipeda city. Distance from Klaipeda - 29 km. Palanga is climatic, balneogical and mud-therapy beach resort by the Baltic Sea. First inhabitants settled on the present territory of Palanga as early as the 3rd - 2nd millenia B.C. In historical records Palanga was mentioned for the first time in 1161. In the 15th to 17th centuries it was Lithuania's main port. In 1710 it was destroyed by the Swedish army. In the 19th century Palanga was already a popular summer resort. The town is streached along the sea coast, its streets and houses alternating with parks and pine free forest. The coastline, extending for over 10 kilometers, makes one huge sandy beach. With twice as many sunny days a year as Lithuania's average, Palanga attracts about 5000,000 holiday - makers every season, lasting from May to September. The Palanga Botanical Park, designed for Count Tiskevicius by the French architect E. Andre and the Belgian dendrologist B. de Colonne, boasts over 300 plant species and is considered to be one of Lithuania's most beautiful and richest botanica gardens. Another attraction of the park is the Tsikevicius Manor House with nowadays houses the Amber Museum. Amber, populary known as Lithuanian gold, can still be found on the shore of the Baltic Sea. The Amber Museum has a unique collection of amber, illustrating its 40 million years - old story. :::::::::Panevezys Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo_9 One can find attractive and mysterious places in every city. A guest in Panevežys will really find some places to admire. Individuality and comfort of the city will be felt. Many details of the city have connections with the past. The past and the present verge in the centre of Panevežys. Interesting fact to mention is that the inhabitants of Panevežys were the oldest pagans in Europe . In 1414 when all Lithuania had already been baptised altar was burning and the priests were making sacrifices to the old Lithuanian Gods in the present place of the Old River Bed. Nowadays granite monument of Alexander , the Great Duke of Lithuania and the King of Poland overlooks in the settings of panorama of the Old River . On its palm, it gently swings St. Peter and Paul’s Church – the descendant of the oldest Christian shrine of the city. One more trace is imprinted in the Old River Bed. Between the period of the Ist and the II nd World Wars Panevežys was famous for the mills. Here, the water mill of 1848, nowadays reconstructed into luxurious hotel ROMANTIC, survived. The most favourite place for rest and various festivals is the Old River Bed- it is like a visiting card of the city, which could prove the fact that for many years Panevežys has been a cosy and green city. Various sculptures make the Old River Bed livelier. The building of J. Miltinis Drama Theatre is just several steps ahead from the Old River Bed. Juozas Miltinis, the legendary stage director and his students- the actors has provided Panevežys with the special aura and brought honour that is felt even nowadays. The seeds of the theatre, which were put in Panevežys several decades ago, have brought the plants of different arts. A unique Puppet Wagon Theatre visiting the remotest Lithuanian towns and villages in summer is established in the city. The Director Antanas Markuckis has been awarded a prestigious prize of a well-known Danish fairy teller H. Ch. Andersen. This prize is also known as the little Nobel prize. The visitor of the city will be curious to see the unique theatre where fantastic puppets live, the café is functioning in a small wagon of narrow gauge railway and the collection of handprints of noble guests is exhibited. Nearby there is theatre MENAS . In front of it the figure of the great world dreamer and humanist Don Kichot created by the sculptor Henrikas Orakauskas is presented. The sculpture of Don Kichot was made of copper, brass, bronze in accordance to archaic engravings. The butterflies of coloured glass symbolise fragility of human being. J. Masiulis bookshop located in the building of interesting architecture has centuries-old history connected with the name of Lithuanian book smugglers. Close to it, the Photography Gallery is situated. It is the centre of photo artists famous in Lithuania and abroad. Photo artists create interesting projects, publish the photo albums, and prepare photo albums. At hand, there is the Art Gallery , which has accumulated treasures of ceramic works. Some of the works are presented in the exhibition. Panevežys is often called the Mecca of ceramic artists. 129 artists from 30 countries have created in 15 symposia. The Ethnography Museum is famous for the collection of world insects. It is one of the biggest in Lithuania . Dropping in to the glassworks of GLASSREMIS the guests of the city can admire not only fantastic works but also see by their own eyes the production of them. If one is tired of arts, it is worthwhile to sit in one of the cosiest cafes in Laisves square, the heart of the city. Fountains, passers-by can be watched. You can sit and listen to music in the so-called singing square for 24 hours. If you are lucky, you can listen to live music as Brass Orchestra GARSAS rather frequently organises various projects in the open air. It is worth while mentioning that Panevežys is the centre of the Baltic Region, the capital of Aukštaitija Ethnographic Region, the most Lithuanian city where 96 per cent of residents out of 119 000 are Lithuanians. The fifth largest city of the country is situated on the both banks of the river Nevežis and is midway between two Baltic capitals- Vilnius and Riga . VIA BALTICA highway crosses the city and helps to develop industry, promotes investments. The city is sometimes called the capital of bicycles and is famous for champions and well- developed bicycle paths, which make about 100 kilometres. If you want to make fun, it is worthwhile to come to the city festivals. The championships of Ultra Triathlon, car rally and car cross are worth seeing. Those who adore naturalism can find plenty of ecological products and hand made works in the market of Panevežys The city is longing for guests. Please, come and visit us. You are always welcome in Panevežys!ùù :::::::::::Panevezys Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo_9 One can find attractive and mysterious places in every city. A guest in Panevežys will really find some places to admire. Individuality and comfort of the city will be felt. Many details of the city have connections with the past. The past and the present verge in the centre of Panevežys. Interesting fact to mention is that the inhabitants of Panevežys were the oldest pagans in Europe . In 1414 when all Lithuania had already been baptised altar was burning and the priests were making sacrifices to the old Lithuanian Gods in the present place of the Old River Bed. Nowadays granite monument of Alexander , the Great Duke of Lithuania and the King of Poland overlooks in the settings of panorama of the Old River . On its palm, it gently swings St. Peter and Paul’s Church – the descendant of the oldest Christian shrine of the city. One more trace is imprinted in the Old River Bed. Between the period of the Ist and the II nd World Wars Panevežys was famous for the mills. Here, the water mill of 1848, nowadays reconstructed into luxurious hotel ROMANTIC, survived. The most favourite place for rest and various festivals is the Old River Bed- it is like a visiting card of the city, which could prove the fact that for many years Panevežys has been a cosy and green city. Various sculptures make the Old River Bed livelier. The building of J. Miltinis Drama Theatre is just several steps ahead from the Old River Bed. Juozas Miltinis, the legendary stage director and his students- the actors has provided Panevežys with the special aura and brought honour that is felt even nowadays. The seeds of the theatre, which were put in Panevežys several decades ago, have brought the plants of different arts. A unique Puppet Wagon Theatre visiting the remotest Lithuanian towns and villages in summer is established in the city. The Director Antanas Markuckis has been awarded a prestigious prize of a well-known Danish fairy teller H. Ch. Andersen. This prize is also known as the little Nobel prize. The visitor of the city will be curious to see the unique theatre where fantastic puppets live, the café is functioning in a small wagon of narrow gauge railway and the collection of handprints of noble guests is exhibited. Nearby there is theatre MENAS . In front of it the figure of the great world dreamer and humanist Don Kichot created by the sculptor Henrikas Orakauskas is presented. The sculpture of Don Kichot was made of copper, brass, bronze in accordance to archaic engravings. The butterflies of coloured glass symbolise fragility of human being. J. Masiulis bookshop located in the building of interesting architecture has centuries-old history connected with the name of Lithuanian book smugglers. Close to it, the Photography Gallery is situated. It is the centre of photo artists famous in Lithuania and abroad. Photo artists create interesting projects, publish the photo albums, and prepare photo albums. At hand, there is the Art Gallery , which has accumulated treasures of ceramic works. Some of the works are presented in the exhibition. Panevežys is often called the Mecca of ceramic artists. 129 artists from 30 countries have created in 15 symposia. The Ethnography Museum is famous for the collection of world insects. It is one of the biggest in Lithuania . Dropping in to the glassworks of GLASSREMIS the guests of the city can admire not only fantastic works but also see by their own eyes the production of them. If one is tired of arts, it is worthwhile to sit in one of the cosiest cafes in Laisves square, the heart of the city. Fountains, passers-by can be watched. You can sit and listen to music in the so-called singing square for 24 hours. If you are lucky, you can listen to live music as Brass Orchestra GARSAS rather frequently organises various projects in the open air. It is worth while mentioning that Panevežys is the centre of the Baltic Region, the capital of Aukštaitija Ethnographic Region, the most Lithuanian city where 96 per cent of residents out of 119 000 are Lithuanians. The fifth largest city of the country is situated on the both banks of the river Nevežis and is midway between two Baltic capitals- Vilnius and Riga . VIA BALTICA highway crosses the city and helps to develop industry, promotes investments. The city is sometimes called the capital of bicycles and is famous for champions and well- developed bicycle paths, which make about 100 kilometres. If you want to make fun, it is worthwhile to come to the city festivals. The championships of Ultra Triathlon, car rally and car cross are worth seeing. Those who adore naturalism can find plenty of ecological products and hand made works in the market of Panevežys The city is longing for guests. Please, come and visit us. You are always welcome in Panevežys! ::::::::::::::Siauliai Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see hill of crosses hill of crosses kris Siauliai is the city of famous cultural traditions and hundreds of legends. Sometimes it is a little strange and unusual but it is always hospitable, intriguing, willing to surprise its guests. It is a city the life of which may be compared with a person’s life. It has its biography, its face, character, mode of life and place. The city is built on the busy crossroad of the Baltic highways. It is the cultural and industrial center of northern Lithuania. Throughout all its history the city was on fire for 7 times, there was plague here 7 times too, wars devastated it 7 times too. Siauliai doesn’t have an old town, however, there is an old street network left and a renaissance style St Peter and Paul Cathedral. Let us look at Siauliai through time. The oldest clock of the city is on the southern side of St Peter and Paul Cathedral wall, which shows exact local time. Solar Clock Square remembers historical events because the Solar Battle was very important for the whole Lithuania. The square makes sense of meaning of three symbols, which are connected to the birth of the city, its history and name: the sun, the shot and time. The square and the sculpture were built to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the city. One can also see Frenkelis Palace in the city. Walking up the Vilnius street, so called walking street, one can admire small city sculptures. Siauliai is the city, which was rebuilt anew several times. However, it has expanded, changed and became more beautiful. Cultural life also developed as the city grew bigger. Now the cultural life is intense, various festivals and exhibitions are being held. Visitors of the city are surprised at the vitality of Siauliai cultural life. Many visitors are attracted to Siauliai during the traditional occasional events of the City Days. After having a walk in the main walking street – Vilnius street, in the very center, one could find bicycle museum, a photography museum, a radio and television museum, there is a water tower museum in the water tower. In the town is established one of the most unusual museums, the cats’. “Ausra” ethnographic museum is interesting and rich. There is a yacht club in the city. Brewery “Gubernija”, which was established in 1786, invites to taste five brands of beer in the city of the sun. Siauliai citizens as well as the guests of the city may taste not only beer, but also “Ruta” chocolates, and “Naujoji Ruta” caramels. Let us fall in love with Siauliai and all its corners, yards, busy streets, let us fall in love with all the citizens of Siauliai because it welcomes everybody and doesn’t cast away anybody. Near the city Siauliai, 7 km's to the north, is the famous Hill of Crosses. On this hill are 100.000's of crosses collected. It is an expression of catholicism what has been the reason it has been destroyed in the Soviet times. But people didn't stop bringing crosses to the hill. _________Getting There Edit This The old Siauliai railway The old Siauliai railway unkown [Add Global transport mode] Going by train Edit This The best way to go to Siauliai, if you don not have a car, is by Rail. There is one main railway which crosses all the country from the East to the West side including such towns as Vilnius, Kedainiai, Jonava, Radviliskis, Siauliai, Telsiai, Plunge and then Klaipeda(the last station near the sea).All in all the length is 376km and it tooks 5 hours. Train goes three times a day all the week. From Vilnius 7:00,17:00,23:00 and another from Klaipeda 6:55,17:05,21:35. Siauliai is in the middle of their way.From Vilnius it tooks about three hours, from Klaipeda more.. type: By Rail World66 rating: [rate it] ::::::::::Vilnius Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Europa Shoping center- most modern Building in Batlic States Europa Shoping center- most modern Building in Batlic States Andrius Douglas Vilnius is the capital city of Lithuania. It is situated 300 km East of the Baltic seashore at the confluence of the Neris and Vilnele rivers surrounded by beautiful forested hills. The Total area of Vilnius is 394 sq. km. The highest point of Vilnius is about 230,7 m situated in the eastern part of town, nearby Rokantiskiu settlement. The geographical centre of continental Europe lays in Lithuania, approx. 24 km north of Vilnius. It was calculated by the National Geographical Institute of France in 1989. Vilnius was first mentioned as the capital of Lithuania in 1323, in the letters of the Grand Duke Gediminas to the Roman Pope. An old legend tells us that Grand Duke Gediminas got tired after hunting fell asleep and had a dream. The Iron Wolf was standing on the hilland howling loudly. In the morning Gediminas asked the senior pagan priest what the dream meant. The priest said: "You will build a city at the place where the wolf was howling and the fame of the city will spread as the howling of the wolf. So this was the beginning of Vilnius. But archaeologists say that people were living here as early as the 5th century. Gediminas, the first famous Vilnius ruler, invited craftsmen and educated people from all over Europe to come and enjoy the city and to stay here. Vilnius became one of the largest trade, industrial and cultural centres of Europe in the 16th century. Throughout the ages it used to be one of the major Polish townships. In 1579, Vilnius witnessed the foundation of its university which became the first higher school of thought in the Grand Principality of Lithuania and the whole region. Vilnius developed into a centre of European culture and opened itself to the nations of the East and West. Initially, it was the home of Polish, Jewish and Karaime communities. The houses, squares and churches of Vilnius sustain the spirit of a once-powerful state and its rulers. Though invaded, destroyed and burnt down many times, the town would always recover. Before World War II, over 90% of the population was Polish and Jewish. Today it is about 25% only, but the remains of the old Vilnius culture are still visible thoughout the town. The historical centre of Vilnius, its 360-hectare old city, is among the largest in Eastern Europe. In 1994, the old city, one of the largest ones in Europe, was included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Cities. The city is definitely worth a longer visit.