Marijampolė County

• Until the Second World War, the synagogue complex on what is now Sodų Street was the most important centre of Jewish community and religious life in its community.
• The museum in the birthplace of Jono Basanavičius offers a glimpse of the everyday life of a prosperous Suvalkija farmer and the region’s culture.
• The Buktos nature trail passes through different forest and floodplain habitats; seven stops also cover the plants and animals of the surrounding area.
• In Vištytis Regional Park, the last Ice Age shaped a landscape of hills, a lake, erratic boulders and wetlands.

The synagogue complex on what is now Sodų Street represents the history of Jewish community life: until the Second World War, it was the most important centre of community life in its community and also the most important centre of religious life. Street art also shapes the cityscape of Marijampolė. New drawings are added to buildings every year, and the project attracts both local and international tourists.

The birthplace of Jono Basanavičius features a reconstructed single-farmstead belonging to a prosperous Suvalkija farmer. It includes traditional residential and farm buildings typical of the region, dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The museum has been operating since 1991 and presents the everyday life of a prosperous farmer, the ethnic culture characteristic of Sūduva, and the life and work of Jono Basanavičius.

The exhibition at the Vincas Kudirka Museum introduces Vincas Kudirka, the author of the Lithuanian national anthem, and the place where he spent the final years of his life. The museum offers guided tours in Lithuanian, and a tour of Kudirkos Naumiestis is also available. Families can take part in educational programmes on the Lithuanian National Revival, Kudirka and the history of writing. Check the availability of these programmes in advance.

The Marijampolė Regional Museum and President Kazys Grinius Museum preserve around 40,000 exhibits relating to everyday life and ethnography, fine art, literature, photography, numismatics and archaeology. The exhibition “City by the River Šešupė” traces the city’s history from its foundation to the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, covering topics including changes to its name, heraldry and city plans from different periods. “Spirit of the Nation” is devoted to the prehistory and spiritual and ethnographic heritage of Suvalkija (Sūduva).

Paežeriai Manor is also a cultural monument of historical, architectural, urban planning and landscape value. In 1992, it was added to the list of protected sites as a cultural asset of national significance. In Degučiai, a hammer museum displays around 1,000 hammers, each numbered and labelled with its country of origin and intended use. The cross-stitch picture museum, meanwhile, presents a world map 1.6 metres long and over one metre high, made with more than 250,000 cross-stitches.

The Sudargas hillfort complex is regarded as the most important in historical, archaeological and cultural terms after the Kernavė hillforts. The Sudargas Hillfort Day is held there every year during the Joninės (Rasos) celebrations. Another surviving historical feature is the two-storey brick granary of Gižai Manor, which has been mentioned since the 18th century.

At seven stops along the Buktos nature trail, visitors can learn about hornbeam forests, floodplain forests and swampy deciduous forests, as well as local plant and animal species. The rest area has a shelter, swings, rubbish bins and a toilet. A specially equipped fire pit makes it possible to hang a pot, cook soup and eat in the forest. The trail is in Marijampolė Municipality, six kilometres south-east of Liudvinavas.

The landscape of Vištytis Regional Park was shaped by the glacier tongues of the last Ice Age. They formed the highest hills of the Suwałki Heights, nestled Lake Vištytis among them, brought large erratic boulders to the surface and transformed the flatter areas into wetlands. The Amalva educational trail leads into one of the largest bogs in Suvalkija. Information boards cover its history, ecosystem, and animal and plant life.

The 150-year-old Maumedžių Grove lies near the Polish border. More than 60 larch trees grow there, reaching around 30 metres in height, and there is also a rest area. Another landscape feature is Vištytis Windmill, described as a distinctive adornment of the landscape. The region’s natural attractions therefore range from a bog trail with information boards to forests, erratic boulders and glacially formed hills.

Guided tours at the Vincas Kudirka Museum must be booked in advance. Check the latest details on language, dates and availability before making plans. The “Kuchmistrai” kitchen restaurant at the Zypliai Manor complex is listed as a place for meals, tastings and festive lunches; check current offerings in advance.

The adventure park in the town of Kazlų Rūda opened in September 2011 as a place for active recreation. At the time, it was especially popular with residents and visitors to the town. As this information describes the situation at the time, check whether the adventure park is currently operating before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Marijampolė, Šakiai, Kazlų Rūda, Gudeliai, Sasnava, Gelgaudiškis, Vilkaviškis, Šakiai District Municipality, Marijampolė Municipality and Kazlų Rūda Municipality.

How long are the walks on the Buktos nature trail?

There are walks of 1.3 and 1.7 kilometres. Both pass stops where you can learn about local habitats and species.

Do guided tours at the Vincas Kudirka Museum need to be booked in advance?

Yes. Guided tours must be booked in advance. Tours are offered in Lithuanian, as well as a tour of Kudirkos Naumiestis; check the latest details before making plans.

When is Sudargas Hillfort Day held?

It is held every year at the hillforts during the Joninės (Rasos) celebrations.

For the main travel overview: Lithuania.