Lazdijai

Mound

Rudamina Mound with Settlement - It is one of the most famous monuments of Jotvingiai tribe that once lived in Užnemunė. The mound covers 22,83 ha area. It was heaped on the shore of a former lake, on the top of isolated, high and massive hill. The hill base covers 2 ha, and its absolute height is as much as 195 m above the sea level. The hill is surrounded by wetlands and swamps. According to T. Narbutas and J. Basanavičius, in Rudamina, on site of Jotviangian castles, the duke Ringaudas in 1240 built his own castle where in 1251 Mindaugas was coronated as the king.

Elveriškė Mound - north west from Rudamina is also called Eglynkalnis (Fir-Tree Hill). In the end of the 1st millennium Elveriškė and Maišymai (Gumbeliai) mounds served as Rudamina Mound outworks.

Vainežeris defensive fortification (named Okopa) - Vainežeris defensive fortification, also known as Okopka, is situated on the southern lakeshore of Ančia. It was set in 17th -18th century. Supposedly it functioned as an army camp during the fights with Swedes. The Vainežeris park 200 years ago was planted by people. Its total area covers about 10 ha. The park is divided in two by lake Vainežeris. The western side of the park has lots of open spaces separated by bush or tree groups, and the eastern part is covered with trees, with distinctive impressing alleys. There is a Museum of Trees close to the park.

Prelomciškė Mound with settlement - Prelomciškė mound is equipped on the hilly cape in the rivulet valley. Its slopes are steep, up to 10 m height. The platform was earlier partially washed out by this rivulet, and now is almost round, with diameter being about 40 m. Its southern side has a dike about 40 m long and up to 4 m high. The several hectares’ pedestal area around the mound is occupied by a settlement with preserved cultural layer. The mound is dated back to 1st millennium A.D.–13th century.

Site of ancient settlement named Pinciaragis - An ancient settlement in Kapčiamiestis, called Pinčiaragis or Palangėlė. The settlement is 1.4 km southeast from the junction of Veisiejai – Gardinas and Merkinė – Kapčiamiestis roads, and 0.3 km east from Veisiejai – Gardinas road, on the right bank of Baltoji Ančia. It is a Stone Age settlement. Fragments of flint arrowheads, blades, flakes, handmade pottery decorated with seals and incisions, were found during explorative archaeological research. This ancient settlement covers an area of 2.7 ha.

Paveisininkai Mound with Settlement - The mound was heaped on the hill at the lakeshore of Veisiejis peninsula. The hill is surrounded by a lake and a swamp. The mound has steep slopes, up to 20 m height, and even higher - by 4-5 m – at the top. The hilltop is flat, 30 m length and 25 m width, encircled by 1-3 m height dike. It was found during archaeological excavations that before heaping a mound, a cremation burial site was on the hill. In total, 27 graves were found here. Later – in 4th – 5th centuries the mound served as a hideout. While fortifying the mound, the rampart was heaped twice, and strengthened with stones and logs. In addition, two ditches were dug at the base separating the mound from the adjacent elevation. Remnants of settlement were found in the northern and eastern base of the mound. Archaeological excavations here revealed traces of fireplaces, pillar sites, utility pits and fragments of rough ceramics. Findings of the mound and settlement complex are dated from the 1st to the beginning of the 2nd millennium A.D.

Verstaminai Mound and Verstaminai Mound II and III with settlements - Verstaminai village has 4 mounds in total, and three of them are cultural monuments of the Republic of Lithuania. The First Verstaminai mound is supposedly a site of medieval military fortifications.

Hill, called Koplyčkalnis - The mound is situated 0,6 km from the road Verstaminai–Teizai. The hill occupies 2,7 ha.

Nature monuments

The Veisiejai Ash - The ash grows in southern part of Veisiejai park, on Ančia lake shore. It is the second ash by girth in Lithuania. The Veisiejai Ash is of 30 m height, with 5,1 m girth in the bottom. Veisiejai park with its gigantic ash was planted in the second half of the 18th century. The park was founded by Masalski family – the owner of Veisiejai at that time, who also built the manor. In 1987 the Veisiejai Ash was declared as state-protected local dendrological monument. In spring, when other trees come into leaf, this ash has still naked branches. As a legend tells, all trees have eyes and can see, but ash is blind. Therefore, already for 150 years, unable to see the awakening nature, the blind ash is the last to blow his buds…

The Great and The Hollow oaks of Širvinto forest - hey are both around 400 years old.The Great and The Hollow oaks of Širvinto forest are the largest ones in the park territory and grows on a road side between Seirijai and Meteliai. With a girth of 5 m, diameter – 1,6 m, height – 35 m.

Manors

Aštrioji Kirsna Manor - Kirsna name is of Jotvingian origin, meaning the black river. Aštrioji Kirsna was referred in documents in the 16th century, together with the King Sigismund III. This manor is among the largest in Dzūkija: it includes 19 buildings and a park. The building architecture features stylistic details of classicism, romanticism and other historical periods. Aštrioji Kirsna ensemble is distinctive among other Lithuanian manors of the 19th century by its original composition of representative and household/manufacture parts (character of enclosed yards) with a former maximally developed water body system and abundance of park elements – sightseeing hills. The manor boasts its famous residents, Lithuanian nobility: Sapieha, Karenga, Lukoszewicz families. In the first half of the 19th century the manor had a limekiln, brickyard, sawmill, distillery, mill. Currently it is being restored and adapted.

Former Rudamina Manor and Palace - Rudamina is the town in the base of Rudamina Mound, founded by Grzegorz and Maria Massalski in the 16th century, when the manor was built here. It was surrounded by 6,5 ha park and ponds. The remaining building is palace and the ruins of barn.

Former Veisiejai manor - In 1743-1745 Michal Josef Masalski, Grand Crown Hetman of Lithuania, the Veisiejai owner, built a representation palace in U shape. In 1928 the central part and the eastern wing of the palace were demolished. The remaining western wing is state-owned. Here there is an office of Veisiejai regional park direction. The buildings are surrounded by the 18th century manor park covering 5,9 ha territory. The park boasts over 2000 species of trees and the Veisiejai Ash – a natural monument.

Churches

Church of Saint George - On the highest place of Veisiejai in 1817 was built The Church of Saint George, called Cathedral of Dzūkija. The Church was founded by manageress of the manor Oginskytė-Žinevienė. The church will impress you with its interior and the significant historical past. In 1965 the Veisiejai church was declared a local monument. The church is rich with artwork: the bell, sculptures The Crucifix, St. John Nepomukas, paintings transfiguration, St. Anthony, Stations of the Cross, mobile alart with painting of St.thony, organ. The belfry at the church has the oldest brass bell in the region, cast in 1650.

Church of the Holy Trinity - Rudamina`s former manor and park, rectory and Church of the Holy Trinity make a harmonious set of architectural heritage, reflecting the entire history of Rudamina town. Construction of the church in Rudamina began in 1757 and was mostly funded by local landlord Mykalojus Sušickis. The church is an architectural monument of Early Baroque. It was rebuilt in 1913/ it has many artworks, fine smithery samples, and Rosary Mary painting with casing.

Immaculate Conception of Holy Mary Chapel (Kryžiai) - It is a Catholic on the southern lake Dusia shore, close to Staigūnai and Zebrėnai villages. The history of the place refers to the beginning of the Swedish war in 1701 – 1702. As the legend tells, the camp of Lithuanian Army commanded by Michal Serwaci Wisniowiecki stood between the lakes Dusia and Metelys in 1702, ready to preclude the Swedish Army from reaching Gordno. Waiting for the enemy Lithuanians built three crossed in a place where the army chaplain held service and painted picture of Bariūnai Holy Mother on the tin. Message of the approaching Swedish Army reached soldiers on the day of the Apostles SS. Peter and Paul, by the end of the Mass. After the Battle the place was seized by Swedes but local people managed to hide the Holy Mother painting. In few years, a veteran of former battle got back his lost vision exactly in the same place. The message on miracle spread, and people started to attend this place for service. In 1815 in the same place started construction of the Chapel and in 1816 pontiff Marciejevskis celebrated Mass and Sanctified the Chapel. It was destroyed in 1963, following the resolution of the Soviets. The re-erection of the Chapel was started in 1990. Celebration of Kryžiai took place on the 11th of June each year.

Urbanistic heritage

Historical centre of Veisiejai town - The town is located in peninsula surrounded by the lake Ančia. Veisiejai reference in written sources dates back to Mindaugas times (1253) the Old Veisiejai is an urban monument. Its protected objects include the street network, square planning from the second half of the 18th – beginning of the 19th century, development fragments, panorama of the Old Veisiejai and natural surroundings. The town development plan is linear. The town centre has some Baroque and Classicism planning elements of the second half of the 16th century. Street network is in perfect harmony to the local hilly terrain. Perspectives of confluent streets from the centre are clesed. There are blind alleys. The town has an architectural monument: towerless church of the Saint George, which is built in Baroque structure, classicistic shapes, built in 1817.

Places of events

The place of Kalniškė battle - Kalniškė battle was in 1945. Partisans (persons were about 60 - 120 according to different sources amount of them) were well fortified in the top of hill, they had had machine-guns and grenades. About 700 warriors had died in the battle. The fight had lasted whole day and only after sunset the partisans had broke out of encirclement. 44 warriors had died; between warriors was the wife of commander named Albina Neifaltienė - Pušelė. Now in memory of that battle there is the monument for defenders of freedom of Lithuania.

The place of Statiškė battle - Several hundreds of rebels from Alytus side fought with army unit of Russia which was leaded by colonel Skrodulis and captain Stern fon Gviazdonvskio in Statiškė place in 1863-06-29. Hidden rebels fired Russians after this had fought main forces. Rebels lost this battle, in which 35 people died, and part of them was taken prisoners. Later rebels commander and officer of artillery P. Siuzinas was reburied by his wife in Seirijai. The cemetery of rebellion participants is by the road Statiškė – Mockonys. Statiškė battlefield is 1km out of route.

Šeštokai train station - Šeštokai town already had more than 400 years. The train station of Šestokai built in tsar time. From Šeštokai train station in 1941 the 14 of June, started exile to Siberia the brightest people of Lithuania. For homage to expatriates of Lithuania in public garden close to train station built cross and monument.

Cemetery of the Holocaust victims - Jews settled about in the middle of 18th century In Veisiejai town. Number of Jews had quickly increased in this town. The first time cemetery of Jews was marked on map in 1800. All Jews of Veisiejai town were sent to Lazdijai ghetto and had shoot in 1941.

Famous local people

The Grave and monument of Emilija Pliaterytė (1806-1831) - Emilia plater (Lithuanian: Emilija Platerytė, born in November 13, 1806 in Vilnius, died in December 23, 1831 in Kapčiamiestis) – countess, descendant of a famous Plater family, participant of November Uprising in 1831, captain, the Lithuanian Joan of Arc, also honoured as a national hero in Poland. Emilia Plater is a symbol of freedom fights, heroine of the 19th century. In 1831 she and her cousin C. Plater formed a partisan unit that, together with allies, seized the town of Zarasai, took part in the battle in Radviliškis region, later also in Vilnius district and Kaunas. Emilia was wounded when crossing the Juodoji Ančia River. She found a shelter at forester Margelis and Justinavas landlord Ablamowicz. She passed on December 23, 1831 in Veinežeris village. Her body was taken by boat along the Ančia river to Kapčiamiestis Church, and buried in Kapčiamiestis cemetery.

The Grave and monument of Juozas Neimontas (1875-1963) - Juozas Neimontas (born on July 20, 1875 in Plutiškiai village, Ūdrija region, Marijampolė district – dead on August 5, 1963 in Luokė, Telšiai region) organist, choirmaster, pedagogue and composer. Juozas Neimontas was one of the first Lithuania musicians – choirmasters, who organized choirs and Lithuanian evening-concerts in these particularly hard times. He collected and harmonized Lithuanian folk songs, distributed the prohibited Lithuanian prints, took care about musical awareness of the region people. His song “Pasisėjau Žalią Rūtą” (I Seeded A Green Ruth) soon became very popular across the entire Lithuania.

Monument of inventor of Esperanto Ludvic Lazarus Zamenhof - He was born in Bialystok, to the family of foreign language teacher. At school he thoroughly studied foreign languages, and spoke 12 of them. Graduating the Gymnasium, he developed the first project of international language, but father did not approve. L. L. Zamenhof’s choice – he burned the manual of language project and sent his son to medicine studies. After completing studies in Moscow and Warsaw, Ludvic came to his sister in Veisiejai. In Veisiejai Zamenhof practiced medicine, restored and finished the Esperanto manual. Thus Veisiejai is a legitimate motherland of Esperanto.