Attractive Places to See
The city of Vilnius (www.turizmas.vilnius.lt), established in 1323, is the capital of Lithuania and both an old and a modern city today as well as the heart of Lithuanian education and culture. First among the capitals of the new EU states, Vilnius has been scheduled to become the European Capital of Culture in 2009, the year marking Lithuania’s Millennium. The Old Town of Vilnius, the biggest in Eastern Europe, has been included into the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1994.
The Old Town of Kaunas (www.kaunas.lt), the second largest city of Lithuania fascinates a visitor by its restored towers of the old fortress, the light and elegant Baroque Town Hall dating from 1542 as well as the Museum of Devils, the only one of this type in the world.
The Kursiu Nerija (Curonian Spit) (www.nerija.lt), Lithuania’s tiny ‘Sahara’ and one of the most spectacular landscapes in Europe, is an ultimate Mecca for lovers of peace and quiet, a natural wonder with the highest sand dunes in Eastern Europe. It is a real masterpiece of nature that was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in December 2000. Also, in January 2008 the sandy Lithuanian coast of the Curonian Spit was ranked No. 9 among the top 100 summer destionations by the popular Travel supplement of the British Sunday Times.
Klaipeda (www.klaipeda.lt) is the third largest city of Lithuania famous for its unique architecture, which is closer to that in the northern countries, as well as summer rest and recreation. Like on the entire coast of the Baltic Sea in Lithuania, there are excellent white sand beaches and dunes which can be found nowhere else on the Baltic Sea cost.
The health resorts of Birstonas (www.birstonas.lt) and Druskininkai (www.druskininkai.lt) are famous and loved by both local people as well as foreign guests for their sanatoriums, health centres, curative mineral springs and mud, as well as the breathtaking natural beauty. Also, the resort of Druskininkai, as well as the capital city Vilnius, offers the most modern water entertainment services in the Baltic States. The most modern water entertainment complexes in the Baltic States, of 25, 300 m² each, offer a huge complex of saunas and swimming pools for visitors.
Europos Parkas (www.europosparkas.lt) is a unique outdoor site near Vilnius where over a hundred works of contemporary art from all over the world are on display.
The Geographical Centre of Europe is 26 kilometres (16 miles) north from Vilnius, near the village of Purnuškės. A white granite monument topped with a crown of stars marks the location.
Five unusual grassy mounds mark Lithuania’s ancient capital at Kernave (www.kernave.org), another UNESCO World Heritage Site, approximately 50 kilometres (31 miles) from Vilnius.
Rumsiškes Open Air Museum (www.muziejai.lt) is a miniature display of the Lithuanian village in the second half of the 18th century, with old houses, farms, taverns, and mills as well as men and women in traditional costumes.
The world-famous Hill of Crosses, a unique Christian pilgrimage site, which was blessed by Pope John Paul II himself during his visit, is located near the city of Siauliai. For 300 years people have been coming here with thousands of votive crosses brought from all over the world. The art of the cross-crafting, Lithuania’s unique folk art, which is found throughout the country, is included into the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Grutas Park-Museum (www.grutoparkas.lt) offers the possibility of strolling among Soviet-era relics, having lunch at a Soviet-style canteen, and listening to Red Army military marches and speeches by Soviet leaders.
Minija is Lithuania’s small ‘Venice’, a fishermen’s village situated on both sides of the river. Minija’s port offers wonderful sailing and boating opportunities on small ships and yachts.
For more on sightseeing in Lithuania, please visit www.travel.lt
