"Lithuania" Top 5 Page for this destination Lithuania by giedre

Lithuania Travel Guide: 5,084 reviews and 10,881 photos

Capital of Lithuania-Vilnius - Lithuania

DO U KNOW THAT....

Lithuania was a last pagan state converted to Christianity in Europe.the Christian religion was accepted in 1387.Western region of the country, called Samogita(Zemaitija),coz of its uncertain political status was not converted until 1413,making it the last place in Europe to abadon paganism.
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Lithuania is Baltic group Indo-European language with roots in Sanskrit. The European languages to which it bares much resemblance are Latvian & extinct Prussian.Lith. has preserved its very archaic character,which makes it especially interesting for linguists.It did not become a written language until 16th century & was 1st used for official purposes as recently as 1918, when the LITHUANIAN REPUBLIC was established.
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In 15th century Grand Duchy of Lithuania reached the apogee of its power.Lith. lands extended from the Baltic to the Black Sea where it held 150km. of shoreline to the East, its borders fell just over 100km. of Moscow.
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Lithuania is considered to be an East European country & probably you will be surprised to find out that the centre of continental Europe lies just 27km. north of the city Vilnius. It was calculated by French Geographical Institute in 1994.
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Vilnius University, founded by Jesuits during the struggle with the Reformation in 1579,is one of the oldest high school in Eastern Europe.

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Basketball is a sport which Lithuanians are crazy about. The subject of their special pride is men's basketball semi-final of Olimpic Games 2000 played with Americal professionals.US team advanced to the final of the tournament after the tightest possible finish.the two-point margin of competition (85-83) is considered as Lithuanian victory, which shows the world that the eternal leadership of US basketball could be over!!!
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BEER IS THE MOST POPULAR LITHUANIAN DRINK.EACH CITY OF THE COUNTRY HAS ITS OWN BREWERY & BREW HIGH QUALITY BEER WHICH BECOMES WORLDWIDE RECOGNISED. KLAIPEDA'S "SVYTURYS" WAS AWARDED WITH SILVER AWARD AT THE WORLD BEER CUP IN NEW YORK IN 2000.!!!!!!
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Conde Nast Traveler (US) put Vilnius & Lithuania on the list of hot destinations for this decade & Sunday Express(UK) described Lithuanian capital as the most beautiful undiscovered city in Europe. So go on, make your move-before everyone else does-& explore Vilnius where culture, heritage & landscape all add the blend which makes Vilnius expierence so special...

1009-Bruno of Querfurt discovers Lithuania.

1253(6july)-Mindaugas is crowned king.

1385-Jogaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania, becomes King of Poland, Lithuanian-Polish raprrochement begins.

1323-during the reign of Grand Duke of Lithuania GediminasVilnius was first mentioned as the capital of Lithuania

1387-the Grand Duke Jogaila after entering into royalunion with Poland & christianising Lithuania granted Vilnius municipal rights.

1410-the army, led by two cousins, Jogaila the King of Poland & Vytautas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, acieved a resounding victory in the historic Battle of Grunewald(Zalgiris)against the Teutonic knights. Vilnius was able to expand southwards from the confines of the original site.
(p.s. one of the best basketball teams is called 'Zalgiris' ).

1495-the first goldsmith & sewing crafts guilds were established. Vilnius starts its expanding as trade, industrial & cultural centre of Eastern Europe.

1522-Pranciskus Skoryna estblished the very first Printing House of the city.Vilnius flourished as a city of merchants & craftsmen,becoming one of the great book printing centres of Europe.

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1569-VILNIUS IS LOST ITS SIGNIFICANCE AFTER LUBLIN UNION, WHEN THE COMMONWEALTH OF LITHUANIA & POLAND WAS CREATED, & WARSAW, THANX TO ITS CENTRAL LOCATION,BECAME THE HUB OF THE HUGE UNITED STATE.(just imagine, that there are many (especialy old ones) polish shouting that Vilnius is their! they wish it was!)

1579-the school founded by Jesuits in 1570 was raised to University status & became the most important cultural centre in the region.

1795-following the third Partition of the Lithuanian-Polish State Lithuania was annexed to Russia & Vilnius became the centre of the Governor-General's province.

1831-after the failed Rebelion Vilnius University was closed, Catholic churches were changed to Russian Orthodox & monastieres were either closed, orcoverted into military barraks.

1834-an optical telegraph line, stretching from St. Petersburg-Vilnius-Warsaw, was installed.

1860-1869-the St.Petersburg-Vilnius-Warsaw railway was compleated, the first gas factory was build & the first brewery was established.

IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY VILNIUS BECAME THE CENTRE OF LITHUANIAN NATIONAL REVIVAL.

1918-on February 16 the restoration of the Independent State of Lithuania was proclaimed.

1920-POLAND ANNEXED VILNIUS & THE LITHUANIAN CAPITAL WAS TRANSFERRED TO KAUNAS!

1939-Lithuanian independence ended with the secret signing of the Mototov-Ribbentrop pact & agreeing on a division of political spheres of influence.THE SOVIET RESTORED VILNIUS TO LITHUANIA AS ITS CAPITAL IN RETURN FOR THE RIGHT TO ESTBLISH MILITARY BASES THERE.

1940-(15june)-The Soviet Union occupies & annexes the Republic of Lithuania.

1941-1944-during the II World War Vilnius Old Town suttered great losses.However, the majority of the most valuable monuments survived.LITHUANIA IS OCCUPIED BY GERMANY.

1944-1953-The Soviet Unioncarries out organised persecution, mass deportations & forced collectivization.Lithuania's armed resistance movement.

1990-ON MARCH 11 THE SUPREME COUNCIL ANNOUNCED LITHUANIA'S INDEPENDENCE RESTORED & A NEW CULTURAL SOCIAL & ECONOMICAL REVIVAL PERIOD COMMENCED IN THE COUNTRY & ITS CAPITAL!
:)
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HUMAN LOSSES IN LITHUANIA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 20TH CENTURY:
1941-repatriation of Lithuania's Germens (50.000people); the first mass deportations to the Soviet Union (23.000people);
1941-1944-Nazi genocide of the Jews(220.000people);
1943-1944-10.000people taken to forced labour in Germany;60.000people flee to the West;
1945-140.000inhabitants of Klaipeda district emigrte;
1945-1946-200.000Lithuanian Poles deported ("repatriated")to Poland;
1945-1953-mass deportations to Siberia & other eastern parts of the Soviet Union (250.000people);
1941-1951-about 25.000 resistance fighters & 10.000 Soviet activists & supporters killed.
IN THIS PERIOD LITHUANIA LOST ALMOST 30% OF ITS ONHABITANTS.
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Last visit to Lithuania: Jun 2005
Intro Updated Jul 5, 2005
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Reviews (23)

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1 - 4 of 4

Comments (46)

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tourdetour Dec 15, 2010 at 4:01 AM

Svyturys baltijos is an amazin dark beer! Amber colour, thick head, caramel-like aroma. Not too sweet, pleasant bready aftertaste. I liked it a lot, definitely would recomd to try it! Doesnt feel that strong :)
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iaint Nov 17, 2008 at 8:13 AM

I'm overdue a return visit.
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DreamHolidayTravels Nov 3, 2008 at 6:39 AM

Very nice page about your great country of Lithuania. Thank you.
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gildapaolina Nov 3, 2008 at 6:32 AM

Happy birthday from Sardinia, Giedre, su gimtadieniu! Lithuania is a great country and I always keep it in my heart :) Gil
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dbspeech May 19, 2007 at 7:37 AM

One thing I've noticed in reviews by second language learners of English: misunderstanding of what Tourist Trap means. It means a negtative thing, what tourists have to watch out for like being overcharged. A bit of a language confusion.
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sourbugger Oct 30, 2005 at 11:15 AM

certainly a very indivdual view of lithuania - thanks
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sadauskt Jul 19, 2005 at 10:55 AM

Giedre, Laba diena. Great page about Lithuanian customs. One thing, your map should move Suvalkija to the southwest corner. Visited Lietuva in 2002. Tomas
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Kajron Jul 18, 2005 at 4:58 AM

I like this page, expeciallly Lithuanian traditions, thanks to put these pics.
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Pablo_krak Mar 2, 2005 at 12:19 PM

Nice page and very useful infos about Lithuania :) Greetz Pawel
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easyoar Nov 5, 2004 at 12:03 AM

Lithuanian translated to German for an English speaking website! All sounds Greek to me!! Some very nice pages! Andy