Lazdijai: Church, Monuments and City Beach

Key facts

• The twin-towered, pseudo-basilica-style St. Anne’s Church was built in 1895 to a design by E. Lipskis.
• The church houses an organ by Lithuanian organ builder Jonas Garalevičius.
• The Independence Monument on Independence Square was erected in 1938 and restored in 1990.
• The monument to Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanagas was unveiled on 11 March 2017.
• The regional museum offers educational programs, including candle making and archaeological excavations.
• The “Tree of Songs” sculpture symbolically recalls the importance of the Song Festival to the culture of the country and the nation.
• A 1.9-kilometer, fully paved route leads from the city park to the public city beach on Lake Baltajo.
• The grave of Motiejus Gustaitis in Lazdijai Cemetery is a historic monument of local significance.

St. Anne’s Church and Monuments

St. Anne’s Church was built in 1895 to a design by architect E. Lipskis. Its twin-towered, pseudo-basilica form offers a concrete starting point if you are interested in religious architecture. The organ housed in the church adds another aspect: an instrument by Lithuanian organ builder Jonas Garalevičius. The building’s design, construction date and organ can each be considered as distinct features.

The monuments can also be distinguished by their specific locations and dates. The Independence Monument stands on Independence Square; it was erected in 1938 and restored in 1990. The monument to Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanagas was unveiled on 11 March 2017 in the square named after him in the center of Lazdijai, in front of St. Anne’s Church. The dates mark different events: the erection and restoration of one monument, and the later unveiling of the other. The grave of Motiejus Gustaitis in the cemetery adds a historic monument of local significance to these places of remembrance.

Culture and Educational Activities

The Lazdijai Regional Museum offers educational programs, including candle making and archaeological excavations. If one of these programs is important to your plans, check its current availability directly with the museum. This will help you distinguish between a museum program with a hands-on activity and the city’s architectural or historical themes.

Another cultural point of interest is the “Tree of Songs” sculpture. It was unveiled in the courtyard of the Lazdijai Cultural Center and symbolically recalls the importance of the Song Festival to the culture of the country and the nation. This artistic theme complements the subjects of the church, monuments and museum programs. For planning your trip, you can therefore distinguish between educational activities and a work with a symbolic connection to culture.

From the City Park to the City Beach

The 1.9-kilometer walking route leads from Lazdijai City Park to the public city beach on Lake Baltajo and is fully paved. Walkways in the park connect the city park with the beach. The length, surface and endpoints give you concrete features to help fit this option for exercise into your day. The route is therefore clearly distinct from a visit focused on the church, monuments or museum. As conditions may change, check them before your visit.

Plan Your Stay

If you are considering Lazdijai as a place to stay overnight, you can first think about what you want your trip to focus on: religious architecture and places of remembrance, an educational program at the regional museum, or the route from the city park to the city beach. These subjects offer different starting points for planning your day.

Discover more destinations: Latežeris, Ilgininkai, Šventežeris, Stračiūnai, Gailiūnai, Daugai, Ricieliai, Leipalingis.

For the broader travel overview: Alytus District.