reasons to visit

Lithuania

We Lithuanians love Lithuania, a country situated at the geographical centre of Europe, washed by the Baltic Sea, covered with dense forests and meandering rivers and lakes, respectful of its traditions, proud of the Lithuanian language, nurturing its UNESCO world heritage sites, and open to innovations. Visit Lithuania and fall in love with our country. If you are at all interested in art and culture, then do visit Lithuania. In 2009, Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, will become European Capital of Culture. During the same year, the country will also celebrate a full millennium since first being mentioned in historical sources, in 1009. A packed programme of culture and entertainment will continue throughout 2009. If you enjoy trips to the countryside to see spectacular natural landscapes, visit Lithuania. The stunning Curonian Spit and Lithuania’s lovely national parks leave an indelible impression on every visitor. If you prefer vibrant city life, visit Lithuania. You will find all types of dazzling entertainment in each of our cities. If you feel like indulging in a blissful spa experience, visit Lithuania. Our spa resorts offer some of the highest quality services. If you’re a sports fan, you must visit to Lithuania to see our basketball stars and get first-hand experience of our passion for sport at the European Basketball Championship that will take place in Lithuania in 2011. If you love celebrations, visit Lithuania. Lithuanians mark all their jovial holidays with traditional celebrations, merrymaking and festivals. If you like hearty food, visit Lithuania. You’ll be able to try our delectable national and international cuisine. If you want to experience some genuine hospitality, then you must visit Lithuania!

1

For Vilnius old town

Zemaitija National Park

Resort

Curonian Spit National Park

Aukstaitija National Park

Resort

One of the largest and most Cosy and very close. Vilnius beautiful. Vilnius old town is one of old town boasts the abundance of cosy

the largest (about 360ha with over 1,500 buildings) and most exquisite old towns in Central and Eastern Europe and the most northernmost capital city which took over the architectural styles of old Southern and Western Europe.

Trakai National Park

Resort

Assorted architectural styles. Vilnius ensembles of churches and

Dzukija National Park

Resort

Finland Norway

Latvia

Denmark

Ireland

Russia

Estonia

Sweden

Motorways Routes rapides Main Roads Routes de grande circulation

Lithuania United Kingdom

National Roads Routes nationales

Belarus Neth. Belgium

Poland

Ports; terminaux de bateaux Ports; Ferrieset and Ship Terminal de plaisance deCruise ferry-boats

Germany

Lux. Ukraine

Czech Rep. Slovakia

France

Portugal

Switz. Liech.

Monaco Spain

Andora

Italy

Austria Hungary Slovenia Croatia Bosnia & Herz.

Moldova Romania

Aéroports Airports Centre d’informations pour Tourist Information Centers les touristes

Serbia

Mont. Macedonia

Bulgaria

Parcs nationaux National Parks

Albania

palaces reflect Italian renaissance and baroque, the Russian Byzantine style, Jewish elements and even traces of pagan structures. Vilnius also has a Montmartre of its own – the Užupis Republic, the Mecca of artists with different galleries and art performances.

cafes, restaurants, souvenir vendors and fancy boutiques. Narrow curvy streets promise new discoveries round every corner: an angel on the roof, a picture in the window or a century-old building... Spending time here is fun. All’s so close and so appealing! Remember to bring home souvenirs for your family and friends!

whys...

River banks talk to each other. This can happen only in Vilnius.

you should visit

What does one river bank say to the other? They confess love! Come and see yourself!

Lithuania

Cosy streets, pleasing cafes, and all’s so close

and so appealing! Vilnius will fascinate you!

In 1994, Vilnius old town was included into the UNESCO World Heritage List for tremendous impact on Eastern European culture and architecture, preserved impressive complexes of Gothic, renaissance, baroque and classicist buildings, the structure of a medieval city and natural environment.

Site du patimoine UNESCO Heritage mondial Listed Sites de l‘UNESCO

www.vilnius-tourism.lt

www.culturelive.lt

2

For fragile, unforgettable and unique Neringa

Sands right in the middle of Peace and snow-white Europe? Unbelievable, but true! Over beaches. Neringa enchants with five thousand years ago the waves and winds of the Baltic Sea drifted dunes and eventually shaped the Curonian Spit – a stripe of land which separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. The unique Neringa resort located on the Curonian Spit stretches for even 50 kilometres connecting the settlements of Juodkrantė, Preila, Pervalka and Nida.

tranquillity. Professional yachtsmen and lovers of yachting, power kites and paragliding like to recreate here. Strolling along the seacoast, holidaymakers can find Lithuanian gold – amber rinsed ashore by the waves of the Baltic. By the way, Nida boasts the highest number of sunny days among all Lithuanian locations.

Wandering dunes.

Delicious fish. When in Nida you must taste the fish! The exclusive dish in this area is smoked fish: eel, bream, mackerel, pike-perch, herring and catfish. Fish is smoked according to special tradition passed on from generation to generation. Just wait and find out yourself – it’s more than delicious!

Nida dunes leave all visitors astounded. Standing on the peak of dunes you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view: hills of white sand and waves of the Baltic, the verdure of pine-trees and calm Curonian Lagoon. You get the feeling of listening to the symphony of wind, sand and water performed by nature.

For unique traditions and authenticity

Baltic mythology and preChristian traits. Do you know

who a priestess is? What have bees meant to Lithuanians until our days? (The word ‘bičiulis’, which means ‘friend’, derives from the word ‘bitė’, Eng. ‘bee’). Why is the oak-tree a holy tree? Why has fire been worshiped to date and considered the patron of home? Lithuanian old traditions and folk-lore stand out from the heritage of European nations for preserved links with Baltic mythology and pre-Christian lifestyle.

Distinctive music and dance traditions. We, Lithuanians, have

original music instruments which you won’t find anywhere else: daudytė (embouchure aerophone), long shepherd’s horn audible dozens of kilometres away

3

or wooden bells – wooden cow bells attached to a frame and beaten with sticks. All year round Lithuanian cities and towns host many traditional festivals. It’s always fun and exciting here!

A real touch of authenticity.

Have you ever been to an authentic festival or felt the spirit of an ancient lifestyle? Drop in to Rumšiškės! Here you’ll find a folk lifestyle museum – Europe’s largest museum under the open sky. In Rumšiškės you can travel around Lithuanian ethnic regions and visit ancient Lithuanian homesteads. All structures and household utensils at the museum are authentic and brought from different locations in Lithuania. The folk lifestyle museum cherishes the tradition of celebrating ancient calendar festivities.

Enjoy the tranquillity of dunes and the freshness

Discover the meaning and charm

In 2000, the Curonian Spit was included into the UNESCO List of World Natural Heritage as one of Europe’s most beautiful and unique landscapes.

In 2003, UNESCO announced the Lithuanian tradition and symbolism the masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.

of the sea and the lagoon!

www.visitneringa.com

of unique ancient traditions!

www.llbm.lt

4

For Kernavė, which traces back ancient civilisation

The memory of ancient civilisation. To go back to very very old

large settlements with mounds used for defence. Mounds, as the main type of the pro-historic settlement, functioned in Lithuania from the Bronze Age to late fourteenth century.

times you have to visit Kernavė – the distinctive site, which traces back the unique and extinct cultural tradition and civilisation. It boasts the Baltic States’ Live archaeology. Every year in only complex of five mounds. Moreover, early June, on the occasion of State Day, Kernavė hosts spectacular “Live ArchaeKernavė is Lithuania’s ancient capital. Days” featuring demonstrations of Back to the past 10,000 years ology ancient crafts, performances by ancient before Christ. Traces of unique cul- music companies and fighting shows of tures from the tenth millennium BCE to soldiership clubs from round the globe. early Middle Ages are found in Kernavė. You can try it, too! During the early centuries after Christ, Pajauta Valley experienced formation of

whys...

you should visit

Lithuania

For song and dance festivals

Songs. Folk songs have always been Lithuanian’s distinctive media to express national identity and a phenomenon of national culture. Songs reflect Lithuanian history, work, lifestyle, lifecycles and natural phenomena. The unique songs, glees, have been sung at festivals to date! Even if you don’t know the language, you can second all right. Just try! Dances. Our dances are joyful and rattling, telling different stories: “Kepurinė”, “Polka su ragučiais”, “Pliauškutis”, “Suktinis”. Join! And we’ll party till dawn!

5

The song festival. Lithuanian song festivals have been running since early twentieth century. Now they’ve settled at once in four years involving more than 30,000 Lithuanians from round the globe: singers, dancers and musicians. The song festival continues for several days including the folk-lore day, the folk art exhibition, the ensemble night, the dance day and the song day. Lithuania also holds schoolchildren’s song festivals, whereas Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania take turns in hosting student song festivals of the Baltic countries “Gaudeamus”.

whys...

you should visit

Lithuania

Discover the ancient civilisation

Discover how song and dance

In 2004, Kernavė mound quintet was included into the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In 2003, UNESCO announced the Lithuanian tradition and symbolism the masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.

and ancient lifestyle.

drive huge crowds together! www.kernave.org

www.dainusvente.lt

6

For monument to Frank Zappa

The world’s first! It’s the world’s first monument dedicated to Frank Zappa. Emerged in 1995 on the background of graffiti-painted walls in the centre of Vilnius, the monumental bust of Frank Zappa (sculptor Konstantinas Bogdanas) is powerful attraction for Lithuanians and visitors who want to pay symbolic respect to the patron of modern music and of non-conformist approach to life.

whys...

Gift to America. A similar monu-

ment should shortly appear in the USA city of Baltimore, where Frank Zappa was born and lived until he turned ten. The most impressive fact is that this monument is a gift from Lithuanians! On com-

you should visit

mission from Zappa’s fan club it was created by sculptor Bagdonas, author of the Zappa monument in Vilnius.

The voice of freedom. Composer, guitar player, singer, film director and satirist Frank Zappa has no direct ties with Lithuania. However, his impact on Lithuanian artists and intellectuals was so great that they decided to erect a monument for the famous provoker. According to photographer Saulius Paukštys, who initiated creation of the monument, Frank Zappa was the voice of freedom for Lithuanians when before 1990 any criticism over country regime was outlawed.

Lithuania

Discover how an even alternative personality

can be respected in Europe’s old capital.

7

For remarkable natural environment

Organic products.

Lithuanian forests are good for picking mushrooms and berries. Wild strawberries, bilberries and cranberries are fragrant with the scent of the forest and taste fantastic! Fishing in the river or lake is great entertainment and a valuable catch!

Different entertainment! Hik-

ing on Lithuanian lakes and rivers, swimming, canoeing and rafting – all entertainment is hard to enumerate! Lithuania has 5 national and 30 regional parks offering assorted entertainment. Although here specific protection requirements and visitors’ rules of conduct apply, they won’t prevent you from enjoying the beauty of the natural environment.

Plenty of everything! The natural

environment which is spectacular and, most importantly, untouched by human activity is Lithuania’s precious asset. Forests cover as much as 30 per cent of Lithuania’s territory.

First-rate services. In Lithuania you’ll find superb agritourism homesteads and guest houses offering cosy and convenient accommodation and different outdoor entertainment. Staying at a countryside homestead, in the open air, enjoying the tranquillity of the forest, or maybe going for some entertainment? Everything is possible! Feel like children of nature and rest from the turmoil of metropoli in the embrace of the natural environment!

whys...

you should visit

Lithuania

Enjoy the retreat to pure and wonderful nature! www.countryside.lt

8

For the opportunity to unveil the iron curtain

Soviet ideology. Most post-Soviet countries removed symbols which remind of the horrifying times from public places or destroyed them. In Lithuania, demolished sculptures and other symbols of Soviet ideology were collected and set up in one location – Grūtas Park near Druskininkai. Base of nuclear missiles. Es-

whys...

tablished during the times of the Cold War in spectacular Plateliai surroundings in Plungė Region. Here you’ll find a militarism exposition. Visiting the grim catacombs of the nuclear missile base is shocking to the bottom of one’s soul.

you should visit

Survival drama.

In Lithuania you’ll be offered the opportunity to return to the past. Performances “1984. Survival Drama” take place 25km away from Vilnius 5 meters underground in the two-storey labyrinth of 3,000 square meters built during the years of the cold war on instruction from Moscow as an alternative TV station. The survival drama starts from security guards with dogs. After depositing your personal belongings, you’ll dive into two hours in the stressful life of an USSR citizen.

The centre of Europe is in Art in the centre of Europe. Lithuania! Didn’t you know that? The geographical centre of Europe is

Now you do, so just have to visit it! The flight from any European metropolis will take not more than three hours. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? In 1989, researchers of the French National Geographical Institute found that Europe’s geographical centre was in Lithuania, 26km westwards from capital Vilnius.

Guinness record. The fact of the geographical centre of Europe is registered in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Lithuania

Experience the horrors of totalitarianism and

understand why freedom is so precious.

www.grutoparkas.lt

www.sovietbunker.com

9

For geographical centre of Europe

conveyed in the language of art at the Park of Europe. Here, on the area of 55ha under the open sky, more than 90 works by artists from 29 countries are displayed including famous creators of contemporary art such as Magdalena Abakanowicz, Sol LeWitt and Dennis Oppenheim. The museum develops as an integrated ensemble of nature and pieces of art.

whys...

you should visit

Lithuania Feel the immensity of Europe standing in the very centre of the old continent! www.egc.lt

www.europosparkas.lt

10

For unique SPA resorts

Water and mud cure. It’s defi-

nitely true! For ages Lithuanian resorts Birštonas and Druskininkai have been known for springing mineral water and mineral curative mud with curative features as good as at Europe’s most famous wellness resorts.

and treatment technologies and a wide range of procedures: underwater massage, vortex-, mineral-, bubble-, oxygen-, vertical and curative herb- and mudbaths. Procedures use natural products. In Druskininkai both young and old enjoy the huge water park.

Exclusive environment and Oh, and the sea, the sea! seacoast resorts Palanga, services. Resort towns are situated Lithuanian Šventoji and Nida boast extreme popu-

whys...

on exclusively picturesque curves of Nemunas River surrounded by pine forests. Pleasing strolls and cycling hikes are out there for you. Here hotels and sanatoria conforming to European standards are at your service with latest diagnostic

you should visit

larity. We can assure you that you won’t find such snow-white beach sand anywhere round the globe! Not to mention the spectacular dunes! And of course, loads of entertainment!

Lithuania

Refresh your body and soul in unique resorts! www.birstonas.lt www.druskininkai.lt www.visitneringa.com www.palangatic.lt

For gourmets’ pleasures and entertainment

11

Substantial and tasty. Lithua- Different world cuisines. Apart nians like pampering their palates and eating substantially. The most popular traditional Lithuanian foods include black bread, cream cheese, cold beet-root soup (šaltibarščiai), zeppelins (didžkukuliai), potato sausages (vėdarai) and for desert deep-fried biscuits (žagarėliai) and Bankuchen (šakotis). During the warm season you’ll be offered cold beet-root soup in nearly all cafes and restaurants.

Zeppelins and many types of beer. Zeppelins (didžkukuliai) are

dumplings made of potato grate with a minced meat, curd, carrot or other kind of filling. Zeppelins go perfectly with a pint of cold beer, which boasts over two hundred recipes in Lithuania.

from inns offering national dishes, Lithuania has many restaurants with different world cuisines. Here you can enjoy your favourite Italian, French, Hungarian, Greek, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Thai, Latin American and other cuisines and spend hours of gourmet treat.

Top-class entertainment. Viln-

whys...

ius and other Lithuanian cities offer contemporary metropolitan-style entertainment with modern and cosy shopping centres and exclusive boutiques, beauty salons, night clubs, global brand stores... Enjoy top-class services!

you should visit

Lithuania

Feel like a real gourmet of taste and entertainment! www.surask.lt

www.maitinimas.lt

www.meniu.lt

12

For amazing culture events

Classical music and jazz.

Lithuanian symphony and chamber orchestras, choirs and theatre and ballet troupes hold impressive performances, which have gained generous appreciation at international competitions. Art lovers are attracted by names of such world-famous performers as opera singer Violeta Urmanavičiūtė-Urmana, conductor Gintaras Rinkevičius and many others. Lithuania hosts many famous jazz festivals. For more than 25 years it has held the international jazz festival “Birštonas Jazz”, for 15 years Klaipėda Caste Jazz Festival, traditional Vilnius and “Kaunas Jazz” festivals and many others. Events of classical music are also popular: Kristupas Summer Festival, Vilnius Festival, Pažaislis Music Festival, Ch. Frenkel’s Villa Summer Festivals, etc. They attract performers from around the globe.

whys...

you should visit

contemporary theatre directors are known worldwide. Virtuoso of philosophical and visual expression on stage Eimuntas Nekrošius, who for several years has been referred to as Europe’s best director, staged “Hamlet”, “Faust”, “Mackbeth”, “The Song of Songs” and other plays. None the less famous is master of avant-garde theatre Oskaras Koršunovas with his plays “The Wonderful and Sorrowful Story of Romeo and Juliet”, “Lust”, “Master and Margarita”, “Loneliness for Two”, etc. His theatre is permanent participant at the Avignon Theatre Festival.

Culture is alive! In 2009 Vilnius

Lithuania

Masters of theatre. Lithuanian

will become European Capital of Culture. With its programme “Culture live” Vilnius declares that art is created by not only professional artists, but also all city residents and visitors – each and every one who constantly creates life. Events of the capital of culture are already under way!

chance to see performances by the most famous masters of stage. Don’t miss your

www.culturelive.lt

13

For The Hill of Crosses

Symbol of faith. The Hill of Crosses is Jurgaičiai Mound overgrown with innumerable crosses. Supposedly, this is the place where an ancient Lithuanian castle used to stand. The Soviet government had started to destroy the Hill of Crosses, but without success as new crosses continued appearing. The sanctuary of spirit. Today

the Hill of Crosses is the spiritual sanctuary of many Catholics. Here you won’t find a church, a sacred picture or graves like in other holy places. It amazes the whole world with expression of prayer. Written sources first refer to crosses ‘growing’ on the hill more than one and a half century ago.

Let your hopes and dreams come true! In 1993, Pope John Paul

II visited the Hill of Crosses. John Paul II also put up a cross here – the symbol of love to humanity. All visitors crave for leaving their little cross here in token of hopes and dreams which come true.

whys... you should visit

Lithuania

feel love for the entire mankind. Reinforce your hopes and

In 2001, Lithuania’s unique branch of art, cross-making, was included into the UNESCO List of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

www.kryziukalnas.lt

14

For the fabulous castle surrounded by lakes

East Europe’s largest caste Karaites. Trakai is also attractive for on an island. You can visit it in Lithuania’s interesting links with Karaites.

Trakai – Lithuanian capital of the sixteenth century situated near Vilnius. Surrounded by lake waters from all sides, Trakai Castle and the museum inside it proudly track back to the glorious times in Lithuanian history. You can reach the castle after passing two bridges across Galvė Lake!

whys...

Spectacular events. Trakai Castle

hosts opera performances, concerts of classical and contemporary dance music, etc. The wonderful castle and the rippling vastness of lakes render fresh and surreal colours to music and stage art. This is simply unforgettable!

you should visit

In late fourteenth century, when the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania extended as far as the Black Sea, Duke Vytautas brought Tartar and Karaite families from Crimea to settle them in Trakai. They used to protect the castle of the Grand Duke and were his devoted guards. In Trakai you can see Karaite dwelling houses and a temple.

You’ll have lots of fun. Trakai is

surrounded by even five lakes! It boasts splendid beaches, and you can row a boat, go yachting, wheel the pedalo and enjoy other entertainment near water. And you must try the famous Karaite kybyns and other national dishes!

Lithuania

Enter the fabulous castle and admire the vastness of the lakes!

Explore the city in a differ- Get your diploma! Organisers ent way. Vilnius is one of the few of air balloon flights are knowledgeable

European capitals which can be viewed from a hot air balloon. What is also amazing is that air balloons can take off and land in the very heart of the city – next to Neris River in Vingis Park and other places.

Unexpected discoveries.

The flight on an air balloon above Vilnius will leave you with the most remarkable impressions and will give the chance to look at the narrow streets of Vilnius old town from a bird’s eye view. You’ll discover a different Vilnius than you’ve known walking.

and experienced to guarantee maximum security for travellers. Before the flight, you’ll assist in preparing the air balloon and will learn how it’s operated, whereas after the flight you’ll be baptized into balloonists and will receive a flight diploma. You’ll have a brilliant remembrance from your stay in Lithuania!

whys...

you should visit

Lithuania

Rise above city roofs and

get a bird’s eye

view of Lithuanian capital. www.trakai.lt

15

For an air balloon flight above Vilnius

www.oreivystescentras.lt

LITHUANIAN TOURIST INfORMATION cENTRES ABROAD fINLAND LIETTUAN MATkAILUNEUvONTA Kapteeninkatu 7, 00140 Helsinki Phone: +358 962277717, Fax: +358 962277718, E-mail: [email protected], www.liettua.fi, www.litauen.se fRANcE OffIcE DU TOURISME DE LITUANIE 72 rue Pierre Demours, 75017 Paris Phone / Fax: +33 146225384, E-mail: [email protected], www.infotourlituanie.fr gERMANy BALTIkUM TOURIzMUS zENTRALE (BTz) fREMDENvERkEHRSzENTRALE ESTLAND-LETTLAND-LITAUEN Katharinenstr. 19-20, 10711 Berlin Phone: +49 3089009091, Fax: +493089009092, E-mail: [email protected], www.baltikuminfo.de ITALy ENTE NAzIONALE LITUANO pER IL TURISMO Via Lucrezio Caro 12, 00193 Roma Phone: +39 0632600310, Fax: +39 0632541379, E-mail: [email protected], www.turismolituano.it pOLAND cENTRUM INfORMAcjI TURySTyczNEj REpUBLIkI LITEwSkIEj 00-567 Warszawa, al. Ujazdowskie 12 Phone: +48 226969815, Fax: +48 226969816, E-mail: [email protected], www.litwatravel.com RUSSIA ИнформацИонный центр по турИзму ЛИтвы в россИИ Борисоглебский пер. 13, корпус 2, 161069, Москва Phone / Fax: +7 4952036790, E-mail: [email protected], www.litinfo.ru SpAIN EL cENTRO DE LA INfORMAcIóN TURíSTIcA DE LITUANIA C/Consell de cent, 355, 3R, 08007 Barcelona Phone: +34 932853285, Fax: +34 934670218, E-mail: [email protected], www.lituaniatur.com UNITED kINgDOM LITHUANIAN TOURIST INfORMATION cENTRE IN LONDON 86 Gloucester Place, London W1U 6HP, United Kingdom Phone: +44 02070341222, Fax: +44 02079354661, E-mail: [email protected], www.lithuaniatourism.co.uk

Lithuanian state department of tourism UNDER THE MINISTRy Of EcONOMy Švitrigailos g. 11 M, LT-03228 Vilnius, LITHUANIA Phone: + 370 5 210 8796, Fax: + 370 5 210 8753 E-mail: [email protected] www.tourism.lt w w w.LithuanianTravel.com Design and printing: Uždaroji dizaino ir leidybos AB „Kopa“, Kampo g. 7, LT-50153 Kaunas , www.kopa.eu Photos: K. Driskius, A. Varanka, M. Jovaiša from photo album “Unseen Lithuania”, Archives of the Lithuanian State Department of Tourism, www.istockphoto.com Authors: Public enerpreise „Kalbos komunikacijos centras“ 2008