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House of Perkūnas
This 15th-century Gothic house, built by merchants of the Hanseatic League, is named for the Lithuanian God of Thunder, whose image was found in a wall cavity. Its now owned by the Jesuits, who maintain the cellars, concert hall and exhibit of 19th-century poet Adomas Mickevičius’s
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Peninsula Castle
The peaceful ruins of Trakai’s Peninsula Castle, built from 1362 to 1382 by Kęstutis and destroyed in the 17th century, are a little south of the Island Castle. The peninsula itself is dotted with old wooden cottages, many built by the Karaites, and offers great views of the main c
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Russian Orthodox Church of St Nicholas
Built as a Gothic church in the early 16th century, then restored in the baroque style following a fire 300 years later, this church was finally redecorated in Russian Byzantine style during the Russification of the 19th century. Information is in Russian, and interior photography
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St Peter & Paul Church
Don’t be fooled by the uninspiring exterior of this church. Its baroque interior – a riot of over 2000 stuccoes created by Italian sculptors between 1675 and 1704 – is the finest in the country. The church was founded by Lithuanian noble Mykolas Kazimieras Paca, whose tomb is on th
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Amber Processing Gallery
This is the last of the dozen or so amber shops Palanga boasted in the late 19th century, when it was one of the largest amber-processing centres in the Baltic. Run by the Palanga Guild of Amber Masters, the gallery sells beautiful amber pieces, and lets you try your hand at fashio
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Cathedral Belfry
Once part of the citys 13th-century defences, the belfry in front of Vilnius Cathedral is, at 57m high, one of the tallest towers in the city. Theres a small exhibition of historic bells here, but the primary reasons to climb the narrow stairs are priceless views of the city and Ge
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Mineralinio Vandens Biuvetė
The magical powers of local mineral water can be tested at the Dzūkija Fountain, inside the Mineralinio Vandems Biuvetė, a round green building with mosaic floor and stained-glass windows on the footpath running along the Nemunas River. Of particular note is a 1960s image of Eglė,
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Kaunas Castle
A reconstructed tower, sections of wall and part of a moat are all that remain of 14th-century Kaunas Castle, an important bastion against Teutonic attacks around which the town originally grew. Theres an exibition on the history of the castle, and a reconstructed dungeon where you
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Vytautas Church
Known in full as Vytautas the Great Church of the Accession of the Holy Virgin Mary, this red-brick church is one of the oldest in Kaunas. Built by Franciscans in the early 15th century, its been used by the Orthodox church and Napoleon (as an ammunition store) before being returne
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Bernardinų sodas
Nestled in a crook of the Vilnia River, between Gediminas Hill and the Bernadine Church, these delightful gardens are perhaps Vilnius prime spot to promenade on a warm afternoon. Formerly known as Sereikiškės Park, its a harmonious blend of sloping riverbanks, ordered paths and a p
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Žemaitija Art Museum
The 19th-century Oginski Palace, in the nearby city of Plungė, holds an interesting collection of modern Samogitian art (carvings and metal works). The landscaped grounds surrounding the palace, criss-crossed with terraced ponds, are a sight in themselves. The museum closes at 5pm,
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Three Crosses
Crosses were first erected in the 17th century, in memory of a group of monks martyred by pagans three centuries earlier. The current crosses replace three bulldozed by the Soviets; their twisted remains can be seen below the current set. Walk up the hill from T Kosciuskos gatvė, a
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Bicycle Museum
This fun museum has several rooms of glorious bone-rattlers and torturous bicycles with wooden tyres, as well as exhibits dedicated to pioneering Lithuanian cyclists and their incredible exploits, including one trip from Lithuania to far-eastern Vladivostok (completed in six months
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Kazys Varnelis Museum
During his 50 years in the US, Kazys Varnelis earned fame and fortune with his optical and three-dimensional paintings. This museum shows his personal collection of paintings, furniture, sculptures, maps and books, including works by Dürer, Goya and Matteo Di Giovanni. Visits are b
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Sundial
A distinctive city landmark is the mammoth sundial, topped by a shining bronze statue of an archer in what has become known as ‘Sundial Sq’. It was built in 1986 to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the Battle of Saulė (1236), the battle in which local Samogitians defeated the K
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Botanical Park
The 1-sq-km park includes a rose garden, 18km of footpaths and Birutė Hill (Birutēs kalnas), once a pagan shrine. According to legend, it was tended by vestal virgins, one of whom, Birutė, was kidnapped and married by Grand Duke Kęstutis. A 19th-century chapel tops the hill. The wo
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Sts Peter & Paul Cathedral
With its single tower, this church owes much to baroque reconstruction, especially inside, but the original 15th-century Gothic shape of its windows remains. The largest Gothic building in Lithuania, it was probably founded by Vytautas around 1410 and now has nine altars. The tomb
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Church of Our Lady of the Assumption
Dubbed ‘Sands Church’ after the quarter in which it stands, this 15th-century Franciscan church has a varied history – it was a hospital for the French army in 1812 and housed the state archives from 1864 to 1934 and 1949 to 1989. Returned to the Franciscans in 1998, it has been th
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St Casimirs Church
This striking church is the city’s oldest baroque place of worship. St Casimir’s dome and cross-shaped ground plan defined a new style for 17th-century churches when the Jesuits built it between 1604 and 1615. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries and has re
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Shrine of Divine Mercy
Built in the Gothic style in the 15th century, then rebuilt after a fire in the 18th, this single-nave church contains an image of the vision in which Jesus appeared to St Faustina Kowalska. Originally dedicated to the Holy Trinity, it was reconsecrated and devoted to the Divine Me
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