Šakiai: Culture, Memory and City Life

• Twenty-four bells hang above a fountain in the town square; you can play their music using a QR code.
• The Church of St. John the Baptist has a rectangular floor plan, a tower and features of Modernist Renaissance architecture.
• The Šakių Dekanato muziejus is next to the church.
• A stele at the site of the former synagogue was unveiled in summer 2023.
• The sculpture “Berniukas” depicts a ten-year-old Jewish boy with a suitcase and books.
• Cultural events and markets are held regularly in centrally located Juozo-Lingis Park.
• The circus school's educational program is available by prior booking only.
• Eight granite slabs with bronze footprints and QR codes illustrate changes to buildings and how they have been used.

Carillon and architecture

A carillon of 24 bells hangs above a fountain in the town square. The steel structure brings together a clearly identifiable landmark and the sound of the bells. You can play the carillon music using a QR code. If you are interested in design, you will find not only a description of the structure here, but also a connection to music.

The Church of St. John the Baptist features Modernist Renaissance architecture. Its rectangular floor plan and tower are specific architectural features, complemented by the description of its style. The Šakių Dekanato muziejus is next to the church. The church and museum are therefore directly connected spatially, although the available information does not specify access or how visits are arranged.

Art and Jewish remembrance

The sculpture “Berniukas” by Kęstutis Dovydaitis stands in the central square. It depicts a ten-year-old Jewish boy with a suitcase and books. These objects are part of the depiction, as are the boy's age and identity. The figure thus offers a specific artistic subject, distinct from abstract square decorations.

Another way to engage with local history is the stele at the site of the former synagogue. It was unveiled in summer 2023 and donated by the Jakovo Bunkos labdaros ir paramos fondas. A menorah adorns the memorial. Its inscription records that a Jewish house of prayer—that is, a synagogue—stood on this site until 1941. While “Berniukas” depicts an individual, the stele links a specific place with the memory of its former religious use. The two works therefore differ both in form and in what they draw attention to.

Events and circus program

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. If you would like to plan your visit around a market or event, check the date in advance; the information provided does not include a current events calendar.

The Šakių cirko mokykla offers an educational program that requires advance booking. It includes the photo exhibition “Viskas dėl šou” by V. Venslovaitis, a mini clown exhibition and insights into the history of Lithuanian circus. The program also features a performance by the “Šypsena” studio, a behind-the-scenes look and circus props, as well as a trampoline to try out. Contact the operator to confirm current availability and book the program.

Buildings through time

Eight granite slabs with bronze footprints and QR codes, created by Kęstutis Dovydaitis, draw attention to changes in the town. Scanning a code lets you listen to how buildings and their uses have changed. This adds a temporal perspective to the church's architectural features: the focus is not only on a building's form, but also on its changing function.

Discover more destinations: Marijampolė, Kazlų Rūda, Gudeliai, Sasnava, Vilkaviškis, Gelgaudiškis.

For the broader travel overview: Marijampolė County.