Lithuania Off The Beaten Path

  Nida - Typical houses
by HORSCHECK
 
  • Nida - Typical houses
      Nida - Typical houses
    by HORSCHECK
  • Green Bridge - Statue
      Green Bridge - Statue
    by HORSCHECK
  • sculpture in Klaipeda
      sculpture in Klaipeda
    by aterola
  • Sculpture in Klaipeda
      Sculpture in Klaipeda
    by aterola
  • Nida - Thomas Mann Museum
      Nida - Thomas Mann Museum
    by HORSCHECK
 

Most Viewed Off The Beaten Path in Lithuania

1.

Trakai   Vilnius

Trakai, Vilnius

 13 Reviews  Our half day tour to Trakai Castle was the individual highlight of our 2 days in Vilnius. The fortified castle built on an island by Grand Duke Vietautas during the 15th century and now fully restored... 

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2.

Old town details   Vilnius

Old town details, Vilnius

 15 Reviews  Walking south from the Town Walls and the Bastion we passed through some old streets with old houses really in bad conditions, which need absolutely some restorations, after which they could become... 

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3.

TV tower   Vilnius

TV tower, Vilnius

 10 Reviews  The skyline of Vilnius is dominated by TV Tower located in the suburbs, southwest of the centre/downtown. With the height of 326 m (1071 ft) it was the tallest tower in Lithuania and the second... 

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4.

Churches   Vilnius

Churches, Vilnius

 13 Reviews  Since I talked about this church just here above, let's show it! ;-) It's really not too off the beaten path, since it lies in Lukiškių aikste, a big green square between the Parliament... 

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5.

Zaliasis bridge   Vilnius

Zaliasis bridge, Vilnius

 10 Reviews  Across the river, check out the Stalin-era statues. Legend has it Lithuanians left the statues up as a way to poke fun of the old Soviet regime. The statue photo apparently pays tribute to industry... 

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6.

Districts of Vilnius   Vilnius

Districts of Vilnius, Vilnius

 13 Reviews  From the observation deck of Vilnius TV tower I could see never ending districts of grey, huge, Soviet-style apartment buildings. I must admit than they looked quite better from the far distance than... 

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7.

Statues and fountains   Vilnius

Statues and fountains, Vilnius

 16 Reviews  Great Polish poet and writer Juliusz Slowacki (1809–49) lived, attended primary school and gymnasium in Vilnius. Then he studied... law at Vilnius university. He left Vilnius in 1828. After anti-tzar... 

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8.

Sovietic-era buildings and other relicts   Vilnius

Sovietic-era buildings and other relicts, Vilnius

 11 Reviews  Grutas Park (Gruto Parkas) is a large outdoor park which exhibits all sorts of Soviet relicts, such as sculptures, monuments or vehicles. It was opened in 2001 by a private entrepreneur. The park is... 

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9.

Famous buildings   Vilnius

Famous buildings, Vilnius

 6 Reviews  I took a morning walk from my Crowne Plaza Hotel. Walking eastwards M.K. Ciurlionio gatve (street) I could see this building with two white domes on my picture in a park on the left (north) at... 

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10.

Modern buildings   Vilnius

Modern buildings, Vilnius

 3 Reviews  I had to zoom when I was walking around the observation deck of Vilnius TV tower. And...in the middle of cement desert of Soviet-style identical grey apartments buildings I saw... look at my picture.... 

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11.

Europe park   Vilnius

Europe park, Vilnius

 4 Reviews  Little known fact - The geographical centre of Europe is 15-20 km north of Vilnius. So, no, it's not Germany/Switzerland/Poland as one might have thought. We had hoped to get there, but apparently... 

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12.

Kernave   Vilnius

Kernave, Vilnius

 2 Reviews   There was a well-known Lithuanian capital in XIII century, but it's only a little city now. Anyway, it's important to know about past of Lithuania. There is a museum of history, old mounts,... 

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13.

Cemeteries   Vilnius

Cemeteries, Vilnius

 3 Reviews  The Bernadine Cemetery (Bernadinu kapines) was founded in 1810 by Bernadine monks on the site of an old cemetery. It was closed in the 1970's and since then remained almost unchanged. It contains... 

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14.

Panoramas   Vilnius

Panoramas, Vilnius

 5 Reviews  I always say that the best way to enjoy a town is just going around with no particular goal... in fact here we found this very nice view of the new town, with some older buildings in the front, the... 

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15.

Wooden architecture   Vilnius

Wooden architecture, Vilnius

 2 Reviews  I could see only a few wooden houses in Vilnius but exclusively outside the old town. Well, the compact urban area of the old town was wooden in the old past but was surely damaged by fires. Only... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Senieji Trakai - homeland of Vytautas the Great

by Raimix

Senieji Trakai is a village, known of its planning, still kept the same as from 16the century. Anyway, the main thing why people visit this place is a mound with a church. In medieval times, 14th century, Vytautas the Great born here, in nowadays not survived castle.Here stands the church, constructed in neo - gothic style in 1899. Nearby is a monastery building. The road to Senieji Trakai from Trakai is adorned by wooden sculptures.

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Medininkai - square form medieval castle

by Raimix

Medininkai is known for its castle from 13th century. It was one of the most significant castles in Grand Duchy of Lithuania and built on influence of Gothic and Romanic architectures. Even gates of Dawn of Vilnius old town sometimes are called "Medininkai gates", because here was the road from Vilnius castle to Medininkai castle. This defensive structure was used against attacks of crusaders and mainly was saving other former capitals - Trakai, Vilnius.Nowdays it is under the renovation. Actually if you come to Medininkai you could head to the highest point of Lithuania (about 294 meters). Thats funny, but Lithuania is quite plain country :)For further information you could visit my page of Medininkai.

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Semeliskes - cozy town with old wooden church

by Raimix

The place is known from 13th century. It is predicted that Grand Duke of Lithuanian Duchy Traidenis gave land here for Prussians and Western Lithuanians to live, as they were refugees of intensive war action in Western part of Lithuania. At that time crusaders tried to “christianise” Lithuania, occupying lands. Later, in 1501, first church was built here, place is religic spot as well – from year of 1772 people gather here for feast of St. Rock.Place is known for nice folk style wooden church, small Orthodox church, mill and beautiful landscape around.For further information you could visit my page of Semeliskes.

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Lentvaris - English style palace and park site

by Raimix

Mostly it started to develop from 19th century, when in 1861-1862 railroad Warsaw - St. Petersburg was driven. Lentvaris was the land, where famous landowner Tiskevicius had his minor. Part of minor still exists. In Lentvaris there are beautiful park and church, funded by Tiskevicius.It is quite interesting to me that all these must see places in Lentvaris are in red colour (red bricks). For further information you could visit my page of Lentvaris.

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Grutas Soviet Statue's Park

by Sonic747

Grutas Park located in southern Lithuania near Druskininkai contains statues of communist "heroes" which were torn down all over Lithuania. One local enthusiast bought them and created this park. It is quite neat and it is built in forest. Other kinds of Soviet "art" are exhibitioned, not only statues. There is also hall of Soviet painings, in other hall Soviet slogans (in Lithuanian and Russian), films and books are presented. Also a train (sme like exiled people were transported to Siberia) is shown. Wooden statues are built for politicians, who opposed idea of this park and also there are many pages of newspapers in many languages from all over the world commenting the park at one wall. You may buy Soviet souvenirs and taste Soviet food also.Costs: 5 Litas for adult and 2 litas for children

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Purnuskes - geographical centre of Europe

by Raimix

Purnuskes is about 26 kilometers from Vilnius. The village itself is nothing special, but nearby it geographical centre of Europe is located, signed by flags of different Europe's countries and a column.Centre here was recognized by National France geographical institute in 1989. I should say there are more Europe's centers around, in Poland, Ukraine, Austria, but this one is said to be the most precise.

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Taujenai - small town with big palace

by Raimix

Taujenai is known from 1595 as a small town with manor. In end of 18th century the new manor was constructed with a help of an architect from Italy Pedro Rossini. First landowner was Mariconi, later Radziwili. It is one of fully reconstructed manors in Lithuania, the example of classicism style.Taujenai is also known for classicism style church of Holy Cross (1823 – 1858). It is named as a smaller sister of Vilnius cathedral.

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Norviliskes - border village with castle

by Raimix

Norviliskes is a border town with Belarus. Nearby wooden church that was built in 1929 you see the protected fence here and Belarus’ forest in other side of it.Norviliskes is the most known from a renaissance style castle from 16 – 17th centuries. For a long time it was used as monastery. Nowadays it is restored, used as a restaurant. Norviliskes houses an international music festival Be2Gether.

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Sesuoleliai - English cottage style palace

by Raimix

This village amazed me by rare to Lithuania English cottage style palace. The manor was constructed in end of 19th century – beginning of 20th century. At interwar time Lithuanian president A. Smetona loved to meet the owner colonel J. Variakojis. Nowadays here is a luxurious hotel with beautiful landscape around.

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Liskiava - beautiful scenery with monastery

by Raimix

Liskiava is known already from year of 1044. At the 13th century the castle was constructed here, but lost its importance in 1410, after famous battle of Grunewald (Zalgiris). Liskiava was always a small town (or so called “village”), but known as significant defensive site in medieval times.Nowadays it has great Baroque style monastery, mounds near the bank of Nemunas to watch panoramical views. It is one of tourism spots in Dzukija region.For further information you could visit my page of Liskiava.

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Top 3 Hotels in Lithuania

Radisson SAS Astorija Hotel Vilnius  Vilnius

 8 Reviews and 101 Opinions  The Radisson Sas is one very nice hotel here in the old city. Good location where you can walk to... 

 Hotels in Vilnius

Park Inn Kaunas  Kaunas

 5 Reviews and 115 Opinions  New modern hotel. Now name Reval hotel Neris. I work in Reval hotel so i know how everything is... 

 Hotels in Kaunas

Promenada  Klaipeda

 4 Reviews and 8 Opinions  I didn't stay in the hotel myself, but I know from my guests, that there is a good breakfast and... 

 Hotels in Klaipeda

Questions and Answers

Benjamin08 profile photo

Q:  How would somebody describe a road Trakai – Alytaus – Lazdiai – Augustow (Poland). If do it, than via Dirvoniskes or not? I am... 

remigia profile photo

A: hi It depends what you want. If you are just driving then it's ordinary road, going mostly through forest, fields and small villages. Road quality is quite o.k. If you... 

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