About Vilnius & Lithuania |
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Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of the Republic of Lithuania. In the year 2009 the country will celebrate 1,000 years since its name was mentioned for the first time in written documents.
The Old Town, the historical centre of Vilnius, is one of the largest in Eastern Europe. Its unique qualities led to the Old Town being included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.
Vilnius is distinct from other European cities not only because of the specific old town spirit and unique architecture but also because of its intense and rapidly developing cultural life, recreational and sports events. National and international conferences, world-famous classical music festivals and exhibitions are held in the city on a regular basis. Huge and noisy city holidays, street parades, and open-air events are also gaining in popularity in Vilnius.
As a result of the development in these areas, Vilnius has been nominated as European Capital of Culture 2009.
www.vilnius-tourism.lt/
10 Thematic Routes. Press here.
The thematic routes are intended for individual exploring of Vilnius on foot. You just have to choose the theme you are interested in, take a free publication with a map at the Vilnius Tourist Information Centre and start off!
Lithuania
Fast Facts
Area: 65.200 km2 Population: 3.4 million (Vilnius 553.000, Kaunas 377.000) Language: Lithuanian (English and Russian widely spoken) Major religion: Roman Catholics
Lithuania has:
816 rivers longer than 10 km
2,834 lakes larger than 0.5 ha
Highest point:
Juozapine Hill (293,6 m)
The largest river:
Nemunas (937 km, 475 km in the territory of Lithuania)
The largest lake:
Druksiai (42,26 sq. km)
Lithuania is the largest and southernmost of the Baltic states. Lithuania is bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south and Poland and Russian Federation to the south and southwest. Forest spread through almost 30 percent of the country, and rivers, streams and more than 3000 lakes shape the land.
Five national and 30 regional parks preserve this paradise for boating, fishing, hunting, bird watching or horseback riding. The largest river, Nemunas, flows into the Curonian Lagoon separated from the Baltic Sea by the Curonian Spit. This 98 km long bank of sand, dunes and pine trees stretches from Kalingrad in the south to the seaport of Klaipeda in the north. The Curonian Spit, recognised by UNESCO as a part of the world heritage, is one of the most unspoiled natural spots in the whole Baltic Region.
It is also known as the amber coast, for the precious amber that was washed onto this shore for many centuries.Are you looking for white, sandy beaches, impressing dunes, crystal clear water, fresh air and romantic fishery villages? If yes, this is the place for you. For more information about Lithuania click here.
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