Baltic states: Lithuania
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Article Intro
Lithuania attracts thousands of fans of simple recreation because of the local nature and its quiet beauty, simplicity and ingenuousness. Many visitors come to its seaside resorts, sand dunes, and glacial lakes and provide the country with a reputation of one of the best sites in Eastern Europe for 'green' tourism.
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Of course, the main attraction of the country is its historic cities with wonderful architecture.
Vilnius is the largest city in Lithuania and its capital, first mentioned in the written records in 1323. Ancient Vilnius was built in the valley of the Neris River near Upper Castle on the hill and Lower Castle at its base. Between the two castles, there was an intricate network of streets forming the ancient city. Today, Vilnius Old Town is one of Europe's largest historical sites and the main attraction of the country, listed as UNESCO World Heritage.
Vilnius is often called the Baroque city, due to abundance of architectural monuments of this period. The main attractions of the capital are the remnants of the Upper Castle, Old Arsenal, and Gediminas Square of the 19th century with the statue of the founder of the city, the Grand Duke Gediminas. Tourists often visit Cathedral Square; watch the remains of city walls, Artillery bulwark, Vilnius University, the belfry of the church of St. John, and the City Hall. Advanced visitors will also go to the Hill of Three Crosses, the Presidential Palace, and Pilies Street. No other city in Eastern Europe has such an impressive accumulation of magnificent temples on a small area, so churches and cathedrals of various styles and epochs are a real must-see for tourists.
Lithuania is the country with highly developed culture and a big number of galleries and museums including the National Museum 'Arsenal', the Museum of Applied Arts, the National Art Gallery, Radziwill Palace, the Amber Museum, the Museum of Architecture, etc. For music lovers, it will be interesting to go to the National Philharmonic Hall, the Palace of Congress, the Music Academy Hall, the Palace of Artists, the Palace of Concerts and Sports, which regularly host musical events.
Trakai is the ancient capital of Lithuania, renowned for its island castle, which was considered one of the safest fortresses in Eastern Europe and has long been the residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. Another peculiar place to see is the half-ruined Dominican Monastery. The city is surrounded by a unique glacial landscape with dozens of lakes, but the locals are proud of the Culture National Historical Park Trakai, which occupies a total area of 20,000 acres and hosts a great number of natural sites, 50 historic buildings, and many archeological and architectural monuments.
Kaunas is the second largest city of Lithuania, famous for its medieval architecture, bell concerts, and museums. It is worth visiting Kaunas Castle, the Romanesque cathedral of Peter and Paul, the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church of Resurrection, and the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel. Kaunas is the place of the largest Gothic buildings, the City Hall built in 1542, and the Orthodox Church in neo-Byzantine style.
Siauliai is famous for its museums, including Fire and Technical Museum, the Museum of Siauliai University, the Museum of Railroad History, the Museum of Sanitation, etc. Klaipeda is a large seaport and one of the oldest towns in Lithuania with a famous Lithuanian Sea Museum being one of the popular tourist sites.
Lithuanian travel companies are among the most reputable in the Baltic region. Tour operators of Lithuania are perfectly capable of organizing multiple day programs for novice travelers and connoisseurs alike.
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