Visit Ukmerge – one of the oldest cities in Lithuania. According to a legend, in the forests of these places once lived a beautiful virgin, which people called Vilkmerge (wolf girl). She saved Tautvilas, the son of Duke Dausprungas, from the wolves. Soon he built a castle by the river Sventoji and named it Vilkmerge, which later became Ukmerge. Here you will find a cozy old town and the panorama of the city which is perfectly seen from the old fire tower.
15 unexpected facts about Ukmerge
Did you know that Ukmerge is one of the very few Lithuanian cities where the authentic old town has survived? Tourists are always fascinated by the historical buildings of the Neo-Gothic, Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Baroque and Neoclassical styles, the impressive houses of worship of various nations and the cobbled streets. It is one of the oldest cities in Lithuania. When walking around the old part of the city, pay attention to its layout, for which the natural elements were of decisive importance – the city “split” between the mound, the river Sventoji and the stream Vilkmerge.
The land loved by the president. The first President of the Republic of Lithuania – Antanas Smetona – was born, grew up and lived in Ukmerge district. Unfortunately, his native cottage in Uzulenis village didn’t remain, yet its foundations and model stands. Moreover, just a few steps away there is school, which was one of the most modern primary schools in interwar Lithuania, – Uzugiris School-Museum. It was a gift from the President to the people of his homeland. In 2019 on the 10th of August, in front of the Uzugiris School-Museum, in honor of the famous countryman and historical personality the monument to Antanas Smetona was unveiled. It is worth mentioning, that just a couple of kilometers away stands a representative manor house, traditionally called Uzugiris Manor House, although the President himself called his homestead modestly – Uzugiris Yard. Nowadays there is a museum, which among other museum activities every year in August organizes the theatrical celebration of the President’s birthday called “Smetonines”.
Did you know that the only originally illuminated mound in Lithuania is in the center of Ukmerge? It is a very old hill used for a defense at the first millennium. At the beginning of the 13th century, on top of the mound, which now stands at the confluence of the river Sventoji and the stream Vilkmerge, stood a wooden castle. It is interesting that only two Lithuanian cities – Vilnius and Ukmerge – have such a naturally formed observation deck in the city center. The mound of Ukmerge is surrounded by a serpentine path of a dense metal net up to the top and the lighting is built into the handrails.
A castle that hides a cruel love story. The Castle of Siesikai is the only survived Renaissance style fortified residential building in Lithuania. Built in the 16th century it remains one of the earliest and most mystical Renaissance buildings in Lithuania. The castle has its own legend about cruel love: about the wife of Duke Daumantas who fell in love with a foreign knight Astikas. The hurt Daumantas told to kill Astikas. Drawings discovered in one of the castle’s walls also proves that the legend is not “broken” from the finger. At present, the first floor of the castle has been completely restored, restoration works are carried out on the second.
Did you know that the most sculptures of pigeons in Lithuania are in Ukmerge? A line from the song of the legendary group “Antis”, created three decades ago – “A lot of pigeons in Ukmerge”, has become kind of a reality. A dozen of pigeons were created and donated to the city by participants of the international plein air held in 2016. All these sculptures of the pigeons have a table with the author’s name and QR code next to it. The pigeons, landed in various places of Ukmerge, formed the “Route of Singing Pigeons”. In addition to musical wishes, pigeons have magical powers, so by performing short rituals you can attract success and prosperity in various areas of life.
The reviving historical battles. Two important battles: the fights of Pabaiskas and Vilkmergė (Deltuva), took place in the territory of Ukmergė district. In 1435 on the 1st of September, between the contenders for the throne of the Grand Duke of Lithuania, cousins Zygimantas Kestutaitis and Svitrigaila, was a battle that went down in history as the greatest medieval battle in Lithuania. It marked the victory of Zygimantas Kestutaitis and the end of this exhausting internal war. In 1812 on the 28th of June, a clash took place between the corps of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and Tsar Alexander I. The Battle of Vilkmergė (Deltuva) marked one of the first defeats of Napoleon Bonaparte’s army. In addition to this, this was the only fight of Napoleon’s army that took place in the territory of Lithuania. It is important to mention, that almost every year the festivities and theatrical staging of these battles are held to commemorate these dates.
Did you know that the only school with a functioning observatory in Lithuania is in Ukmerge? The Old Town Progymnasium has renovated observatory, which was inactive for a long time. The new telescope is available for public. Its capabilities are surpassed only by telescopes located in Moletai district. The telescope will allow to take a closer look at the celestial bodies and get better to know them.
The celestial bodies in The Lake of Kliepsiai. In 1933 on the 2nd of February in the town of Zemaitkiemis the meteorite fell. This unique stone from the sky – the analogue of the earth’s nucleus, the contemporary of our planet, is not only the largest, but also the last. Later no cases of the fall of these cosmic bodies have been fixated in Lithuania. At that time twenty pieces of the meteorite of Žemaitkiemis were found, the largest of them weighed 7.3 kg and the total mass of the finds was over 42 kg. According to the scientists, it is not possible to form the whole meteorite from the pieces found, because not all of them have been collected – several larger pieces pierced the ice of The Lake of Kliepsiai and disappeared…
Did you know that in the district of Ukmerge there is stone which invites you to learn? Stone Mokas is the fourth largest boulder in Lithuania. This object of cultural heritage is located in Saltupis forest. It is said that Mokas was famous for his power to teach illiterates, so the phrase: “Go to Mokas to learn”, remained. Next to him lies another stone, Mokas son, called Mokiukas. Legends mention the family of stones Mokai, which moved across the river Sventoji, as well as the enchanted treasures lying under the stone…
Tsar’s gendarmes did not take Vytis. There is a building in Ukmerge which facade in 1913 was first decorated by the forbidden Vytis. History testifies that the tsar’s police wanted to remove Vytis, but the owner, a well-known businessman, defended himself by explaining that it was St. George. This man is Kazimieras Deveikis, and this historic building is called the “Bear House” also.
Do you know what Vaitkuškis manor is famous for? The Neo-Gothic Vaitkuškis palace is designed by the example of Miramare Castle in Northern Italy. Count Stanislovas Kazimieras Kosakovskis, who lived in Vaitkuškis, had established a photography laboratory and a photo studio called “Vaitkuškis”, where about 8,000 photographs were created during the practise since 1894 to 1905. Most of these photographs have remained. Furthermore, the exhibits such as the heart of Hetman Jonas Karolis Chodkevicius, the uniform of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and the letter of him written to Juozapas Antanas Kosakovskis were kept in Vaitkuškis manor in their time…
Did you know that in the district of Ukmergė the “abyss” spring is bursting? So the springhead of Zuvinte is called by chance – under the 30 cm layer of water an emulsion of water and sand forms. The depth there in some places reaches more than 5 meters. The springhead has a clear, pleasant-tasting water with a lot of minerals (646 mg / l) and dissolved iron – 2.28 mg / l. The springhead of Zuvinte is a state protected hydrogeological natural heritage object of republican significance.
In the forests of Ukmergė – a threat to capitalist Europe. In the forests between Ukmergė and Vepriai almost three decades (1958-1988) functioned Kopusteliai rocket base. In 1960 eight the most powerful missiles of the Soviet Union army – 8K63, were brought here. They were kept in two masked hangars next to four stationary rocket launcher sites. The nuclear weapon for the missiles was kept in a separate area, about a couple of kilometers away. The nuclear weapon fired from the Kopusteliai rocket base could reach Turkey, Norway, Great Britain, Germany and other capitalist European countries. At present, the club “Misko Broliai” is located at the Kopusteliai rocket base.
Did you know that the youngest chef in Lithuania is from Ukmerge? Rokas Galvonas produced food for celebrations at the age of fifteen, won the right to open his own restaurant in Taujenai at the age of sixteen, and at the age of twenty he is an owner of three different restaurants in Lithuania: “DOMI”, “Puntukas” and “Roko Virtuve”.
If you are looking for diamonds in Lithuania, possibly, only in Vepriai. 150-160 million years ago, when an asteroid with a diameter of about 300 m collided, an impact crater formed in the vicinity of Vepriai. It is the largest meteorite crater discovered in the territory of Lithuania Republic. Its depth was more than 500 m and its diameter was about 8 km. According to scientists, impact craters are exceptional geological structures of cosmic origin, witnesses of geological history and economically valuable reservoirs of minerals – hydrocarbons, uranium, nickel, copper, platinum group elements, gold and even diamonds. Unfortunately, we can’t see the crater directly – after the explosion it was filled with a layer of sediment, but in the picturesque surroundings of Vepriai you will find the Calvary Trail, a lake with floating islands, a recently discovered mound, pure water springs, mythological boulders, the regional museum with numerous valuable exhibits…
The text was written by the Tourism Information Center of Ukmerge Etnographic Museum. The photographs used in the text are taken by the Ukmerge Etnographic Museum and Dainius Vytas.
