Teutonic Knights, the last pagan people in Europe and the first republic to break out of the Sovjet-union. Lithuania has a past full of warfare and cruelty. We paid a visit to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. We stayed in the comfortable Novotel in the city center. A good modern hotel with helpful staff and good food. During Easter 2015 it was cold, rainy and snowy in the Baltics.
Next year we won’t visit the northern edge of Europe again. Although the geographical center of Europe is supposed to be close to Vilnius. Surprised us too.
Some interesting places in Vilnius, like the KGB Museum, were unfortunately closed. Churches were full of people. Heathen no more. Still compensating after fighting against Christian invaders for two centuries untill the year 1413.
This it the famous TV tower. Russians killed 14 Lithuanian citizens in January 1991. Now it’s a skybar with great view from the top. And free wifi. From above you can see most people in the city live in large Sovjet blocks.
The place is called Paneriai. Sounds like an exclusive watch. In this place close to Vilnius the Red Army build fuel pits for their army base. When the nazi’s conquered the place in 1941, the area was used as an execution place. Assisted with enthusiast local volunteers, the SS Einsatzkommando shot approximately 70.000 Jews from Lithuania. Also ethnic Poles and Russian POW’s have been executed here.
It’s strange the massacre was carried out during a long stretch of time, but at only 10 km distance from the Vilnius city center. Our taxi driver couldn’t find this place. Was a long trip on a road through a creepy forest with tall depressing trees. It’s next to a railway track.
A cat.
Trakai castle. It was cold and snowy, and we found a hard time to get lunch there. But castle was nice. A bit fairy tale like. Must be good place to spend a day in the summer. The museum in the castle is large. Many rooms full of uninteresting artifacts. The museum should have focused more on the teutonic knights.
A pricy restaurant. Telegrafas, part of the Kempinski hotel. Outstanding food and wine. However – as is often the case in hotel restaurants, the place was deserted. We enjoyed waving at surprised passengers.
A more modest dinner we had at Zoe‘s – looking at the very same square.
Artistic neighbourhood. Uzupis.