Sightseeings

Aukstaitijos National Park, one of five national parks of Lithuania (40570 ha), situated in the north eastern part of the country, is beguiling in its natural purity. It offers a forest landscape typical of Lithuania. Forests, mostly coniferous, make up 69% of the park territory. Here, approximately 200 lakes are interconnected by many streams and stretch outward. The lake largest in area is Druksciai (45 sq.km) and the deepest is lake Tauragnai (60 m).

Europe Park. Founded in 1991, this is a place to enjoy wonderful scenery and artistic impressions. In an open area of 55 hectares there are currently displayed modern statues, performed in different ways, contemporary shapes and materials, inspired by fascinating ideas of more than 90 artists from various countries. The amazing composition Info Tree has been recorded at the World Guiness Book’2001. It is composed of old TV sets and reflects the labyrinth of Soviet propaganda.

In the vicinities of Palanga it is worthwhile to visit Kretinga township (12 km) and Orvydu Homestead. In Kretinga you will see another manor of count Tiskevicius, which was once famous as the largest Winter garden in Europe. Up till now it attracts visitors by great diversity of exotic plants, and it is a good place to have lunch at the restaurant At Count’s, established there among lush greenery and waterfalls. The palace houses also Kretinga Museum.

Vilnius (Vilna, Wilno in Latin and Slavonic languages) was always a multilinqual, multinational city. The street names in the old town prove it: here one will find Rusu (Russian), Vokieciu (German), Totoriu (Tartar), Zydu (Jewish) streets. In the old town stands a monument to the philosopher, reformer of the Talmud, Rabbi Elijah, the Vilna Gaon (1720-1797). Thanks to him Vilnius became the most prominent centre of the Jewish religion and culture, and in the 20th century was called the Northern Jerusalem, Jerusalem of Eeastern Europe. In Vilnius, the city of hundred synagogues, lived the classic of Yiddish literature, writer Shalom Aleichem (1859-1916), king of the violin Jasha Heifetz.