Open-Air Museum of Lithuania
The biggest in Lithuania, Baltic countries, as well as one of the largest open air museums in Europe. It covers an area of 195 hectare and inside there are kept more than 90 000 exhibits. Museum represents the life of Lithuanian peasants and townspeople between XVIII and XX centuries, covering all ethnographical regions: Dzūkija, Aukštaitija, Suvalkija and Mažoji Lietuva. Various celebrations related to calendar holidays and cultural customs takes place continually, as well as miscellaneous educational workshops.
http://www.llbm.lt
54.86644, 24.20113
Jesus Christ Transfiguration Cathedral in Kaišiadorys and Blessed Teofilius Matulionis
In the beginning of XX century there was no church in the city, it did not appear later as well. In 1913, when construction began, it immediately stopped because First World War had started. German soldiers took all constructional material, building process delayed. After diocese was created, prayer house was finished as a cathedral, not a church. The archbishop Teofilius Matulionis (1873-1962) was buried in the Cathedral’s bishop crypt. In December 2016, the Pope Francis acknowledged his martyrdom. After all official Vatican procedures were completed, on 25 June 2017 he was named as the “Blessed”. In God’s mercy chapel is kept relics of St. John Paul II, St. Faustina, St. Mykolas Sapočka. In 2018, the mural of Teofilius Matulionis was painted on the wall of the gymnasium.
54.86056, 24.45726
Homeland of Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevičius in Guronys
During the long history of Lithuania there were only three Lithuanian cardinals. One of them has born in a small village in Žasliai parish – Guronys. In the former house place there is a large chapel, around it there’re five smaller chapels. In 2002, after the pope John Paul II added light secret to the rosary prayer, in Guronys village park construction had started. Vincentas Sladkevičius really liked the rosary prayer, in his memory here was built park and the Spiritual Exercises house. http://kaisiadorys.lcn.lt/izymybes/rozinio-parkas/
54.84083, 24.56645
Žasliai Town. Center of Crafts
It is possible that St. George’s Church was built on the legendary mound, where idol stood a long time ago. There are a vast number of places to visit in Žasliai. Occasionally town is compared to a second capital of Lithuania Trakai, it is because Žasliai is surrounded by the three lakes.
Žasliai Jewish community is one of the first known in Lithuania. Jews considered largest part of Žasliai population until World War II. They developed various business activities, showed initiative creating voluntary fireman organization, actively participated in culture life. Near the entrance to the former synagogue building you will see bass-relief of Leopoldas Godovskis. He was Jewish musician and compositor as well as one of the best known Žasliai inhabitants. In the Žasliai traditional hand craft centre you could try various activities, such as – bread, Kugel, „branchy” baking workshops.
http://www.zasliukc.lt
54.86394, 24.59032
St. Anthony of Padua Church in Kalviai
Kalviai church is very likeable among newlyweds, tourists, local people. Small, without permanent priest, but unique in the whole state because of its round architecture. There is only one similar form church in Lithuania, in Sudervė town. Church started to operate in 1806. Behind the church, few hundred meters down the hill, there is the biggest lake in Kaišiadorys region. On the shore is located most popular entertainment zone with all necessary infrastructure, moreover, with volleyball court, basketball board, summerhouse.
54.70895, 24.28366
Padaliai Ferry
Gediminas Dzeventauskas is an owner of unique business – from the spring until the late autumn, he helps people moving over Neris river from Čiobiškis to Padaliai. The ferry operates for more than 80 years, although is known that people were crossing Neris this way from the XIX century. It may look like there is nothing impressive, but ferry reaches another shore just with a help of the river flow, without any other assistance. There is a beautiful Budeliai mound nearby. http://www.ciobiskiokeltas.lt
54.9479, 24.6746
Sightseeing Place „Mergakalnis“
Mergakalnis – highest sightseeing place on the Kaunas lagoon shore (42 m). In 1970s 45 villages were moved because of the Kaunas hydro power plant construction. Following, more than 63 square kilometres water lagoon has been created. From the viewpoint you could see another power plant, it is Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant. People say that in old times from the Mergakalnis scarp people were throwing obscene behavior girls packed in the sacks.
54.82365, 24.24458
Synagogue of Žiežmariai
In the Kaišiadorys region district Žiežmariai was the biggest city for a quite a long time. Good geographical location and vast number of passing travellers encouraged entrepreneurial people settlement. Most of them were Jews, they considered largest number of total population as well. Behind the town center square they built a synagogue. Church, the freedom angel monument near the same square shows us friendly different religion and culture people coexistence in that time. After the war synagogue became warehouse, in 2019 the building was reconstructed.
54.80373, 24.44462
Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant
The Kruonis pumped storage hydroelectric power plant is the only power plant of such type in the Baltic states, located in the north of the town of Kruonis. During the day, when electrical power need is higher, water is released from the pool to the lagoon through the same water pumps. You could get permission to visit this place, on the upper pool you will see spectacular panorama! Not very far away, in Surgantiškės village, you can find the gravitational hill. Leave your car and watch how it rolls up a hill, of course – it is just an optical illusion. Registration for free tours: https://gamyba.le.lt/veikla/ekskursijos/39
54.80244, 24.25083
Fomer Dominicans Monastery in Paparciai
In 1649 Dominicans monastery was built. There was huge library, rich garden and even separate water supply system. In the monastery there was a school, where novices had studied. Unfortunately, because of active participation in 1831 and 1832 rebellions against Tsar government, the monastery was closed, later destroyed. Monastery gate and graveyard chapel survived. Territory is prepared for visiting.
54.90143, 24.73035
Photos by Giedrė Streikauskaite & Andrei Tomenko
Kaišiadorys TIC information
