LITHUANIALITHUANIA

The The Republic of Republic of Lithuania Lithuania is the is the country in country in Central Central Europe,Europe, by the by the Baltic SeaBaltic Sea.. Lithuania bLithuania borderorders s withwith Latvia, Latvia, Belarus, PolandBelarus, Poland andand Russia. Russia.

LithuaniaLithuania

Area - 65.2 thousandArea - 65.2 thousand km ² km ² Population - 3,555,179Population - 3,555,179 Capital – Vilnius. Capital – Vilnius. Language - Lithuanian Language - Lithuanian - - 82%, 8% 82%, 8%

-- Russian, 5.6% Russian, 5.6% - - Polish, 4.4Polish, 4.4% - % - other languagesother languages. .

The The LLargest argest CCitiesities of of Lithuania Lithuania

Vilnius, Vilnius,

Kaunas, Kaunas,

Klaipėda,Klaipėda,

Šiauliai. Šiauliai.

The PThe Presidentresident of of Lithuania – Lithuania – Dalia GrybauskaitėDalia Grybauskaitė

Our country is Our country is democratic country democratic country with the president with the president and parlament. Our and parlament. Our president Ms Dalia president Ms Dalia Grybauskaite is the Grybauskaite is the first woman to have first woman to have this post in all this post in all history of Lithuania.history of Lithuania.

Lithuania became the Lithuania became the member of NATO on the 29member of NATO on the 29thth of March,of March,20042004

We started the membership We started the membership in EU on the 1in EU on the 1stst of May, 2004 of May, 2004

These two facts are very These two facts are very important for our countryimportant for our country

TThe first written recordhe first written record of the of the name of our name of our country was in 1009country was in 1009. Lithuanians . Lithuanians were were later later conquered conquered by the by the neighboring landsneighboring lands..

TThe Kingdom of Lithuania he Kingdom of Lithuania was was establishestablisheded in the in the 13th century. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania 13th century. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania remained independent remained independent and dominating country in and dominating country in Europe. It Europe. It was was alsoalso one of the last Europe one of the last Europeanan countriescountries to adopt Christianity. to adopt Christianity.

In the 15th century Lithuania became the largest In the 15th century Lithuania became the largest state in Europe, merging state in Europe, merging with Poland and formingwith Poland and forming Polish-Lithuanian CommonwealthPolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth..

In 1795, however, Lithuania was erased from the In 1795, however, Lithuania was erased from the political map political map afterafter the Partition the Partition withwith Poland. Poland.

LithuaniaLithuania was included by force into the Soviet was included by force into the Soviet Union after the World War II and regained the Union after the World War II and regained the independence only in 1991.independence only in 1991.

Here you can see some historical facts. As you can see Here you can see some historical facts. As you can see we celebrated one thousand years anniversary we celebrated one thousand years anniversary when Lithuania was first mentioned. Just take a when Lithuania was first mentioned. Just take a

look at some more events.look at some more events.

This is the logo of the anniversary.This is the logo of the anniversary.

Vilnius is the largest Vilnius is the largest city of Lithuania. city of Lithuania. Vilnius population Vilnius population is aboutis about 850 850 000 000. It . It is the political, is the political, economical, economical, scientific and scientific and culturculturalal centre centre of of the countrythe country..

You can see Vilnius – our capital city. It is You can see Vilnius – our capital city. It is very beautiful you should visit it one day.very beautiful you should visit it one day.

As our country is on the As our country is on the crossroads of the East and the crossroads of the East and the West, in the course of history, we West, in the course of history, we suffered invasions of different suffered invasions of different armies such as Polish, Russian armies such as Polish, Russian and German.and German.

Our Way to IndependenceOur Way to Independence

The Baltic Way - 650 km The Baltic Way - 650 km long human chain long human chain (people (people holding each others’ holding each others’ hands through three hands through three neighbouring countries – neighbouring countries – Lithuania, Latvia and Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia)Estonia) August 23 August 23,,19891989.. Our way to independence Our way to independence was very difficult and was very difficult and unusual because we fought unusual because we fought without any weaponswithout any weapons.. This This act symbolised friendship act symbolised friendship among countries and the among countries and the wish to be free from the wish to be free from the Soviet Union.Soviet Union.

Some photos from this time. In 1991 people stood in Some photos from this time. In 1991 people stood in front of Russian tanks without guns. We are happy to be front of Russian tanks without guns. We are happy to be independent now and be here with you, travel where we independent now and be here with you, travel where we

wantwant and and talk what we wish.talk what we wish.

We want to present you the beauty We want to present you the beauty of our country nature. of our country nature.

We don‘t have mountains but we are We don‘t have mountains but we are proud of our hills, plains and watersproud of our hills, plains and waters.. Lithuania Lithuania hashas about about 30003000 rivers and rivers and lakes. The largest river lakes. The largest river isis the the NemunasNemunas..

You can see our seaside, the You can see our seaside, the dunes and dunes and thethe beach. beach.

Lithuania is well known for its amber. Lithuania is well known for its amber. We make a lot of nice jewellery from We make a lot of nice jewellery from

it.it.

Here are some of historical sites. Grand Here are some of historical sites. Grand Duke Gediminas founded Vilnius Duke Gediminas founded Vilnius in thein the1313thth

centurycentury

Trakai castleTrakai castle Trakai Island Castle Trakai Island Castle waswas

built in the second half built in the second half of the 14th centuryof the 14th century by by the other Grand Duke the other Grand Duke Kęstutis. The Kęstutis. The construction of Trakai construction of Trakai Island Castle was related Island Castle was related to the expansion and to the expansion and strengthening of the strengthening of the Trakai Peninsula Castle. Trakai Peninsula Castle. Kęstutis moved his main Kęstutis moved his main residence and his residence and his treasury to the Island treasury to the Island Castle. Castle.

The Hill of CrossesThe Hill of Crosses

This is a unique hill This is a unique hill with thousands of with thousands of crosses not only crosses not only from Lithuania but from Lithuania but also from other also from other countries of the countries of the world.world.

Unesco Unesco HeritageHeritage There are some objects There are some objects

included in included in the the list of list of UNESCO heritage. UNESCO heritage. (Vilnius old town,dunes, (Vilnius old town,dunes, Kernavė prehistoric hills. Kernavė prehistoric hills.

National FestivalsNational Festivals

We have state and We have state and religious festivals. religious festivals. Actually religious Actually religious festivals are more festivals are more connected with pagan connected with pagan traditions than Christian traditions than Christian ones. Such as ones. Such as Shrovetide, Easter or Shrovetide, Easter or AAll ll SSaintsaints’’ DDay.ay.

The Song and Dance festivalThe Song and Dance festival

Every four years we have a very cheerful Every four years we have a very cheerful festival of song and dance. festival of song and dance.

Basketball - the Second Religion of Basketball - the Second Religion of LithuaniaLithuania

Maybe you heard about our famous basketball Maybe you heard about our famous basketball players Sabonis, Marčiulionisplayers Sabonis, Marčiulionis or or Kleiza. This Kleiza. This year you are welcome to Europe Basketball year you are welcome to Europe Basketball

Championship in LithuaniaChampionship in Lithuania

Lithuania is divided into Lithuania is divided into 4 4 regions: Aukštaitija, Suvalkija, regions: Aukštaitija, Suvalkija, Žemaitija, DzūkijaŽemaitija, Dzūkija. We are the . We are the representatives of Suvalkija representatives of Suvalkija

region.region.

SuvalkijaSuvalkija is is the ethnic the ethnic region region of of LithuaniaLithuania. It is . It is the region of the region of extensive plains extensive plains and and fertile soilfertile soil where it is where it is difficult to find a difficult to find a stone. stone.

Like every region of our country, Suvalkija has its Like every region of our country, Suvalkija has its typical accent which is considered as an official typical accent which is considered as an official

accent of our language. We have traditional accent of our language. We have traditional clothes, songs, food and so on.clothes, songs, food and so on.

MarijampolėMarijampolė

My native town is My native town is Marijampolė. The Marijampolė. The symbol here is symbol here is SSaint George aint George fighting the evilfighting the evil dragon. dragon.

MarijampolėMarijampolė isis a towna town in in south-south-western Lithuaniawestern Lithuania.. It is called “the It is called “the capital” of capital” of SuvalkijSuvalkija. a.

Marijampole is the Marijampole is the seventh largest city seventh largest city in Lithuania.in Lithuania.

Area:Area: 21 km²21 km²

Date Date of of establishestablishmentment:: 16671667

PopulationPopulation:: 46 26146 261

The history of our townThe history of our town Pašešupio village was Pašešupio village was

first mentionefirst mentioned d in in historical sources in historical sources in 1667. 1667. It only consisted It only consisted ofof 24 wooden houses. 24 wooden houses. Later the village grew Later the village grew to a nice town. to a nice town.

Neobarocco Classical Neobarocco Classical aarchitecture stylerchitecture style prevails in the old prevails in the old towntown. .

Our ChurchesOur Churches

We are proud of our historical We are proud of our historical sites such as churchessites such as churches

The RailwayThe Railway StationStation

We have one of the We have one of the oldest railway oldest railway stations in stations in Lithuania.Lithuania.

There are important historical places and buildings in There are important historical places and buildings in Marijampole, such as one of the oldest gymnasiums, Marijampole, such as one of the oldest gymnasiums, Marijampole College, Drama Theatre or new culture Marijampole College, Drama Theatre or new culture

house.house.

Our town gave Our town gave a lot of famous a lot of famous

people to people to Lithuania. The Lithuania. The first president first president of the country of the country

was from was from Marijampole. Marijampole.

There is a There is a number of number of

poets, poets, politicians, politicians,

writers, etc that writers, etc that came from this came from this

town.town.

Our School – Rimanto Stankeviciaus Our School – Rimanto Stankeviciaus General Secondary SchoolGeneral Secondary School

I would like to mention I would like to mention one of the most one of the most significant people that significant people that came from came from Marijampolė. Marijampolė. Rimantas Stankevicius Rimantas Stankevicius graduated our school. graduated our school. He is the national hero He is the national hero and the only and the only Lithuanian astronaut Lithuanian astronaut in the former Soviet in the former Soviet Union. He chose his Union. He chose his own death in order to own death in order to save other people’s save other people’s lives.lives.

Thank you for your kind attention. Thank you for your kind attention. We are happy to welcome you in We are happy to welcome you in

Lithuania in one year. Lithuania in one year.