Europe Travel Guide

Vilnius (sometimes also Vilna in English, Belarusian ??????, Polish Wilno, Russian ???????, German Wilna, see also Cities alternative names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania with population in excess of 540 thousand (in 2003).

Geographic and population data
Vilnius is situated in Southeastern Lithuania (5441? N 2517? E) at the confluence of the River Vilnia (Vilnel?) and the River Neris. This non-central location can be attributed to the changing shape of the nation’s borders throughout past centuries; Vilnius was once not only culturally, but geographically the center of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and was also one of the major cities of the region. Initially it also formed the geographic centre of the Lithianian settled areas, while its population itself was multiethnic throughout most of its history (see article on Demographics of Vilnius).

The distance from Vilnius to the Baltic Sea and Klaip?da, the main Lithuanian seaport, is about 312 km. The distance is rather large, but other Lithuanian major cities such as Kaunas, iauliai, and Panev?ys can be reached quickly and easily. They are 102, 214 and 135 km away from the capital, respectively.

The current area of Vilnius is 402 square kilometres. Buildings cover 20.2% of the city and in the remaining areas, greenery (43.9%) and waters (2.1%) prevail.

Kaunas (approximate English transcription [?k??.n?s], simplified Lithuanian transcription [ka?nas]; Polish: Kowno, often anglicized as Kovno; Russian ??????, formerly ?????), is the second largest city in Lithuania. Kaunas is famous for its historic city centre. The town is situated on the main freeway “Via Baltica” (E 67) Warsaw-Riga-Helsinki. Geographically Kaunas is situated at the junction of the two largest Lithuanian rivers, the Neman and the Neris. With almost 93 percent citizens being ethnic Lithuanians, Kaunas is one of the most Lithuanian cities of the country. By the number of people of local nationality, Kaunas is the largest city in Baltic States: it has larger number of Lithuanians than Vilnius, larger number of Lithuanians than Riga has Latvians or Tallin has Estonians.

History
At the location of the current Kaunas old town, at the confluence of two large rivers, there was a settlement as far back as the tenth century BC. According to legend, the town was founded in 1030, but it is first mentioned in written sources in 1361. In the thirteenth century, a stone wall was built for protection from constant raids by the Teutonic Knights. In 1362, the town was captured by the Teutonic Knights, who destroyed the castle, but it was recaptured in 1404.

In 1408 the town was chartered with Magdeburg Rights by Vytautas the Great. The castle was rebuilt in the beginning of 15th century. Kaunas then started to grow as an important city at trade route intersections and a river port. In 1441 Kaunas joined the Hansa and Hansa merchant offices opened. Already in the 16th century Kaunas had a public school, a hospital, a drugstore and was one of the best formed towns in Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Alytus (approximate English transcription [?.l??.?tus], simplified Lithuanian transcription [al?tus]; Polish: Olita) is the capital of Alytus County, Lithuania, with 70,000 inhabitants. It is situated in the south of the country close to the Belarusian border. Alytus is the historical center of the Dz?kija region.

Klaip?da (approximate English transcription: [?kla?.p?.d?], simplified Lithuanian transcription: [kla?p?da]; German: Memel or Memelburg) is a Lithuanian town on Baltic Sea. It has 190,653 inhabitants (2003, down from 207,100 in 1992). Klaipeda is Lithuania’s only seaport and has a major ferry terminal with connections to Sweden, Denmark, and Germany. It is situated close to the mouth of the Curonian Lagoon.

The buildings of Klaip?da have a picturesque framework architecture similar to that found in Germany, England, and Denmark. Popular Lithuanian seaside resorts found close to Klaipeda are Neringa and Palanga.

History
As the settlement of Baltic tribes Klaip?da is known in the first centuries AD. For a long time it belonged to East Prussia, during which time it was called Memel.

The Teutonic Knights founded a castle upon the Baltic settlement in 1252 and recorded it as Castrum Memele (German Memelburg, also Mimmelburg). In 1254 Memel was granted Lbeck City Rights.

The area was converted to Christianity by the Teutonic Knights. The Peace at Melno-See in 1422 fixed the border between Province of Prussia and Lithuania. Memel remained included in Prussia and the border remained unchanged until 1919. It was one of the longest unchanged borders in Europe, and is referenced in the now-unsung first verse of the German national anthem, describing the borders of German-speaking lands: Von der Maas bis an die Memel, referring to the river Neman, or Memel in German.

Panev?ys (approximate English transcription [p?.n?.v?.????s], simplified Lithuanian transcription [panev???s]; pol. Poniewie?) – fifth largest city in Lithuania. It occupies 50 square kilometers with more than 119,000 inhabitants, the majority of whom (96 per cent) are Lithuanians. According to the first census the government carried out in 1923 there were 19,147 people in Panev?ys, among them 6,845 Jews (36%), nearly all of whom were exterminated during the nazi occupation, only a few found asylum abroad.

Panev?ys is situated in the middle of Lithuania; it is halfway between two Baltic capitals – Vilnius and Riga. The city lies in a good geographical position which plays a major role in communication with other Lithuanian cities and the city of Kaliningrad. The Via Baltica highway runs through the city and connects it to many Scandinavian and Central European countries. Connected by railway to iauliai (Lithuania) and Daugavpils (Latvia), as well as Rubikiai/Anyk?iai and Birai by narrow gauge railway, which now is not working in full capacity anymore however.

Considered capital of Auktaitija region. Is a municipality on itself (Paneveys city) and also is the capital of Paneveys district municipality, and Panev?ys County.

Established by Grand duke Alexander I for whom there is a statue.

iauliai (approximate English transcription [???.?le?], simplified Lithuanian transcription [?ia?lia?]; Polish Szawle, German Schaulen, Yiddish ???? Shavl) is the fourth largest city of Lithuania with a population of 133,883. The city’s founding date is now considered to be September 22, 1236; the same date upon which the battle of the Sun took place, not far from Siauliai. Through the course of both world wars more than 80% of its buildings were destroyed. Sialuiai was granted Magdeburg city rights in 1589.

Perhaps one of iauliai’s biggest tourist attractions is its famous Hill of Crosses.

K?dainiai (Kiejdany in Polish) situated by the Nev?is River, is one of the oldest towns in Lithuania. First mentioned in the 1372 Livonian Chronicle of Hermannum de Wartberge it has population of 32.048 (as of 2001). Many monuments of archaeology, history, architecture and art, together with the old town tell of K?dainiai’s glorious past.

The town is the administrative centre of the region. The geographical centre of the present Lithuanian Republic is in the nearby village of Ruo?iai, in Dotnuva subdistrict.

For a long time, K?dainiai has been famous for its chemical and food processing industries. Following the years of stagnation, old enterprises have come back to life, and new ones have been established.

In the medieval period, Union of K?dainiai was signed here.

For a while during 1940, the town served as home to about 300 students and teachers from the Mir Yeshiva.

Since 1989 K?dainiai has been twinned with the German town Smmerda.

Marijampol? (approximate English transcription [m?.r?.?ja?m.po.l?], simplified Lithuanian transcription [marij?mpol?]) is an industrial town and capital of Marijampol? County in the south of Lithuania, close to the borders to Poland and to Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) and to Lake Vistytis. Marijampol? has 48,800 inhabitants (2003). It is the Lithuanian center of the Sudovia region.

From 1956 to 1989 the town was officially named Kapsukas, after Vincas Kapsukas, founder of the Lithuanian Communist Party.

Maeikiai is a town in the north-western part of Lithuania, on the Venta river. It has a population of around 45,300. The town of Maeikiai is the administrative center of Maeikiai district in Teliai County.

The first reference to Maeikiai in written sources is associated with the year 1335. A chronicler of the Livonian Order wrote up a campaign of the Order, during which, the land of Duke Maeika was devastated. The beginning of the town’s growth was 1869, with the construction of a railway line – Vilnius-Liepaja. In 1893, the town had 13 shops and 5 alehouses. In 1894 an Orthodox church was built, in 1902 – a Catholic church, and in 1906 – an Evangelical-Lutheran church.

1980 was the year when an Oil refinery plant was opened. Today, Maeikiai ia a modern town with a developed infrastructure.

Utena County (Lithuanian: Utenos apskritis) is one of ten counties in Lithuania. In 2001 there were 186,000 inhabitants in the county. It is the most sparsely-populated county in Lithuania. It is divided into 6 municipalities. Its capital is Utena. The town of Utena is one of the oldest settlements in Lithuania and is mentioned in historical chronicles as early as 1261. County has a well developed network of roads. Utena is located only some 95 km from Vilnius, capital of Lithuania. Main branches of economy are textile, food and timber processing, beer and wine production, power engineering. Outstanding feature of region’s economy is Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. Utena county is the second most popular tourism destination in Lithuania (after seaside). Approximately 31% of territory is covered with forests.

There are 1002 lakes in the county. They are connected by rivers and provide good opportunities for water tourism. One of the biggest tourism attractions is Aukstaitija National Park. In addition, county has 6 other regional parks. There is a number of of unique places of interest that can be found only in Utena county, e.g. Lake Asveja, the longest lake in Lithuania and Lake Tauragnas, the deepest one; Horse Museum, Ancient Beekeeping Museum, Ethnocosmological Museum, narrow gauge railway, a burial mound exposition, an exhibition of stone dust pictures.