1569 – the Commonwealth of Two Nations – Lithuania and Poland was established.
1772-1795 – Austria, Russia and Prussia divided the Commonwealth. The biggest part of Lithuania accrued to Russia.
1812 - in Lithuania, as a part of Russian Empire, russification was intensified after unsuccessful campaign of Napoleon Bonapart.
19th century first half- start of Lithuanian national regeneration. The most important persons of the new movements were Simonas Daukantas, Motiejus Valančius, Jonas Basanavičius, Vincas Kudirka.
1864 – after the second rising of Lithuanian nation a prohibition of Lithuanian writing, reading and prints was declared by Russian Government.
1904 - the print prohibition was cancelled.
1905 – In Vilnius there was a congress arranged by Lithuanian delegates. They declared the requirement for autonomy.
1915 – Germany occupied Lithuania , Russians retreated.
1918 02 16 - after the First World War ended, Lithuania got its independence back
1921 - Lithuania was included into Union of Nations
1923 - Lithuania got back Klaipėda city
1926 – in Lithuania there was an upheaval, Antanas Smetona was elected as a president
1938 – in Constitution of Lithuania there was declared the status of authoritarian ruling in Lithuania
1939 03 – Lithuania was forced to give Klaipėda city back to German.
1939 09 – the Second World War broke up, Lithuania was consigned to Russia .
1939 - Lithuana was forced to sign a pacts called Treaty of Mutual Contribution with Russia, in this way Lithuania became one of many states annexed by Russia.
1941 06 – mass deportation to Siberia of inhabitants of Baltic states was started.
1941-1944 – Lithuania was a part of German Ostland Reichcommissariat.
1944 – Soviet Government came back to Lithuania.
1944-1953 - Soviet Government deported almost 30000 Lithuanian families.
1989 - during reforms of Gorbačiov Lithuanians started requiring more and more sovereignty.
1990 03 11 - Lithuania declared its indipendece.
1991 01 13 - Soviet occupants assaulted Vilnius TV Tower, but Lithuania withstood the tax.
1993 - the last Russian soldiers left Lithuania. Posses privatization processes began in Lithuania. Algirdas Brazauskas was elected a president of Lithuania.
1998 - Valdas Adamkus was elected as a president of Republic of Lithuania.
2003 - Rolandas Paksas was elected as a president of Republic of Lithuania. He was removed from the post by impeachment in 2004.
2004 - Lithuania became member of NATO and ES.
2004 - for one more cadence Valdas Adamkus was elected as a president of Republic of Lithuania.
2009 - Dalia Grybauskaitė was elected  as the first woman president in Lithuania.

Arvydas Sabonis (1964) is the most famous and the best ever Lithuanian former basketball player. His best achievements are: 3 times SSSR champion,  2 times European champion, 1 time World champion and 1 time Olympic Champion, one of the greatest centers in the world from 1980 to the end of its sportsmen career in 2003.

Šarūnas Marčiulionis (1964) is one of the best former Lithuanian basketball players and one of the first European players which was asked to play in NBA. His best achievements are: 1 time SSSR Junior Champion, 1 time European Junior champion, 1 time Olympic Champion, 2 times European vice champion.

Šarūnas Jasikevičius (1976) – Lithuanian basketball player, 4 times Euro league champion,  2 times Spanish Champion, 2 times Israel champion,  1 time Europe champion and 1 time Greece champion. Right now is playing in Athens “Panathinaicos” club.

Jonas Mekas (1922) – Lithuanian film creator living and creating in New York. He is one of the leading personalities in avant-garde cinema in USA. Was awarded with Austrian sign of distinguishing, worked and closely interacted with such artists like Salvador Dali, Yoko Ono, John Lennon.

Eimuntas Nekrošius (1952) – world famous theatre director who was awarded with many international and national prizes like International premium of Baltic Assembly, prizes in Russia “Baltijskij dom”, “Golden Mask”,  Italy prize “Ubu”, Torune “Contact”, national orders of merit and premiums for developing Lithuanian culture abroad. His theatre “Art Fort” nowadays is on tour around the world.

Oskaras Koršunovas (1969) – one of the most interesting and famous Lithuanian theatre directors, who built up 30 performances and participated in more than 100 festivals.  He was awarded in Edinburg International Theatre festival with special prizes “Fringe Feast”, “Herold Angel”, with special prizes in Torune festival “Contact”, Zalcburg festival prize “ Young Directors Project Award” and many others foreign as wel as Lithuanian awards.

Rolandas Kazlas (1969) – Lithuanian theatre, cinema and television actor, comic. He was rewarded with the Golden Stage Cross for the best season drama role. The actor created many exceptional personages in theatre and cinema, in addition to this, his authorial TV shows were of great popularity in Lithuanian television.


Jonas Mekas photo

Maironis (Jonas Mačiulis) (1862-1932) – Lithuanian poet and priest of 19-20th centuries. He wrote some famous Lithuanian poems like „Trakų pilis“  (Trakai castle),  “Lietuva brangi“ (Dear Lithuania). Most important his works are selection of poesy “Pavasario balsai” (Sounds of Spring), one historical drama trilogy, 6 poems, 2 librettos, many critiques of Lithuanian literature and history, translations.

Martynas Mažvydas (1510-1563) – Lithuanian writer of 16th century, author of first Lithuanian book “Katekizmas” (Catechism) and 5 other first Lithuanian books that were prepared and printed in Konigsberg (Karaliaučius in lit.) Appointed as a protestant parson in Ragainė, Mažvydas prosecuted literary works, translated documents, prepared a prayer book “Parafrazės” (Paraphrase).

Vincas Mykolaitis Putinas  (1893-1967)– one of the greatest Lithuanian poets and prosaists. Besides his prime choice of priest way, he ended pastorate and got married. He is an author of salient Lithuanian symbolical poesy and a novel “Altorių šešėly“ ( In a Shadow of Altars).

Jurga Ivanauskaitė (1961-2007) – one of the most talented Lithuanian women ever – prosaist, essayist, dramatists and painter. Her best known works are novels “Pakalnučių metai“ (The Year of Lilies in the Valley), „Ragana ir lietus“ (The Witch and the Rain), „Placebas“ (Placebo), „Miegančių drugelių tvirtovė“ (Citadel of Sleeping Butterflies). Her works were translated into many languages including English, German, Swedish. Great influence for her life and creation was made by Tibet culture. The writer was awarded with National Premium of Art and Culture, in 2007 in Lithuania she was dedicated to be a Woman of the Year.

Largest cities in Lithuania

Vilnius is the capital and the largest city in Lithuania. In written sources first time mentioned in 1323. Today Vilnius has a population of about 545 000 and is known as a business, cultural and financial centre of Lithuania.

Kaunas is the second largest city in Lithuania. In written sources first time mentioned in 1361. Today Kaunas has a population of about 340 000. Kaunas is strategically important for logistics companies as it's located near the centre of Lithuania.

Klaipėda is the third largest city in Lithuania. In written sources first time mentioned in 1252. Today Klaipėda has a population of about 185 000 and is the only seaport in Lithuania.

Šiauliai is the forth largest city in Lithuania. In written sources first time mentioned in 1236. Today Šiauliai has a population of about 130 000. Šiauliai is important industrial centre of Lithuania.

Panevėžys is the fifth largest city of Lithuania. In written sources first time mentioned in 1252. Today Panevėžys has a population of about 115 000.

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Museums in Lithuania

Museum of Ancient Beekeping located in Stripeikiai village, National park of Aukštaitija is a unique museum of its type in Lithuania. People here can get aquainted with myths, traditions and lifes of bees and beekeepers.

Bicycle Museum in Šiauliai is a place where visitors can review many different interesting exhibits as well as to be taught some useful things about the behaviour with the so liked bicycle in every day life.

Devils' museum is quite an untraditional museum where more than two thousand devils of various shapes, colors, sizes and materials are housed. It's the largest collection of devils in a single place in the whole world.

Klaipėda castle is an implemented vision of some enthusiasts in Klaipėda. The old castle was successfully returned into nice museum full of interesting exhibits and past atmosphere.

Clock and Watch Museum is a great chance to get closely aqcuainted to a simple device - clock, which we use every day and, I bet, never think that it could have such an interesting history and huge variety of forms and mechanisms.

Molėtai Astronomical Observatory is a place including the best astronomical equipment in Lithuania used for research by professionals and for entertainment by visitors of the observatory.

Museum of Rare stones is an authentic exposition in the North West of Lithuania offering a great improvement of cultural and educational experience as well as having unussual rest while admiring spectacular nature.

Museum of Genocide Victims is a unique museum of its kind where visitors are able to face the history and to find out the measure of Soviet Occupation that was made to lithuanian inhabitants in 1940-1990.

Museum of Rumšiškės is an open air museum representing visitors the real past of various parts of Lithuania. Rumšiškės is an entire village including very artistic ancient homesteads.

National Museum Of Lithuania is one of the most important and oldest museums in Lithuania. National museum of Lithuania contains thousands of different exhibits and over 250 000 visitors see the museum every year.

Palanga Amber Museum is established in the estate of count Feliksas Tiškevičius in beautiful surroundings by botanical gardens. The exposition of amber includes more than 4500 exhibits, what is more, visitors are able to get aquainted with the history of an amber.

Lithuanian Sea Museum is always very exciting and memorable as visitors are able not only to know many interesting facts about mysterious sea world, but also to feel the mystery of the sea while watching alive exhibits and historic seaworld heritage.

Ninth fort in Kaunas is one of the most significant monuments of pain and horror in Lithuania. Visiting this place is not only interesting for those who love history, but also for everyone who would like to get close enough to the pain many people survived.

Orvydai homestead is an open air museum where visitors may see many sculptures, impressive compositions made of boulders, old stems and other untraditional exhibits brought there in 30 years.

Museum for the Blind in Kaunas is located in the catacombs of St. Michael the Archangel's Church. The exhibition affect senses that visitors feel in the dark. This experimental museum is really worth visiting.

Paneriai Memorial Museum is one of Jewish heritage monuments in Lithuania. It is located in an authentic place of former mass massacre where, according to historical sources, 70 000 Jews were killed as well as thousands of people of other nationalities.

Cat Museum is the one where good mood and joy never ends. Thousands of sweet catlike exhibits astonish everyone. It is a place were cats from various countries are brought together with love by hundreds of cat lovers from all over the world.

Kretinga Museum is a distinguishing architectural and nature monument. The beautiful park, Winter Garden and interesting expositions in the beautiful estate building are  real historical values.

Museum of Energetics and Technique is located in the former Vilnius power station. It welcomes visitors of all ages and implements a noble mission to educate, entertain and inform people.

The Park of Europe is a very surprising open air museum located in the city of Vilnius. Visitors of this museum are always persuaded that the European art can be extremely original.