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Lithuania

Cultural sightseeing in Lithuania. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces

Lithuania is incredibly rich in various historical and cultural attractions. There are two hundred parks, more than fifty reserves, and two and a half thousand lakes in the country. The centuries-old heritage of the country will allow you to plunge into history. The capital of Lithuania can boast with well-preserved religious complexes. In Vilnius, it’s worth to visit the church of St. Anne, which is the most valuable monument. The Gothic church is fascinating; its facade shows incredible patterns formed with several types of bricks. The interior features three altars and a survived antique organ. Vilnius also has a national museum founded in 1855. The exhibition halls feature unique collections of paintings, dishes, coins, and other historical artifacts.
Most of Lithuanian’s territory is covered by plains. The highest point of the country has a height of no more than 300 meters. One of the country's …
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The repeatedly reconstructed World Castle combines Renaissance and Gothic styles. Each new owner sought to bring something new, corresponding to his era. Therefore, construction continued for several centuries. Works began in the 16th century. The fortress in Kaunas is one of the earliest buildings in Lithuania. Constructed in the 14th century, it was virtually destroyed by the Teutonic Order. The fortress was being restored over a long period of time. After the reconstruction, it was decided to open a tourist center in one of the towers. The magnificence of the Cathedral in Vilnius is difficult to describe. The interior of the cathedral impresses with its majesty and beauty. The interior is adorned with paintings and other works of art dating from the 16th and 19th centuries.
A huge number of attractions is concentrated in the ancient city of Klaipeda. One of the most outstanding is the Memel Castle. It was built in the early Middle Ages. The place was not completely preserved, but the architects were able to recreate its original appearance. Since 2002, the castle is used for the exhibition of the Historical Museum. It is impossible not to visit the Old Town during your stay in Klaipeda. Seems that it was created according to sketches of fairy tales. Old houses with tiled roofs are half hidden by vines. Yards are full of flowers. You can easily get lost on the streets, as they are winding and tangly. The city has a lot of amazing museums, including Lithuanian Sea Museum, the Museum of Clocks, a Museum of Lithuania Minor, and a picture gallery of Pranas Domšaitis. A spectacular show with marine mammals is shown in the sea museum. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Lithuania is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea and this factor largely influences the formation of the climatic conditions of the state. Summer …
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In Lithuania, you can visit not only the ancient castles. One of the districts of Kaunas features a unique building consisting of twenty floors. It is shaped like a banknote in one thousand LTL. It was finished in the first half of the 20th century. Its construction was completed in 2008. Since then, it is one of the most prestigious office buildings in the country. This choice of the facade was made not by accident. The banknote reminds all modern entrepreneurs about the old traditions, shows the independence of the country, and the robustness of the Lithuanian economy. The main museum of the city is the M.K. Ciurlionis National Art Museum; it displays avant-garde works of this famous Lithuanian author. There is also the Aviation Museum, the Military Museum of Vytautas the Great, and the Communication History Museum.
Kirche St. Kasimir One of the most recognizable sights of Lithuania is the Curonian Spit. A thin peninsula stretches along the Baltic Sea for a hundred kilometers to the Kaliningrad region. Now, it is occupied by the National Park, which is famous for its Dancing Forest. Not far from the village of Juodkrante, there is a pine forest on a hill. Locals call it the Mountain of Witches. According to a legend, witches have arranged covenants there since ancient times. Even the main hex didn’t miss the opportunity to visit the feast. It’s believed that witches not only frightened people, but also sent hail, drought, bad weather, and also turned people into rocks. In this place, legends acquire a new sound. They cease to be fairy tales and become folk legends passed from generation to generation in each family.
Lithuania guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Lithuania

Reference information
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas in Lithuania
♥   Kristaus Karaliaus katedra, Panevėžys. On the map   Photos
♥   Šv. Apaštalų Petro ir Pauliaus katedra, Šiauliai. On the map   Photos
♥   Kryžių kalnas, Šiauliai. On the map   Photos
Map of all palaces
Palaces in Lithuania
♥   Palace 'Historical Presidential Palace' Kaunas. On the map   Photos
♥   Palace 'Presidential Palace' Vilnius. On the map   Photos
♥   Palace 'Radziwill Palace' Vilnius. On the map   Photos
♥   Palace 'Royal Palace in Vilnius' . On the map   Photos
♥   Palace 'Sapieha Palace in Vilnius' . On the map   Photos
Country maps Maps of Lithuania
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Car rental in Lithuania
Map of cities Cities map of Lithuania

Expo 2020 in Dubai Was Visited by More Than 7 Million Visitors

If you haven’t visited this event yet, there is still time to book a hotel in Dubai because Expo 2020 Dubai runs until 31 March 2022. People who are unable to visit the emirate can make a virtual tour on the Expo 2020 website. By the way, the virtual visitation has already reached 31.6 million by the end of December. Read this

19.03.2024

Top cultural sites of Lithuania: monuments, theaters and churches

Guggenheim Hermitage Museum, Vilnius

Location on the map:   Interesting facts: » American businessman Benjamin Guggenheim and his brother Solomon found the museum of modern art in the USA. Other centers built in other cities are similar to this one.
» The new building is located on the right bank of the Neris River in Vilnius. There is a cultural object on the new embankment, in the midst of skyscrapers of Vilnius City.
» In the Guggenheim Museum, there are several spacious rooms for exhibitions. One of them will serve as a constant exhibition.
» In the museum, you can see various pieces of art, including paintings, sculptures, and installations provided by the Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Russian State Hermitage.
» Architects paid special attention to the place where the exhibition dedicated to the Lithuanian Jews is organized. Most of the 200 thousand people of this nation died in the Second World War. The Center shows respect the dead this way.
» Colorful canvasses of local masters will occupy a special place in the gallery of the Vilnius Guggenheim Museum.
» You can see exhibits of visual art in a total area of 2 000 m2.

Presidential Palace, Vilnius

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» Christianity was adopted in 1387. The palace was built in commemoration of this event.
» A few centuries after, the garden that is notable for diverse flora was planted here.
» At different times, eminent nobles stayed here. There is a preserved engraving of the 19th century depicting the memorable defeat of Napoleon’s army.
» The exterior of the Presidential Palace in the Empire style demonstrates the value of nationhood and power.
» The rooms on the ground floor are well equipped. With it, the architectural style of late classicism has been preserved, as the furniture is primarily of red color.
» The interior of main halls was restored according to the archival data. Historical pieces of furniture have been preserved. The second level of the western part was rebuilt.
» At the weekend, the rite of changing the state flag is held by the honor guard. Soldiers of the patrol wear medieval armors.
» In 1997, the President moved to the new palace.
» The palace is divided into halls: Conference Hall, White Hall for official meetings, Blue Hall for personal meetings, Green Hall for the President and his assistants’ meetings, and the Presidential Room for general meetings.

St. Anne Church, Vilnius

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» The church is named after the Blessed Mother of the Virgin Mary. It was first mentioned in the historical chronicles in 1394.
» The exterior walls are plastered with red clay, which gives an impression that you see bricks of different shapes. Such an architectural style is called “Flamboyant”.
» You can see a stigma on one of the walls but no one has deciphered these signs.
» The length and width of the small rectangular building are 22 m and 10 m correspondingly. The facade is divided into 3 parts. The symmetry of the building is represented by equally tall elegant towers.
» Rectangles with crossing lines stretch from the ledge and create a rope ornament. Their edges depict a hammered vane, a cross and the Sun. There are only eight long lancet windows on the side thin walls. The ceiling is upheld by decorative crescent lance-shaped stone towers.
» The interior is quite modest: light walls without paintings, several icons, and the altar with a wooden cross.
» Napoleon’s Army burnt the wooden utensils during their attack. Although, the Emperor dreamed of “transporting the church to Paris on his palms”.

St. Nicholas Church, Vilnius

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» Originally, the church was used by foreign merchants and craftsmen. It had been built by German architects for 5 years (since 1382).
» According to the documents, it was blessed in 1514.
» Then, a bell tower and a stone fence were built.
» The exterior is quite plain. The small rectangular temple has thick walls of red brick. There are no towers.
» The entrance is made of decorative shaped brick. There are niches of different heights at the sides of the pediment. The cross beam of the window is curved.
» But its interior is rich with lots of moldings and sculptures. At the beginning of the 16th century, the fire damaged the interior.
» In front of the church, there is the statue of St. Christopher with the baby in his hands. The engraving on the pediment depicts the same.
» Four octagonal pillars uphold soffits. They are made of bricks that rounds pillars.
» In the church, there are 3 altars, each of which is decorated with statues of saints. There is the convex statue of the Mother of Sorrows to the right. Sculptures of babies alternate with columns.
» The church is named after St. Nicholas, the Christian patron of sailors and merchants.

St. Peter and St. Paul Church, Vilnius

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» The commander of the Lithuanian troop bequeathed to bury him under the threshold of the church. He built it at his own expense. The construction began in 1668.
» 100 years later, the gravestone was struck by lightning. Then, the Hetman was buried in accordance with the Christian tradition. The ledger was cemented in one of the church stones.
» Italian masters building the church added a pleasing view to the interior by placing over 2 thousand gypsum statues. The white color dominates and provides a sense of the huge space.
» The altar image of the 18 century is special. The painting depicts terrible scenes of the plague. The sculpture of the Death and St. Christopher stands out among other sculptures.
» The big prolonged crystal chandelier is made of fancy metal items. Convex massive bas-reliefs resemble elephants’ heads.
» The church has the shape of the Latin cross. The facade is framed with two towers. The temple resembles a medieval castle with its exterior. Round columns are bulky from below and crowned with patterned molding from above. There is a dome with a lantern above the main entrance.
» The church was named after saint followers of Christ's teachings, Peter and Paul.

St. Teresa Church, Vilnius

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» The church consists of former buildings of the wooden monastery and the chapel. The total area is 84 440 m2.
» Then, the stone church was built at the expense of the nobles in 1630. Marble of different colors, stone, and sandstone from Sweden were used.
» The church was blessed under the name of St. Teresa, the nun who contributed much to the foundation of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. Not to worry about the afflicted, the city authorities invited maidservants and carmelitess.
» When the building was being reconstructed, the architect built a bell tower. Interior and exterior walls, as well as the ceiling, are decorated with picturesque sculptures and frescoes.
» The exterior of the church is asymmetric. There is a three-tier bell tower at one side and temple rooms linked with hallways at the other side.
» There are 9 altars made in different architectural styles and colors inside. They are decorated with gilt and gypsum sculptures. Side altars depict saint apostles.
» Frescoes depict the moments of St. Teresa’s life. One of them shows Teresa with the bleeding heart.
» There are a lot of paintings and even niches with sculptures under the dome.

Vilnius Cathedral, Vilnius

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» The temple of God was built at the site of the Pagan temple, which is reflected in the masonry of the 13th century.
» The nobles were crowned in the old Vilnius Cathedral. The eminent nobles are buried in underground tombs (there are over 20 tombs). Nowadays, public ceremonies are held here.
» Over the years of its existence, the building was repeatedly destroyed in a fire and rebuilt. The cathedral has gained the highest status, a small basilica.
» The facade is upheld by 6 columns. The walls are faced with sandstone and varicoloured marble. The roof is crowned with the statues of St. Stanislav, St. Helen with a gilded cross, and Casimir. They were canonized for their godly deeds. There are gypsum casts of evangelists with animals in the niches.
» You can see drawings of apostles healing the sick above the main entrance. On the pediment, you can see the offering of Noah. The painting depicts the altar with a burning offering and the members of his family at the sides. There are the statues of prophets Abraham and Moses.
» All the installations date back to the end of the 18th century. The interior walls are decorated with frescoes and paintings of the 16th-19th centuries. One of them depicts crucified Jesus.

Culture and monuments in popular cities of Lithuania

Vilnius
Hill of Three Crosses is a truly striking natural attraction. One of the highest hills is the location of a monument that was erected here back in the medieval period. The famous Three Crosses were completely destroyed during the Second World War. The restoration of the monument was completed only in 1989. Today there is a large observation deck next to the monument. This is a great way to see the city in detail. Užupis district is one more place that will be genuinely interesting to visit. On … Read more
Palanga
The museum is housed in the Tyszkiewicz Palace which is the most significant architectural landmark of the city. The Count Tyszkiewicz was given a title of Honorary Citizen of Palanga in 1997. A development of port area the beauty of which stuns the city residents and guests till nowadays was led by this prominent person. The palace built in 1897 is executed in Neo-Renaissance style. The last scale reconstruction of the palace was held in 1957. Another interesting landmark of the tourist … Read more
Kaunas
The castle had great a strategic importance, and it even played a crucial role in the Battle of Grunwald. The fortress remained impenetrable until the 17th century. Steadily it lost its importance, and in 1655 the castle was almost entirely destroyed by the Russian army. Only several elements of the beautiful building have survived till our days - the tower and a part of the fortification wall. Most of excursion sites are located in the historic district of Kaunas. Do not forget to include a … Read more
Klaipeda
Here you can see the sculpture of Anika (the national folklore character) and the famous fountain, Simon Dach; both remain the most vivid symbols of the city for many years. In Klaipeda a huge number of galleries and museums are working; their collections are unique and very interesting. Be sure to include the visit to the Clock and Watch museum in the excursion. Among the exhibits there are chronometers relating to the prehistoric era; a separate room is dedicated to watches created in the … Read more

Lithuania map of cultural and historical sites

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