Kaunas city days, festival / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Lee Fenner

1. Sea Festival: Klaipėda

The city of Klaipėda is the only city in Lithuania which is right on the ocean. So it comes as no great surprise to find out that an annual sea festival is held here. The Klaipėda sea festival was started in 1934, and it currently attracts over half a million people who participate in three-days of non-stop action.

It’s usually held at the end of July or beginning of August and the streets are filled with markets, street concerts, children’s performances, and even a special carnival where attendees dress as mythological sea creatures. There are also several competitions related to fishing and sport, as well as an international sailing event. The pubs and bars are open much later during this period, and a free fireworks display is given on the last day of the festival.

2. Film Festival: Vilnius “Kino pavasaris” – Cinema Spring

This film festival was started in 2005 and is now an annual event, with attendance growing every year. The point of this festival is to showcase new non-commercial films, from other popular film festivals such as the Berlin, Toronto and Venice, as well as to give new directors from Eastern and Central Europe a chance to debut.

The film festival in 2011 saw over 60,000 attendees, compared to the original 4,000 only 6 years earlier. The event is held annually between March and April. Cinemas around the city of Vilnius showcase a wide variety of films, and the programme line-up includes talks from well-known directors, along with movie-making workshops, short film competitions as well as film debates.

3. Folk Festival: “Mėnuo Juodaragis” – Black Horned Moon

This contemporary Baltic culture festival hosts the largest number of foreign visitors, with over twenty-five countries represented in the last few years. The music played here is incredibly varied and styles include avant-garde, ethno, post-folk, gothic, neo-folk, and ambient, to name but a few. The festival runs for three days, all day and night, and focuses on the Baltic culture and the heritage of pagan traditions.

Music isn’t all that’s on offer, as there are many activities and training seminars on offer, focused on a variety of subject matter including folk dances, sports, arty films, DJ parties, traditional rites and tribal workshops.

4. Music Festival: Tamsa Music

This highly acclaimed music festival was first held in 2009, and has become a much-loved annual event. The festival is held each year on an isle in the Valley of Songs (Dainų slėnis), with the main focus being on live performances and Lithuanian music, although several foreign artists such as Little Dragon from Sweden also perform annually.

If you want to attend, you’d best book your tickets early, as visitor numbers are limited to preserve the natural beauty of Dainų slėnis.

5. Theatre Festival: “Sirenos” – Sirens International Theatre Festival

Held annually in October in the city of Vilnius, the international theatre festival is called “Sirenos” (Sirens) and is a week-and-a-bit long affair, with a different theme every year. Why the mythological name you wonder? Well in Greek mythology, Sirens were half-bird, half women (not mermaids) who sang and tempted sailors into joining them on the rocky coast, which more often than not led to the death of the crew.

The festival is promoted as a temptation, “an invitation, a magical spell impossible to overcome” and for most theatre-goers it delivers on that promise. Contemporary European performances, as well as comedy skits, dramatic and ironic plays, and even some whimsical imaginings are presented to an ever growing audience.

Author Bio: Roseanna McBain is the blogger for the accommodation website, TravelGround.com – which specialises in accommodation in the Drakensberg. In her spare time she enjoys writing poetry, gardening, and visiting local farmers markets.

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Illustrative photo of nearby city of Vilnius – if you have actual photo of Utena, please let us know. Author: F H Mira

Utena today is mainly an industrial city with food and clothing factories. Especially famous is the local beer Utenos. Most of the streets, squares and public parks have been renovated in recent years and Utena becomes a favorite travel destination for those looking for both the quiet and sporty recreation. In 2007, despite its industrial orientation, was proclaimed the second most pleasant city to live in an international competition in the category of cities with ten to fifty thousand inhabitants. Utena have several extensive parks and many opportunities for recreation.

About 5 kilometres north of Utena you can visit the village Sirutenai where you will find Museum of Bells and Arts, which was founded by a local sculptor. Despite the efforts of the Soviets to destroy all the chapels, crucifixes and churches here at the roads they survived until today. You have to see 300 bells of all shapes and sizes.

Not far from Utena you can find another village Dusetos, which is known for the annual horse races on the frozen lake Sartai.

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Kaunas is located in central Lithuania, about 100 km west of Vilnius, at the confluence of rivers Neris and Nemunas, which are two largest rivers of Lithuania. According to a legend the city was founded by a son of two young lovers Milda and Daugerutis, who was begotten in a cave near the present city of Kaunas. Archaeologists are of the opinion that Kaunas was founded in the 13th century, but the first written mention dates from 1361.

Today Kaunas is an important shipping port, with nice architecture and many museums. The historical center is located around the square Rotušės aikštė. Vilniaus gatvė paved street is the main artery crossing the magical Old Town. In the 13th century, this street was even connected with the capital city of Vilnius. In the vicinity of this street you can visit the museum of folk music and instruments. Perhaps the most expressive building is the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul from 1410, which has a baroque look. Inside the cathedral there are nine altars and the tomb of Kaunas’ priest and poet Maironise.

Do not miss the visit to remains of Kaunas castle, there is repaired tower, the walls and moat. The castle was founded in the 13th century and served as an important base on the western border of Lithuania.

In Kaunas there are nine view-points, which offer beautiful views of the Old and New Town.

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In the delta of this Lithuanian river lies the island of Rusnė, which is, with its area of ​​4800 hectares, the largest island in the country. Moreover, it is still increasing by 15 to 20cm annually. The island is a haven for 270 of the 325 Lithuanian bird species. Wetlands here are a paradise for ornithologists. The best place for bird watching is Naikupė, Uostadvaris or Rusnė. Among the millions of species of birds that flies over the island every year, you can see also rare species such as black stork, white-tailed eagle, Black-tailed Godwit etc.

Neman (Nemunas) river, Lithuania by Claire

Rusnė Island is also a place of migratory water birds, as it lies on a major bird migration route – East Atlantic Flyway (birds flying from the Arctic through Europe to East Africa). Birds stop here to gain strength.

In Nemunas Delta Natural Park there is also an important ornithological station and museum. The first Ringing station was founded here already in 1929, but just in the years of 1959 – 1960, the large bird traps were installed here. In 1998 the station celebrated its interesting anniversary – ringed its millionth bird.

The information centers, located in Rusnė, Ventė and Šilutė, offer educational trips associated with bird watching and fishing. Another option is a boat trip with an English or German speaking guide, which guides you through the many waterways in the park. It is also possible to arrange accommodation in the farm or to arrange fishing permits.

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The creation of this Japanese garden started in 2007 by Šarūnas Kasmauskas in collaboration with the architects of Japanese gardens from Japan (e.g. Hadžime Watanabe, Hiroshi Cunoda…) and is still in progress. The works slowed down considerably sudden economic crisis in 2009. The largest Japanese garden in Europe (16 ha) will be called the Valley of singing stones (Lithuanian Dainuojančių akmenų slėnis). It is located on a hill musicians (Lithuanian Musicians kalnas), the highest hill in the area (its altitude is 32.4 m above sea level). During the establishment of a pond on the hill, a total of 24 springs have been revealed.

The project has no official sponsors yet, nor by the European Union, nor by the Lithuanian State. All funding is coming from the owner – S. Kasmauskas, his family and from charitable donations.

Japanese gardens are one of the important aesthetic elements of Japanese culture. Impress even those that are not closer interested in the culture of this country. The rules of their creation have been developed almost a thousand years. Although the western style gardens are very different, they attract anyone who has a sense of beauty.

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In Vilnius you can see the castle ruins, mosque, synagogue, and almost 40 churches. Old Town and the Cathedral Square form the heart of Vilnius. Three bronze statues on the shield of the cathedral are Saint Casimir on the south side, Saint Stanislaus on the north and Saint Helena in the centre. Chapel of Saint Casimir, located at the side of the ship was built in Baroque style. The tomb of Alexander Jagiello – Grand Duke of Lithuania, is located below the chapel.

It is very easy to get lost in Vilnius thanks to the dozens of narrow streets and a number of squares. Thus you can miss some of the most architecturally interesting buildings, such as the church in the shape of a pyramid. The old Jewish quarter, ghetto, the presidential palace, the university and the observatory are among other city’s sights.

The presidential palace was originally the residence of general governors, in 1812 the residence of Napoleon and after his expulsion it was a residence of Marshal Kutuzov. University areal consists of several buildings, including the church, which are interconnected by courtyards.

Magnificent example of Lithuanian Gothic architecture is St. Anne’s Church from the 16th century. Next to it there is a church of the Bernardine Monastery from the same period. In front of this complex there is a statue of Adam Mickiewicz (Polish-Lithuanian poet, publisher and political writer of the Romantic period).

You can pass through one of eight city gates which are remainings of the city walls, which dates from the 16th century. If you get off the Hill of the Three Crosses, which still commemorates three monks that were allegedly tortured to death here, you will obtain a beautiful view of the city. More to the west, lies the new town, where you can find City Hall. In the past, it housed the Gestapo, then KGB and now it houses the Museum of Genocide of Lithuanian nation.

Less than thirty kilometres north of the city there is the geographical middle of Europe, which was established by the French National Geographical Institute. This centre symbolizes the pyramid, which contains the names of all major European cities and their distance from the center of Europe.

Vilnius was European Capital of Culture in 2009, together with Linz (Austria).

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Kuršių Nerija National Park, Lithuania by fintlandia

Kuršių Nerija National Park has now become a popular tourist site and holiday resort, which is also one of the largest deposits of amber in the world.

Kuršių Nerija National Park contains of a range of pine forests and sand dunes, through which is sometimes referred to as the Baltic Sahara. The unique character of the landscape brought Curonian Spit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The larger part of the Curonian Spit in Lithuania is a part of Kuršių Nerija National Park covering an area of 265 km2 (98km2 are covered by land, and 167km2 by water). The park has been established in 1991 but the first steps to protect this area were undertaken already in 1960, when Curonian Spit became a Nature Reserve.

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Aukštaitija National Park has been established in 1974, in the eastern side of the country, where are located the most attractive sceneries of the Baltic States. Aukštaitija National Park is situated at an altitude of about 150 meters and was previously created by the glacier. About 70% of the park is covered with pines, firs and deciduous forests that are home to moose, deer and boar.

Aukštaitija National Park, Lithuania by Wojsyl

As the most beautiful section of the park is considered Aukštaitija, which in Lithuanian means “highland”. Right here you can find 126 lakes, of which the deepest one is 60,5 meters deep and is located on the northern edge of the park. You can enjoy the best view of the lake from the tops of the surrounding hills, that reach a maximum height of 200 meters above sea level. One of them is Ledakalnis where you can get by following the marked path. From there you can see six or seven local lakes. One of the most beautiful lakes in Aukštaitija National Park is Baluosas lake that covers an area of 442 hectares and is entirely surrounded by woods. The lake is attractive because it surrounds seven islands, and in one of the island, the new additional lake has been created.

Aukštaitija National Park became a home to 194 kinds of birds and 60 kinds of other animals, including rare rock and sea eagles. Some parts of the national park are closed for tourists, or can be visited only with a guide. These include Trainiskis reservation with Baltys and Gruodiskes lakes or Ažvinčiai forest that is home to lots of 150-200 year-old pine trees.

Lūšiai lake in Palūšė, Lithuania by Wojsyl

The area with lakes is very popular for tourists especially those who love canoeing and camping, but also for the hikers who will find numerous marked trails here. In some areas of the park it is allowed to collect mushrooms and berries.

Aukštaitija National Park contains a hundred villages, some of which date back to the 18th century. Five of them – Šuminai, Salos II, Vaišnoriškes, Varniškés II and Strazdai were even declared as protected ethnographic centres. Ginučiai Village boasts a watermill from the 19th century, and the village Stripeikiai has a Museum of ancient bee-keeping. The park has several ancient piliakalnis (fortification mounds), such as Taurapilio on the southern shore of Lake Tauragnas.

Wooden church in Paluse, Lithuania by Wojsyl

The great attractions of the park also include wooden churches and bell tower from 1750 that you can even find on 1 LTL bills. Another interesting part of the park is the path lined with wooden statues and leads around the lake Lusiai, which is a typical example of popular folklore.

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There are two parks in the region:

Trakai Historical National Park was established in 1991 to preserve Trakai as a centre of Lithuanian statehood and its authentic nature as well. It is the only historical national park in Europe.

Aukštadvaris Regional Park was established in 1992 to preserve the landscapes of Verknė and Strėva upper reaches.

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Lithuania is the most populous of the three Baltic States. Lithuania’s surface is mostly flat except for a few small hills on the western plateau and the eastern highlands. The highest point is at the Aukštasis top in 294 meters. Lithuania has 758 rivers within its territory, more than 2,800 lakes and 99 km long coast of the Baltic Sea, which is mainly used for recreation and is the subject of conservation. Forest area covers just over 30% of the country.

Approximately 84% of the population are ethnic Lithuanians. The two largest minorities are Poles, with more than 6%, and Russians with more than 5%. The Lithuanian language belongs to the Indo-European languages.

Capital of Lithuania – Vilnius is a picturesque port on the banks of the rivers Neris and Vilna with one of the architecturally most impressive old towns in Eastern Europe. University of Vilnius, founded in 1579, is the Renaissance complex with countless inner courtyards, which are like city within a city.

Lithuanian cuisine is known abroad mainly for its cold beet soup. Regular part of meals are potatoes, which are the most popular cakes and Cepelinai – potato dumplings stuffed with meat, cream cheese and mushrooms.

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