Page 34 - Saules_zemes_Turtai_EN

34 34 ŠIAULIAI DISTRICT

Šiauliai district is known for the famous Hill of Crosses all over the world. The formation
of the mound and its surroundings lasted for more than a century. The hill of prayers
is important for its cultural, historical, sacral, social, archaeological, and national value.
This is not the only destination that can impress travellers in Šiauliai district. Enter-
tainments, workshops, culinary heritage, rich landscapes, hiking and cycling trails, and
active leisure for families have attracted even the pickiest ones to our country for many
years now. We invite you to discover mounds, manors, mini zoos, settlements, and, of
course, the pearl of Šiauliai land – Kurtuvėnai.

TOP OBJECTS

56. THE HILL OF CROSSES
A small hill all densely hung with cros-
ses stands in the fields about 12 km nor-
th of Šiauliai. This is the famous Hill of
Crosses. In the Middle Ages, there was
a wooden castle on the hill, called Kula
in chronicles and destroyed by the Livo-
nian army in 1348.
In the spring of 1961, the Soviet Govern-
ment decided “to deal with” the Hill of
Crosses. Despite everything, the Hill of
Crosses remained a symbol of heroic
resistance and belief in freedom thro-
ughout the whole period of Lithuanian
occupation.
The Hill of Crosses became famous all
over the world after the visit of Pope
John Paul II here on September 7, 1993.
DID YOU KNOW? Domantai village, Šiauliai dist.
One of the legends of the Hill of Crosses 56.01585, 23.415565
tells that the beginning of the Hill of Crosses siauliurajonas.lt
was associated with St Mary’s apparition to
children in 1872.