Welcome to Anykščiai! Anykščiai is a small corner of land, where nature and history put everything Lithuania is rich in. Here lies the most important stone in Lithuania, here flows the longest lithuanian river, here stands the highest church, hides the only Treetop Walking Path in the Baltics – ant yet it is not all the heights of our region. Guided tours in Anykščiai GUIDED TOURS IN ANYKŠČIAI DISCOVER ANYKŠČIAI WITH A TOUR GUIDE! Special itineraries and Travel packages for tours in Anykščiai Region. Contact us for more information: +370 683 65440, +370 381 59177; [email protected] Guides of Anykščiai: A. Gogelis +370 613 49370; Edita Ražanienė +370 686 68878; Birutė Venteraitienė +370 656 49463; Orinta Labutytė +370 614 76573; Gintarė Nefaitė +370 622 48530; Ramunė Šaltenienė +370 615 78893; Kęstutis Rainys +370 650 26069. Trips within Anykščiai Region with a local guide. The Museum of Anykščiai invites everyone for interesting trips in Anykščiai. You will discover local culture, nature and leisure objects. Contact us: +370 381 58015, +370 613 12282, [email protected] TWO – DAY CULTURAL VISIT IN ANYKŠČIAI WITH ONE TICKET We offer a guided tour in 9 museums: The Granary of A. Baranaus- kas, memorial museums of A. Vienuolis-Žukauskas, B. Buivydaitė, J. Biliūnas, L. ir S. Didžiuliai, exposition of stone-painting by S. Petraška, Šeimyniškėliai hillfort historic complex, Narrow-Gauge and Horse Museums, and activities. This ticket can be bought in the muse- ums of A. Baranauskas and A. Vienuolis-Žukauskas expositions. Contact us: +370 381 58 015, +370 612 81 067, [email protected], www.baranauskas.lt. THE GARDENS OF AŽUOŽERIAI OFFER GUIDED TOURS. For more information please contact us: +370 600 76056; [email protected] 4 5 ANYKŠČIAI is the town situated in the North-Eastern part of Lithuania, 33 km away from Utena, in the Anykščiai mountain-ridge (95–112 meters abover the sea level). A. Vienuolis-Žukauskas in Anykščiai. In 1792 the town received an official blazon. History Archeological findings show first citizens of Anykščiai district since 9000 B.C. The town‘s name was first mentioned as Anykščiai Manor of Lithuania‘s Duke Kazimieras. He wrote in his letters that he is assigning the manor for Radvila Astikaitis. During 1442–1452, first wooden church was built in town. In the XV century, the town Anykščiai is being mentioned. In 1507 the lands of the parson were adjusted. In 1516 the town got the rights of the town and the Manor of Anykščiai with the town to be given to Mikalojus Radvila. In 1566 the town suffered several fires. The church was burnt to the ground, but it was soon to be re-built. In 1671 the church of Anykščiai was burnt down again (re-built in 1677). In the begin- ning of XVIII century, the bridge was demolished due to the wars with swedish. It was re-built in the end of XVIII century. In 1792, king Stanislovas Augustas gave the town rights and a blazon. The blazon consists out of the new bridge which was built right before receiving an autonomy, and the statue of st. Jonas Nepomukas, the watchman of the bridges. In the XIX century, the town grew bigger. Here was a church with and the soviets. In 1968 the factory of sand-intensity was opened the steeple and two synagogues. When the 1831 uprising was („Kvarcas), as well as the mansion of culture and the blocks of liv- put down, the town belonged to the russian empire. During the ing houses „Ramybė“. During 1988–1992, the railway was operat- uprising of 1863 the gun factory was opened here. In 1898 the ing for children, on the route Anykščiai-Rubikiai. narrow-gauge railway started operating with the track Panevėžys- Švenčionėliai. In 1902 the hydro power plant was built in Anykščiai. In 1992 the new blazon was confirmed. In 2012 Anykščiai town was 7 years later, in the place of where an old church was built, new selected to be The Capital of Lithuanian Culture. church was established (neogothic style). Since 1929 localy winery works in Anykščiai. In 1938, the rights of the town were re-newed. During the wars, a lot of people died, mainuly Jewish. In 1944 the town was a battlefield for the nazis 7 Signs of Jewish History FORMER SYNAGOGUES. Sinagogos st., Anykščiai GPS: 55.523900, 25.104848 (WGS) Synagogue complex was in the centre of Anykščiai; the Old Town at present. The Sinagogos Street leads to the former synagogue court- yard (shulhoif) where the two former synagogues are here today. The synagogue courtyard is marked with a special monument. The Sina- gogos Street is the only street in the old town of Anykščiai which has preserved the historical name that was given by the local Jewish com- KURKLIAI SYNAGOGUE. munity at the beginning of the twentieth century. S. Nėries st. 4A, Kurkliai, Anykščiai District. GPS: 55.416, 25.064 (WGS) Synagogue in Kurkliai is significant on the regional level. Legal protec- tion has been granted for this synagogue in the small town of Kurkliai because of its architectural value. This is one of the most original wooden synagogues in Lithuania and the only synagogue that is sig- nificant on the regional level. The synagogue was designed by Povilas Jurėnas, construction technician, and built in 1936; the synagogue is made of dovetail logs. THE MASSACRE OF JEWS AND THE BURIAL PLACE. JEWISH BANK. Liudiškių st., Anykščiai GPS: 55.512, 25.126 (WGS) Vilniaus st. 5, Anykščiai When the city was occupied by the German army in 1941, the persecu- GPS: 55.524330, 25.102627 (WGS) tion of Jews began. By the order of the government, all the Jews were The Jews began to return to Anykščiai and live in the wrecked homes listed and their places of residence were identified. Jews were forced after the First World War. Financial support was provided by their rel- to go to synagogues and then to labour camps. The writer Antanas atives in Africa or America and by the newly established bank. The Vienuolis-Žukauskas together with Čepėnas came to Utena and asked bank was opened in the right wing in the rented house of Kutka and German commandant not to kill children of Jews and promised to edu- Šaltenienė and was open until 1940. cate them as Christians, but both men were told to leave. 8 Signs of Jewish History RAPOPORTAI BROTHERS’ STORE. OLD JEWISH CEMETERY. A. Baranausko Avenue. 6, Anykščiai Kęstučio st., Anykščiai GPS: 55.524785, 25.105206 (WGS) GPS: 55.518396, 25.100558 (WGS) Jews in Anykščiai were mostly small traders and had many small shops. This cemetery is an object of cultural heritage. There are many tomb- Mejeras and Šepšelis Rapoportai had a craft shop and wood business. stones (about 200) with inscriptions in the Yiddish language. On the Companies of flax processing and felting were prosperous. A lot of other side of the cemetery near Kęstučio Street there is a monumental Jews were engaged in crafts, many of them were tailors, shoemakers, composition of cemetery fences with fixed gates and memorial board bakers, watchmakers and others. that was designed after the independence of Lithuania. Earlier Jews had to pay fee for their cemetery. The presence of this cemetery sug- gests that the Jewish community already existed at the end of the 16th century. THE FOREST OF POPAS (lt. „Popo Šilelis“). J. Biliūno st., Anykščiai GPS: 55.535714, 25.124888 (WGS) This is the place which was transformed into ghetto on the 8th of July in 1941. Hundreds of Jews were captured there. Except from Ona Balaišienė’s memoirs, published in Vanagas’s book Don’t Turn Away From Yourself (lt. „Nenusigręžk nuo savęs“): “Only sick women and children were allowed to stay in the country houses nearby, the others – in the open air. Days were bearable: general fuss, that’s all, but at RUDOLPH BARANIK’S BENCH. night or during rain, moaning and wailing was all over the place. One S. Daukanto st., Anykščiai can really go mad! My husband was trying to comfort me: ‘The war is GPS:55.523993, 25.104588 (WGS) such: if you are meant to die, then die’. But nobody wanted to die!“. Rudolf Baranik (1920–1998) grew up in Anykščiai and lived in the United States; he is recognised world-wide as a painter, writer, pub- licist and teacher. He is considered as protest artist, continuing the tradition of abstract painting and his art is considered as political ab- stractionism. On the initiative of Anykščiai city communities, to the memory of Baranik the bench with his name was built in the old town of Anykščiai in 2012. 9 Places to visit DID YOU KNOW? The Church of st. Matthews in Anykščiai is the highest in Lithuania - 79 meters. Places to visit BURBIŠKIS MANOR Parko st. 1B, Burbiškis village, Anykščiai district. Phone: +370 381 49255, [email protected] www.burbiskis.lt GPS: 55.500948, 25.216654 (WGS) Burbiškis Manor is established in Anykščiai Regional Park, not far from Lake Rubikiai, 8 km from Anykščiai. The stylish and attractive palace on the left side of Anykšta stream is a 19th century architectural monu- ment and a pearl of the neoclassical era, enchanting with its subtlety ANYKŠČIAI ST MATTHEW’S CHURCH and elegance. Vilniaus st. 8, Anykščiai GPS: 55.524178, 25.102075 (WGS) The century-old neogothic red brick church with twin spires,, is the highest church in Lithuania with its 79-metre-high spires being the first detail the visitors coming to Anykščiai can see. THE MANOR OF OKULIČIŪTĖ Paupio str. 10, Anykščiai GPS: 55.526973, 25.103968 (WGS) ANYKŠČIAI ART INCUBATOR Okuličiūtė was the first owner of the Neoclassical manor palace (the J.