Top 4 Places to Visit in Lithuania
TweetA hidden gem in the Baltic, Lithuania has a brutal but colourful past of oppression, rebellion and Catholicism. After a bloody half-century, it gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 – liberating a culture like no other, the spirit of which had been kept alive against harsh odds.
It’s a country of contrasts: beautiful buildings and stunning countryside, ancient religion and fascinating recent history, quirky art communities and fantastic hospitality. Though richly cultural, tourists benefit from cheap flights and excellent rates of travel money exchange – and outside of its expensive capital, you’ll find bargain prices on food and living as well as some priceless, unique attractions:
1. The Hill of Crosses
Lithuania is largely Catholic, so there are hundreds of elaborately beautiful Baroque and Gothic churches to explore – but if you’re looking for a monument like no other, visit the Hill of Crosses in the north. Measuring about 60 metres by 50 metres, it’s the product of 200 years of devotion and the remarkable persistence of Lithuanian Catholics: the large hill is completely covered by crosses of all, shapes and sizes.
During the Soviet occupation, various methods were tried to suppress its popularity as a symbol of Lithuanian identity. It was bulldozed several times, burned and flooded; roads were blocked and health hazards invented. Still, thousands of crosses a year were placed on the hill under the cover of night and in 1993, after liberation, it was visited and blessed by Pope John Paul II.
2. The City of Kaunus
The capital of Lithuania from 1920 to 1940, Kaunus is still the centre of Lithuania’s museum and art culture. Catch classical music festivals at Pažaislis Abbey, meander down its picturesque high street or immerse yourself in Lithuanian’s rollercoaster history: wartime museums and galleries dedicated to national artists are all within walking distance of each other.
3. The Curonian Spit
A popular destination for German and Polish tourists, the centre-piece of this beautiful area in the west of the country is a fragile bar of sand that’s split between Russia and Lithuania. The fine grain of its beaches are legendary, as is the lush forest surrounding the region – the home of many deer and rare plants, it was recognised as a World Heritage Site in 2000. It’s very flat, so hire a bike and go bird watching: between 10,000 and 20,000 birds rest here during the migratory period.
4. Stalin World (Grūtas Park)
Opened by a man who made his fortune canning mushrooms, this bizarre theme park in the south of Lithuania aims to recreate as accurately as possible the country’s time under Soviet rule. Part of the experience is a Siberian Gulag camp complete with barbed wire and a passenger train used to transport prisoners.
As Russian music plays from speakers, you’ll wander around to see over 20 occupation-era statues of Lenin, Stalin and other Communist heroes, eat basic Russian food and push your children on swings in the Soviet playground.
