Marilyn’s Lithuanian Adventure

August 2022

After years of planning, I am finally traveling to Lithuania, home to many of my ancestors. I am joined by Scott Slykas and Joanne Zrenda Moore. This is the first time since my Grandfather left Lithuania in 1913 that anyone in his family has visited. Read more

List of countries

Lithuania
Denmark
United States

Categories

Culture, Family, Sightseeing, Tours

11.3kmiles traveled

Means of transport

Flight9,474kilometers
Walking-kilometers
Hiking-kilometers
Bicycle-kilometers
Motorbike-kilometers
Tuk Tuk-kilometers
Car-kilometers
Train-kilometers
Bus-kilometers
Camper-kilometers
Caravan-kilometers
4x4-kilometers
Swimming-kilometers
Paddling/Rowing-kilometers
Motorboat-kilometers
Sailing-kilometers
Houseboat-kilometers
Ferry-kilometers
Cruise ship-kilometers
Horse-kilometers
Skiing-kilometers
Hitchhiking-kilometers
Cable car-kilometers
Helicopter-kilometers
Barefoot-kilometers

Newest first

Footprints
Photos

Traveler Marilyn’s Lithuanian Adventure
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- Day 3
- Monday, August 8, 2022 at 9:55 AM
- ☀️ 61 °F
- Altitude: 374 ft
- Lithuania University of Vilnius 54.685722, 25.28843154°41’9” N 25°17’18” E
Gediminas Monument Near The Cathedral
August 8, 2022 in Lithuania ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
The bronze sculpture of Duke Gediminas is placed near a horse, facing the Cathedral Bell Tower. He holds a sword in his left hand and blesses the city with his right hand.

Gediminas was the founder of Trakai and Vilnius, and one of the most famous rulers of ancient Lithuania. Gediminas lived from 1275 to 1341 and ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for 25 years. He moved the capital of Lithuania from Trakai to Vilnius. He was best known as a diplomat who drew Europe's attention to Lithuania. It was in Gediminas' letters to Western Europe in 1323 that first mention the name of Vilnius. This date is now considered to mark the beginning of Vilnius.

The area of Lithuania doubled in size during Gediminas' rule. He extended the state borders and sphere of influence of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to the far east and to the south.Read more
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- Day 3
- Monday, August 8, 2022 at 10:03 AM
- ☀️ 63 °F
- Altitude: 367 ft
- Lithuania University of Vilnius 54.685272, 25.28853854°41’7” N 25°17’19” E
Random Courtyard
August 8, 2022 in Lithuania ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
This is a random photo of one of the many courtyards in Vilnius. The "alleys" of Vilnius have many of these openings. Some are for parking for the surrounding apartments, some have restaurants, and some have shops inside.Read more
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Traveler Marilyn’s Lithuanian Adventure
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- Day 3
- Monday, August 8, 2022 at 10:06 AM
- ☀️ 63 °F
- Altitude: 354 ft
- Lithuania University of Vilnius 54.683272, 25.29218454°40’60” N 25°17’32” E
St. Anne's Church in Vilnius
August 8, 2022 in Lithuania ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
St. Anne’s Church at the Bernadine Monastery is 500 years old and remains a prime example of Gothic architecture. At least 33 different types of bricks were used for the original facade ornamentation. Bricks were used because Lithuania did not have sandstone, limestone, or other types of natural building materials.

The Church of St. Anne was built for Anna, Grand Duchess of Lithuania, and wife to Vytautas the Great. The church was burned down in 1419 and then rebuilt in brick on the orders of the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander I Jagiellon. Consecrated back in 1500, the facade seen today is largely unchanged since its reconstruction in the 1400s.

According to legend, the church is so captivating that Napoleon Bonaparte—who spotted the church during the Franco-Russian War in 1812—wished to carry the church home with him to Paris “in the palm of his hand.”

The church is under major internal repairs so we were not able to enter on the day we visited.Read more
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Traveler Marilyn’s Lithuanian Adventure
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- Day 3
- Monday, August 8, 2022 at 10:14 AM
- ☀️ 63 °F
- Altitude: 354 ft
- Lithuania University of Vilnius 54.683272, 25.29218454°40’60” N 25°17’32” E
Three Crosses in Vilnius
August 8, 2022 in Lithuania ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
Three Crosses is a prominent monument in Vilnius, Lithuania, on the Hill of Three Crosses, originally known as the Bald Hill, in Kalnai Park. According to a legend, which finds its source in some historic events, seven Franciscan friars were beheaded on top of this hill. Wooden crosses have been located there since the early 17th century, and they have become a symbol of the city and an integral part of the city's skyline.

As the wood rotted, the crosses needed to be periodically replaced. In 1916, a concrete monument was designed by Polish–Lithuanian architect and sculptor Antoni Wiwulski or Antanas Vivulskis in Lithuanian. It was torn down in 1950 by an order of the Soviet authorities. A new monument designed by Henrikas Šilgalis was erected in its place in 1989.Read more
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- Day 3
- Monday, August 8, 2022 at 10:23 AM
- ☀️ 63 °F
- Altitude: 364 ft
- Lithuania University of Vilnius 54.683363, 25.28801354°41’0” N 25°17’17” E
Vilnius University
August 8, 2022 in Lithuania ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
Vilnius University is a public research university, which is the oldest university in the Baltic states, and one of the oldest and most famous in Northern Europe. Today it is Lithuania's leading academic institution, ranked among the top 400 universities worldwide.

The university was founded in 1579 as the Jesuit Academy (College) of Vilnius by Stephen Báthory, Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland. It was the third oldest university (after the Kracow Academy and the Albertina) in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Its motto in English is "From here the way leads to the stars."

Petras Repšys’ fresco The Seasons of the Year (painted in 1976-1984) with motifs from Baltic mythology is in the second story at the Centre of Lithuanian Studies, Vilnius University.

The final photo here is of a Memorial Plaque commemorating extinct Baltic tribes at Vilnius University.Read more
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- Day 3
- Monday, August 8, 2022 at 10:40 AM
- ☀️ 64 °F
- Altitude: 374 ft
- Lithuania University of Vilnius 54.682625, 25.28825954°40’57” N 25°17’18” E
St. Johns' Church at Vilnius University
August 8, 2022 in Lithuania ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
The start of the construction of the Church is linked with Lithuania’s Christianization. It was Lithuanian Grand Duke and Polish King Jogaila who in 1386 began work on the building, which King Alexander Vytautas completed in 1426. In 1571 the Church was entrusted to the Jesuit College, which is considered the origin of Vilnius University. Historical circumstances led to more than one change in the function of the Church, though it has always been surrounded by the academic community. The Church was closed in 1948 and during the Soviet era housed a museum of science. It was re-consecrated in 1991 and is again tended by the Jesuits.

One of the chapels is dedicated to St. Ann. It is also known as the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception because its portal is decorated with a painting of the Mother of God in the clouds, surrounded by two Guardian Angels.Read more
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- Day 3
- Monday, August 8, 2022 at 11:08 AM
- ☀️ 64 °F
- Altitude: 400 ft
- Lithuania University of Vilnius 54.682565, 25.28770254°40’57” N 25°17’16” E
Inside the Bell Tower and the Views
August 8, 2022 in Lithuania ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
The bell tower of the Church of St. Johns is one of the tallest buildings in the Old Town at 68 meters (approx. 223 feet). You can view the city from the observation platform and see the Foucault pendulum.

The bell tower was built in the renaissance style at the end of the 16th century but was damaged by the fire of 1737 (traces of which are still visible in the shaft) and subsequently, the upper portion was rebuilt in the baroque style.

The Foucault pendulum is a device named after French physicist Léon Foucault, conceived as an experiment to demonstrate the Earth's rotation. The pendulum is installed on the second floor of the tower, so it’s possible to watch the dynamics of the pendulum swing from a platform. A giant ball that swings at a height of tens of meters can be observed. During the day, the swinging ball changes its position and imitates the Earth's rotation around its axis.Read more
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- Day 3
- Monday, August 8, 2022 at 11:26 AM
- ☀️ 66 °F
- Altitude: 417 ft
- Lithuania University of Vilnius 54.682534, 25.2874454°40’57” N 25°17’15” E
Vilnius University Regalia
August 8, 2022 in Lithuania ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
The Rector’s regalia and the University’s coat of arms are symbols of the University’s unique status in society, signifying its autonomy and academic freedom. Their symbolic value was equal to that of royal insignia.Read more
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- Day 3
- Monday, August 8, 2022 at 12:10 PM
- ☀️ 66 °F
- Altitude: 417 ft
- Lithuania University of Vilnius 54.682534, 25.2874454°40’57” N 25°17’15” E
Lithuanians Hate Putin
August 8, 2022 in Lithuania ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
For many reasons, including the current war between Russia and Ukraine, Lithuanians hate Putin (and Russia in general). This sign is visible from a large portion of the city of Vilnius. It should also be noted that it is not located on just any building. This building is a governmental building where the Mayor of Vilnius has his office.

Graffiti is also seen on several walls in the side streets of Vilnius.Read more
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Traveler Marilyn’s Lithuanian Adventure
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- Day 3
- Monday, August 8, 2022 at 12:22 PM
- ☀️ 66 °F
- Altitude: 394 ft
- Lithuania Vilniaus I Piliakalnis 54.694119, 25.30618254°41’39” N 25°18’22” E
Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Vilnius
August 8, 2022 in Lithuania ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul is a Roman Catholic church. The construction started on 29 June 1668 (the day of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul) under the supervision of Jan Zaor from Kraków and was finished in 1676 by Giovanni Battista Frediani. Its interior has masterful compositions of some 2,000 stucco figures by Giovanni Pietro Perti and ornamentation by Giovanni Maria Galli and is unique in Europe. The church is considered a masterpiece of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Baroque. A boat-shaped chandelier made of brass and glass beads hangs from the middle of the dome and reminds us that Saint Peter was a fisherman. Made by craftsmen from Liepāja and installed in 1905.Read more
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