Top 35 attractions in Lithuania

The Republic of Lithuania is a state located in the north of Europe. It is recommended to start acquaintance with the country from the capital. It is in it that many historical and architectural objects are located. Palaces, ancient town halls, churches and cathedrals - in Vilnius, sights are located on almost every corner. Worthy of a visit is the former capital of the country - the city of Kaunas. The main natural object is the Curonian Spit.

What to see and where to go in Lithuania?

The most interesting and beautiful places to visit. Photos and a short description.

Vilnius Old Town

The oldest part of the city, many buildings in which were built in the Middle Ages. Its area is just under 4 km², the main attractions can be bypassed in a day. The appearance of the Old City has been formed over the centuries. For the original combination of architectural styles from different eras and the abundance of architectural monuments, UNESCO included the Old Town in the list of cultural heritage of the world.

Trakai Castle

Brick Gothic castle founded in 1409. Located on the island of Lake Galve in the city of Trakai. The castle is connected to the mainland by a wooden bridge. For a long time belonged to the princes of Lithuania. In the middle of the 17th century, as a result of hostilities with Moscow troops, it was destroyed. Restoration work on the ruins of the castle began in 1901 and was completed in 1970. Now the castle is one of the most visited places among tourists; it houses the museum of the city.

curonian spit

A narrow sandy strip of land. The length is 98 km, the minimum width is only 400 meters. On the one hand, it is washed by the salty waters of the Baltic Sea, on the other, by the fresh waters of the Curonian Lagoon. The spit is included in the list of UNESCO sites, as there are no analogues of its natural landscape anywhere else in the world. Sandy white shores alternate with dense forest. For tourists there are excursion routes to natural and man-made attractions.

Old town of Klaipeda

In the historic district of the city on the left bank of the Dange River, an atmosphere of antiquity reigns. There are many architectural monuments around the stone-paved Theater Square. Particularly interesting is the complex of architectural structures in an unusual half-timbered style dedicated to art. One of the symbols of the Old Town is the Exchange Bridge or Karl's Bridge. The sailboat Meridian is laid up near it.

Old town of Kaunas

The charm of the Old Town of Kaunas attracts thousands of tourists every year. Its center is the Town Hall Square. The Town Hall itself was built in the 16th century. From its observation deck, you can see the entire historical part of the city. Residents of the city call it poetically - "White Swan". Worth a visit to the Gothic Cathedral of St. Paul and Peter. Vilniaus is considered the most beautiful street in the region. In its old houses there are small cafes, pubs, bakeries.

Uzupis (Vilnius)

A small cozy district of Vilnius, separated from the Old Town by the small river Vilenka. Tourists and art lovers are attracted by many art workshops and galleries. Representatives of creative professions even founded their own Republic, which has a president, a flag and a constitution. Independence Day of the Republic created as a joke is celebrated on April 1st. The symbol of the community is a monument to an angel blowing a trumpet.

Gediminas Tower (Vilnius)

Monument of culture, history and architecture. It was built at the beginning of the 15th century on the Castle Hill and is part of the Upper Castle. The three-story tower is 48 meters high. From the observation deck of the tower, the historical part of the city is clearly visible. The shape of the tower is octagonal, the style of construction is Gothic. Currently, its premises are occupied by the Lithuanian National Museum. His exhibitions tell about the history of the city.

Kaunas Castle

Built to defend against the Teutonic Crusader Knights. Founded in the 13th century, this is the oldest stone castle in Lithuania. About a third of the original castle has survived to this day, two towers have survived. One of them houses a tourist information center. It is planned to arrange a museum exhibition and make a complete restoration. Even in a partially ruined form, the castle attracts many tourists.

Kaunas Town Hall

It has a classic look for a medieval public building. A high bell tower was attached to the city meeting room. However, due to the fact that the construction went on for several centuries, several styles are mixed in its architecture - Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, Classicism. In the basement of the town hall there is a museum of ceramics, and in the main premises - the Kaunas City Museum. In it you can learn about different periods of the life of the city.

IX Fort (Kaunas)

Previously, the fort was called the Kovno fortress. It was built in 1899 and performed defensive functions in wartime. Of the nine forts built, only one remained in good condition. It is an open-air exhibition. You can see the preserved walls, redoubts, batteries. The main attention should be paid to the Museum of Holocaust victims, because this place was used by the Nazis for the mass execution of prisoners.

Sharp gate (Vilnius)

Unofficially, the monument is called the "Holy Gate". They were built in 1522. This is the only fragment of the city wall that remained intact. The arch was built in the Gothic style, and its facade is in the Renaissance style. Above the gate is the chapel of Our Lady of Ostrobrama. Its architectural style is classicism. The icon of the Mother of God in the chapel is considered miraculous and able to give childless couples a long-awaited child.

Church of St. Anne and Bernardine Church

In the old city, two religious buildings attract attention. The church of St. Anne was built in the Gothic style. Its construction was completed in 1500. The facade of the building is unusual. It is made original by lancet windows and decorative turrets. Each of its three parts is crowned with a tower directed to the sky. The Bernardine Church, located next to it, was built in the 16th century. This is one of the largest Gothic buildings in Lithuania.

Cathedral of St. Stanislaus (Vilnius)

Roman Catholic Cathedral in the status of a minor basilica. It is located at the foot of the Castle Hill next to the high bell tower. Built in the style of classicism and reminiscent of ancient Greek temples. Antique columns and strict style make this building imposing and monumental. The façade features several rococo sculptures. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with more than 40 works of art.

Church of Saints Peter and Paul (Vilnius)

It was built in 1676 on the site where wooden churches were built twice earlier. The first burned down, the second was destroyed during the war. The building was designed by architects from Italy and Poland, it is called the "pearl in the Baroque style." But the interior of the church attracts more. It has 9 altars. The vaults are decorated with luxurious sculptural decorations. There are more than 2000 figures, bas-reliefs and stucco relief images in the church.

Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul (Kaunas)

The construction of the cathedral lasted more than 200 years. The bell tower was added later. Now the building of the Gothic style is considered a monument of history and architecture and is the cathedral of the city. The height of the cathedral is 84 meters. The main altar of the cathedral was founded in 1755 by the sculptor Tomasz Podhaisky. Highly artistic icons adorn the interior walls. These are the works of artists Mikael Andriolli and Gotthard Berhoff.

Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania (Vilnius)

The largest project for the restoration of ancient buildings in Lithuania. The castle was destroyed in the 17th century, and in the 19th century its ruins were completely demolished. A few fragments remained from the old building of the palace, but in order to find them, the archaeologist had to remove several meters of the cultural layer of the earth. Archaeologists and restorers continue their work even now. The excavation site is a demonstration area of ​​the national museum.

Museum of occupations and struggle for freedom (Vilnius)

It is located in the building where the NKVD and KGB were located for 50 years. The expositions on the first floor of the museum tell about the sovietization of the country and the partisan liberation movement. On the second floor, the exhibitions are devoted to the deportation of the Lithuanian population to Siberia and life in the Gulag. The most difficult exhibition to see is in the basement. It housed a prison, an interrogation, torture chamber and a room for the execution of death sentences.

National Museum of Lithuania (Vilnius)

In Vilnius, on the banks of the Viliya, the main branch of the museum is located. Its expositions contain about a million exhibits. Exhibitions tell about the history and development of the country in different periods. The expositions are divided into thematic sections - numismatics, archeology, iconography, ethnography, art objects, the periods of the Middle Ages and the New Age. About 250,000 people visit the country's national museum annually.

MO Museum (Vilnius)

Private Museum of Contemporary Lithuanian Art. Its founders are businessmen Viktor and Danguole Butkus. Collected works of the period from the 1960s to the present. The collection of art objects is extensive - paintings, photographs, sculpture, art objects and graphics. The museum building was built on the site of the Lietuva cinema. The first floor of the building is occupied by a cafe and a shop, while an exhibition hall and a reading room are located on the second floor.

Museum of Devils (Kaunas)

The only museum in the world with a similar theme. Created on the basis of a private collection in 1966. The artist Antanas Žmuidzinavičius has been collecting figurines of devils since 1906 and collected 260 exhibits. The diversity of the museum's cloisters is amazing. Some are made of unusual materials - leather, metal, plastic. Ashtrays, canes, pens, mugs are made in the form of devils. There are devils from popular books or films.

Military Museum. Vytautas the Great (Kaunas)

Opened in 1919. The small collection of the museum was significantly replenished after the end of the First World War. In the future, it becomes even larger, it contains collections of firearms and edged weapons, ammunition, paintings with military scenes. In total, more than 200,000 exhibits have been collected, which show the history of military affairs in the country. The wreckage of the Lituanik airplane is located on the second floor.

Čiurlionis Museum (Kaunas)

National Art Museum, opened in 1921. Dedicated to the works of the composer and artist Čiurlionis. In addition to the collection of his paintings, the museum keeps the master's personal belongings - diaries, essays, letters. Works of other masters in various fields of art are also presented. There are objects of folk art, some of them were made in the 15th century. In total, about 300,000 exhibits are exhibited in the museum's collections.

Lithuanian Maritime Museum (Klaipeda)

Located in an ancient fortress on the Curonian Spit. In open areas, among the casemates and defensive ramparts, collections of boats, ships, ship propellers and anchors are exhibited. The core collection features prehistoric fossils, shells and corals. There are also 34 aquariums with such unusual inhabitants as jellyfish and penguins. There is also a dolphinarium. The casemates house military-historical exhibitions.

Amber Museum (Palanga)

Opened in 1963. The museum's collections comprise 4,500 amber stones and items made from it. Part of the exhibitions is devoted to the role of amber in the history and culture of mankind. The museum is located in the former palace of the counts Tyszkiewicz. Its premises create a worthy backdrop for the exhibits. Surrounded by a botanical garden with an area of ​​more than 100 hectares. The landscape design of the park was created by a designer from France; more than 600 species of plants grow in it.

Museum of Folk Life in Rumsiskes

Museum of Ethnography with an area of ​​175 hectares. It is located in the open air. The museum includes 180 buildings from different regions of Lithuania. Outbuildings, mills, chapels, farms, huts and the "Town of Craftsmen" - together they recreate the life of a Lithuanian village. Many buildings are about 200 years old. The museum has a 6 km long hiking trail. Entertainment events take place on weekends and holidays.

Kernavė

In ancient times, this place was the location of the first capital of Lithuania - a large city with large fortifications. Currently, about 200 people live among the hills. This historical place is appreciated by both tourists and UNESCO, which included Kernavė in the World Heritage List. Tourists can see the ruins of ancient city buildings and a wooden chapel built without a single nail.

Vilnius TV tower

A major television broadcasting center and the tallest building in Lithuania. The tower, built in 1981, is 326 meters high. A revolving restaurant is located on a platform 165 meters high. Visitors are delivered to it on a high-speed elevator, which moves at a speed of 4 m / s. Until 2015, before Christmas, the tower was decorated with garlands, like a New Year tree. Now the garlands have been replaced by laser light.

Three Crosses (Vilnius)

An unusual monument is located on a rocky hill near Vilnius. Three concrete crosses pointing to the sky. Established in memory of the executed and crucified monks in the XIV century. A staircase leads to the crosses at the top of the hill. There is an observation deck from which you can see the whole city perfectly. In the dark, turn on the backlight. The illuminated crosses give the impression that they are hovering over the city.

Hill of Crosses (Siauliai)

One of the main shrines of the country and a place of pilgrimage. An unusual attraction is a hill dotted with closely spaced crosses. There are about 50,000 crosses in total. This place is not a cemetery. Scientists still do not have a common opinion - when and by whom this monument was founded. One of the crosses was installed by the Pope - John Paul II, which increased the number of visitors to the mountain at times.

Mountain of Witches (Juodkrante)

A mountain 42 meters high is located on the Curonian Spit. In ancient times, it was considered a sacred place by a number of tribes. With the advent of the Inquisition in Prussia, witches began to gather on the mountain to perform rites of worship of nature. Since 1979, Lithuanian craftsmen have been gathering on its slopes and creating sculptures. Thousands of tourists come to see the collection of various wooden sculptures. A winding path leads to the top of the mountain.

Dzukija National Park

Located in the south of the country. Its area is more than 55,000 hectares. It is interesting for its diversity of flora and fauna and natural landscapes. The villages of small nationalities of the region, where masters of black ceramics live, are also under protection. There are several architectural monuments in the park. The park is beautiful at any time of the year. Tourists move around the park not only on foot, but also on bicycles or kayaks.

Aukštaiti National Park

The area of ​​the park is 400 km². The main attraction is Mount Ladakalnis. This is not only a natural monument, but also a historical one. At its top in ancient times, rituals were held dedicated to the Slavic goddess Lada. There are more than 100 lakes in the park, which are interconnected by small rivers and streams. Water tourism is developed in the park. There are many places for kayak rentals and places for overnight stays.

Cape Vente

It is a peninsula on the eastern coast of the Curonian Lagoon, 5 km long. In 1863, a lighthouse was installed on the cape, which belongs to the ornithological station and is a monument of technology. The lighthouse, 11 meters high, is located 30 meters from the shore. You can climb the lighthouse's observation deck by a metal staircase, which is decorated with forged ornaments. From the site you can see the Curonian Lagoon, the island of Rusne, the Curonian Spit.

Dunes of Nida

Unique and unusual natural formations in the center of the Curonian Spit. They are dunes blown by the wind. The sand of the dunes is light in color due to the high content of quartz. Sometimes the dunes are called "wandering" or "wandering" because they move up to 10 meters a year under the influence of the wind, sometimes even crossing the Russian border. You can’t walk on the dunes; wooden paths are laid around for inspection.

Palanga beach and pier

According to one of the authoritative British ratings, Palanga beach is included in the top 20 beaches in the world. Clean and golden sand, warm and calm sea, pine trees along the beach line - all this attracts many vacationers here. For the promenade, a pier was built on the site of a wooden one destroyed by a storm. The length of the pier is about 400 meters. It offers a view of the sand dunes and the waters of the sea, the landscape looks especially beautiful at sunset.