One of Eastern Europe’s most beautiful graveyards lies in this leafy suburb, a short stroll east of the centre. Those killed by Soviet special forces on 13 January 1991 are buried here; a sculpture of the Madonna cradling her son memorialises them. Another memorial honours Napoleonic soldiers who died of starvation and injuries in Vilnius while retreating from the Russian army. The remains of 2000 of them were only found in 2002.
Hundreds of Polish soldiers’ graves, including many unknown soldiers, are also located here, which gets a mixed reception, especially on All Saints’ Day (1 November). Former president Algirdas Brazauskas’s grave is a bit abandoned atop a hillslope, in a newer area of the cemetery.
