Discover Šakiai: cultural sites and hotel options
Accommodation in Šakiai
Šakiai reveals itself through cultural sites that offer different perspectives: a carillon, architecture, public art and regular events. If you are looking for a hotel in Šakiai, these themes can help you match the town’s cultural side to your interests.
File:Šakiai, žydų ir sovietų aktyvistų žudynių vieta - 2.JPG
Photo: Vilensija via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Šakiai at a glance
Twenty-four bells hang above a fountain in the town square; music can be played via a QR code. The church features elements of modernist Renaissance architecture, and the deanery museum is next to it. Other points of interest include a sculpture, a memorial stele at the former synagogue site, Juozo Lingis Park and a circus experience that can be booked.
What do the town square and memorial sites tell us?
The carillon is a steel structure; its 24 bells hang above a fountain. A QR code lets you play the carillon music. This means you can experience the installation not only as a structure to look at, but also through its sound. The sculpture “Berniukas” by Kęstutis Dovydaitis stands in the central square. It depicts a ten-year-old Jewish boy with a suitcase and books. The boy’s age, figure and belongings give the work a specific subject.
A stele was unveiled at the site of the former synagogue in summer 2023, donated by the Jakovo Bunkos labdaros ir paramos fondas. It is decorated with a menorah. Its inscription records that a Jewish house of prayer—a synagogue—stood there until 1941. The sculpture and stele emphasize different things: one depicts a person, while the other identifies the former use of a particular site.
How can the architecture and park be understood?
The Church of St John the Baptist features elements of modernist Renaissance architecture; its rectangular floor plan and a tower add to the description. For an initial architectural overview, you can consider the shape of the floor plan and the vertical tower as two distinct features. The Šakių Dekanato muziejus is next to the church. If you are planning a visit, check current access in advance.
Cultural events and markets are held regularly in centrally located Juozo Lingis Park. The park is named after Juozas Lingis, a choreographer and ballet master from the Šakiai region. Check the event dates if you are planning specifically to attend a market or cultural programme.
Which activities should you plan in advance?
The educational programme at Šakių cirko mokykla requires advance booking. It includes V. Venslovaitis’s photo exhibition “Viskas dėl šou”, a mini clown exhibition and insights into the history of Lithuanian circus. Also included are a performance by the “Šypsena” studio, a behind-the-scenes look at props, and the chance to try a trampoline. Ask the provider about current availability.
Eight granite slabs by Kęstutis Dovydaitis feature bronze footprints and QR codes. Scanning a code lets you listen to how buildings and their uses have changed. The audio information focuses on the transformation of buildings, while the circus experience brings together exhibitions, a performance and props.
Discover more destinations: Kazlų Rūda, Vilkaviškis, Gudeliai, Marijampolė, Gelgaudiškis, Sasnava.
FAQ
How can I listen to the carillon music?
You can play the music via a QR code in the town square.
What does the memorial stele record?
The inscription states that a Jewish house of prayer, a synagogue, stood at the site until 1941.
What planning is needed for the circus experience?
The educational session must be booked in advance. You can ask the provider about current availability.
Go to the main travel overview: Marijampolė County.
