Stračiūnai: Beekeeping, Žolinės and History
Accommodation in Stračiūnai
Stračiūnai combines an educational program run by beekeepers Jolanta and Algis Milius with the annual Žolinės tradition and memories of the 1863 uprising. Depending on whether you are interested in bees, community culture or history, your trip can take a different focus.
Stračiūnai at a glance
- Beekeeping program: candle-making and honey tasting.
- Žolinės: traditional celebrations organized by the community every year.
- 1863 uprising: A grave holds 20 men who died after the battle.
- A memorial stone to the insurgents who fell in 1863 stands nearby.
- Nearby is a protected area established to preserve populations of the European pond turtle.
What does the beekeepers’ educational program offer?
A visit takes you to the village of Stračiūnai to meet beekeepers Jolanta and Algis Milius. Their educational program includes candle-making and honey tasting. During the tasting in the honey room, visitors learn more about the relationship between people and bees. The beekeepers also tell the story of the villages of Stračiūnai and Brazdžiūnai. This brings together a hands-on introduction to candles and honey with stories about the villages’ history. If you are planning a visit, ask in advance about dates and availability.
What role does the Žolinės tradition play?
The Stračiūnai community organizes traditional Žolinės celebrations every year. They attract an increasing number of local residents, tourists and emigrants from the surrounding area. Unlike the themed visit to the beekeepers, Žolinės is an annual community occasion. It appeals to travelers interested in local festival traditions. Check the dates for the particular year before you travel.
What does Stračiūnai tell us about the 1863 uprising?
Twenty men who died after the battle are buried in the grave of the participants in the 1863 uprising in Stračiūnai. The route taken by the other insurgents is also recorded: they traveled through the forests of Živulciškės to Stračiūnai and camped there in a forest. They were caught by surprise by the tsarist army while having lunch.
A memorial stone to the insurgents who fell in 1863 also stands near Stračiūnai. The grave, the account of the march and the memorial stone each highlight a different aspect of the history: the men who died after the battle, the route and camp of the other insurgents, and the commemoration of those who fell.
What is the nature conservation connection in the area?
The Stračiūnai herpetological reserve (Stračiūnų herpetologinis draustinis) was established near Stračiūnai to preserve populations of the European pond turtle. While the educational program explores the relationship between people and bees, the reserve is focused on these turtle populations.
Discover more destinations: Žiogeliai, Daugų Seniūnija, Alytus, Vilkanastrai, Vytautai, Žalioji, Grūtas, Latežeris
FAQ
What does the beekeepers’ educational program include?
It includes candle-making and honey tasting. The tasting in the honey room also explores the relationship between people and bees. If you are planning a visit, ask in advance about dates and availability.
When do the Žolinės celebrations take place?
The Stračiūnai community organizes them every year. Check the dates for the particular year before planning your trip.
What reminders of the 1863 uprising are there?
The grave holds 20 men who died after the battle; a memorial stone to the insurgents who fell in 1863 also stands nearby.
For the broader travel overview: Alytus District.
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