|
 Alytus
is the sixth biggest town in Lithuania. The town adorned by picturesque,
forest covered hills is surrounded by 16 km long bend of the River
Nemunas. The origination of the
city (pop. 69.9 thousand), also called the capital city of the Dzukija
ethnographic region, dates back to the 14th century when Alytus was
just a fortress standing on a hill on the confluence of the Nemunas and
the Alytupis. In 1581, Alytus was granted the rights of a town.
In late 19th century, during the period of Czarist occupation Alytus
was turned into a fortress; a motor road and a railway were built in it
then. The so-called artillery barracks built in a forest close to Garrison
Church and Kareiviniu Park with Saratov barracks have survived from that
period.
 The
obelisk built at the location of a mass burial ground of war prisoners and
civilians who died and were killed in Alytus forest reminds us of
the horrors of World War II. Roughly 60,000 Jews were killed and buried in
the Vidzgiris forest during Nazi occupation; the highest hill of the
memorial features a monument to pain–a broken David Star. One should
visit the nurtured Old Garden of the City, the freedom monument (The Angel
of Freedom), the memorial to the partisans of the Dainava district who
died for Lithuanian independence. In 1944, Normandy-Nemunas, the legendary
French aviation squadron that fought against Nazism, was settled in
Alytus.
 Alytus
County is home to the Dzukija National, and the Meteliai and the Nemunas
Loops Regional Parks attracting visitors by beautiful nature and landscape
as well the Zuvintas Reserve inhabited by a large variety of birds.
Ancient crafts have survived in many ethnographic villages of the Dzukija
National Park. One can enjoy lively sceneries of the environs opening up
from the hill-forts of Merkine, Liskiava and Punia.
 The
residents of Dzukija are inseparable from merry communication and
melodious songs. Their raudos (laments), like Lithuanian sutartines
(ancient Lithuanian polyphonic folk songs), are a unique form of singing.
On 15 August every year, the Pivasiunai Church of the 17th century, which
contains a miraculous painting of “Our Lady”, invites people to the
Assumption feast (Zolines).
Alytus
- town within a park
 Alytus
mound is the only preserved witness of the foundation of the town,
monument of history and culture. It is said that a wooden castle was
standing here in the 14th century that was burnt down later by the
Teutonic Order. An impressive panorama of the town opens from the mound,
while its foot is decorated by an exposition of sculptures “Ancestors of
Alytus Mound”.
 Not
far away from the central Town Hall Square, an ornament of the old town
– city garden shows green. Formation of a park of geometrical plan was
started in 1930, in a natural pine forest. The park has a fountain with a
small pool, a beautiful rose garden attracts eyes of the visitors. The
town garden merges with a Resort park situated in the natural pine forest,
they are separated only by an Angel of  Freedom
– a monument dedicated for people who sacrificed their lives for
independence of Lithuania. The first Alytus high school (present School of
Fine Crafts) is adjacent to the park. Eyes and soul may rejoice in Dailides
Lake formed in the old riverbed of the River Nemunas and fountains playing
in it in summer time, a beach with wooden foot-bridges, boat pier are
installed by the lake.
 A
Youth Park distinguished by its peculiar composition of metal – plastic
sculptures stretches by the springy rivulets. Children’s playgrounds,
sports grounds are installed here, marked bicycle tracks offer safe riding
even for children. Vidzgiris botanical preserve is famous not only for its
extraordinary diversity of plants but historical sites as well. Those who
are interested in nature, history and like wandering can enjoy a walk on
an ecological path (1 – 3.5 km) leading to Radziunu mound –
archaeological monument dating back to the 13th century.
 Among
the oldest buildings of the town that survived to nowadays, three Catholic
churches should be mentioned: St Louis Church – the oldest church
in Alytus that was rebuilt in 1818, St Guardian Angels’ Church built in
1830, and St Casimir’s Church (former and present house of worship of
the Lithuanian Army).
|
Prepaid
Individual Transfer