…Lithuania… Geographical center of Europe, recent member of the European Union, a 1000-year-old nation…
…Vilnius, capital of Lithuania…European Capital of Culture 2009…
Lithuania is a small, unique country with a rich history. Located on the shores of the Baltic Sea, this nation of 3 million has maintained its identity for centuries. It is a country famous for its knights, castles, natural environment and the beautiful architecture of its Old Towns.
Early hunting tribes started cultivating this land over 11,000 years ago. In the 14th century, under the rule of Vytautas the Great, Lithuania grew to one of the largest countries in Europe, spreading from the coast of the Baltic all the way to the Black Sea. Great and powerful civilizations left their mark on Lithuanian soil. Nordic and Scandinavian warriors brought sword and trade to Lithuania; Romans prized Baltic amber more highly than gold. The Soviet Union ruled the nation for 50 years. Now Europe is assimilating Lithuania into its own economy and lifestyle. Yet no matter how the greatest empires have tried, the Baltic people remain true to their roots and traditions to this day.
Ethnically, Lithuania is a multinational country with Lithuanians as a majority. Russians, Poles, Belarusians and other nationalities comprise more than fifteen percent of the population.
Historically Lithuania was, and remains, a cultural bridge between East and West. For centuries Lithuanians have fought for independence, searching for freedom between opposing sides. Under Germanic, Polish and Russian rule Lithuanians have not lost their identity; quite the opposite in fact. They embraced their new rulers, gained knowledge, traditions and beliefs, and preserved their nation for better times to come. Adam Mickiewicz, the great Polish Romantic poet, who was born in Lithuania and who regarded it as his motherland, depicted it as a mysterious country, which repeatedly disappears from history and then returns to it.
Lithuanians have their own ancient language that is one of the oldest in Europe. It has virtually no similarities with the tongues of its neighbouring countries or any other countries in the world. This has allowed the Lithuanian people to pass knowledge from generation to generation, shielded from inconsistencies and intrusions by other cultures.
Throughout history Lithuania established itself as a strong nation that can overcome difficulties and maintain its ethnic identity. This national character is deeply rooted in the art Lithuanian people have created and continue to create.
ART
… World’s most famous artists like Čiurlionis, Levitan, Sutin, Ruszczyc, Lipchitz trace their roots or came form Lithuania…
Lithuanians by nature are very artistic people. Their culture is a complex structure with many sides and angles; however, art was and always will be at the forefront of this nation. Their ancestors cut figures and jewellery out of amber that today’s archaeologists consider national and world treasures. Lithuanian pottery skills, passed from generation to generation, are like no other, and attract tourists from around the world. Folk-art and national costumes, decorated by traditional design, show sophisticated culture even in the most simple of
