WHAT LITHUANIA HAS TO OFFER YOU?
UNSPOILT NATURE. The land of forests and lakes. Low population density means that most of the country consists of forests, lakes and farmland. Pollution levels are low, with problem spots few and far between, so expect to find most of the countryside in its natural pristine condition. Significant areas are designated national or regional parks that have their own facilities.
TRAKAI – the ancient capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania is nestled amidst picturesque lakes. It is best known for its captivating 14th century fairy-tale castle on an island on Lake Galve, now housing a museum. Other than exploring the Gothic red brick castle, the town of Trakai itself with its quaint architecture is well-worth wandering around. There also are plenty of options for fun on the placid waters of the surrounding lakes.
VILNIUS OLD TOWN – boasts outstanding architectural diversity in one of the largest and best-preserved old towns in all of Central and Eastern Europe. This UNESCO World Heritage site is filled with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces. Cosy streets, nice people.
FOOD, DRINK, NIGTLIFE. Satisfy your appetite. Eating out in Lithuania is certainly a rewarding experience. There are options for every taste and occasion, from typical Lithuanian cuisine to exotic ethnic restaurants. Lithuanian beer is renowned for its distinctive full-bodied flavour and is to be found nearly everywhere. Vilnius features a dynamic and vibrant nightlife which is definitely not to be missed.
SPA TOWNS. Revitalise your body and soul. Famous for its mineral springs, the spa towns of Druskininkai and Birštonas have attracted those seeking to improve their health for centuries. Nestled in a beautiful pine forest along the Nemunas River, the town of Druskininkai is famous not just for its mineral waters and local healing muds, but also its picturesque surroundings, ideal for walking and cycling.
A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES. Lithuania is very good base for canoeing, flying hot air balloons, parachute jumping, riding a horse, riding off-road jeep, And there are many more activities you can do for a small price.
RIDING DIRECTIONS FOR HARD AND SOFT ENDURO
EASTERN LITHUANIA
Military ground near the biggest Lithuanian forest (PABRADE). This long and interesting track leads you to the region that has many lakes. We will pass a lot of reserves and regional parks. Here many beautiful places wait for us, such as: lakes, forest roads, ground sands, fords. Stay overnight near the longest lake of Lithuania, where we will go over the lake by boat. Length of the tour is about 280 km. This could be for 2 days tour.
WESTERN LITHUANIA
Military ground with sandy oasis (RUKLA). It is a good start to learn hard enduro driving skills with a short lessons, small race in Rukla military training ground. A lot off desert sand and beautiful scenery. The track passes near the river in interesting landscape. Length of the tour is about 160 km. This is for 1 day tour.
SOUTH LITHUANIA
Military ground RUDNINKAI. Overnight in ancient Lithuanian village ZERVYNOS. Fast and interesting ride through the forest areas to an ancient Lithuanian village called: „Zervynos“. Stay overnight and have a tradicional regional smoke sauna. In the morning we go canoeing in the Ula river (2-3 hours), where you will experience the beautiful and unspoilt nature of the biggest Lithuanian national park. Length of the tour is about 300 km. This is for 2 days tour.
The track is depending on the type of motorcycle you drive and the driving experience you have. Instructor always is teaching to drive on off-road.
FOOD IN LITHUANIA
CEPELINAI (main dish)
Cepelinai are potatoes’ dumplings with meat inside. They are usually served with special sauce “spirgučiai” (fried fat pork meat with onions), and sour cream. We love this dish! It is good!
ŠALTIBARŠČIAI (pink cold soup)
Yes, it is pink. It is a cold beetroot’s soup – made with beetroots, kefir (sour milk) and cucumbers. It is then garnished with green onions, dills and hard boiled eggs. And it always comes with a side of boiled potatoes with dill. So good!
HOME MADE BLACK BREAD
Dark bread is very popular in Lithuania, because it has real traditional flavour. Rye-bread has an original sour flavour and is very different from wheat bread. In Lithuania we eat rye-bread every day. We like it with soups; we make sandwiches of rye-bread and sausage etc.
ŠAKOTIS (tree cake)
Šakotis (pronounced Shakotis or Bankuchenas) is a traditional cake made in Lithuania. This is one typical Lithuanian desert. Taste like a cookie, vanilla or cannel. Normally it looks like a tall tower and is empty inside. It is funny to eat because everybody takes a piece breaking the pie.
ALUS (beer) and KEPTA DUONA (fried bread)
Ask any Lithuanian which beer is the best and they will most likely tell you “LITHUANIAN BEER of course”. There are many kind of beer: light, dark, live, wheat. You can try all of them and find your taste. “Kepta Duona”, Lithuania’s favourite bread snack with beer. Strips of bread are seasoned with garlic and spices, toasted and cooked in sunflower oil, and then served under a pile of melted cheese.
SMOKED FISH
An exclusive dish in Lithuania is smoked fish: carp, eel, bream, mackerel, pike-perch, herring and catfish. Fish is smoked according to special traditions passed on from generation to generation. Just wait and find out yourself – it’s more than delicious!
KIBINAI (Pastry with meet and onions)
It is a Karaitian dish. They are people of Turkish origin, who have lived in Lithuania for over 600 years. The Great Duke of Lithuania Vytautas brought several hundreds of Karaites at the end of the 14th century. They managed to save their traditional cuisine till our days.
10 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT LITHUANIA
- In 14th century Lithuania was the biggest country in Europe: it included the present territories of Belarus and Ukraine, part of Poland and part of Russia.
- The Geographical Centre of Europe is 26 km to the North of Vilnius as it was found by The National Institute of Geography in France.
- Lithuania organized a unique protest in 1989 August 23. Residents of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia formed 600 km long row of people holding hands! This event showed to the world that Baltic States want to be independent.
- Lithuania is the only country in the world which has national perfume. “The Scent of Lithuania” is perfume for home. It holds the entire history of our nation…
- Lithuanian language is the oldest living language of the Indo-European family.
- Lithuania is the oldest and the largest Baltic State.
- Lithuanians are the first in the world who invented a way to make vodka from corn.
- Lithuania is the 1st in the world by the number of hot air balloons per resident. And Vilnius is one of a few European capitals where you can fly with hot air balloons.
- Lithuania owns the world record of blondes. 1016 blond girls participated in the opening of a night club in Lithuania.
- Lithuania is one of the several countries in the world where the most popular sport is Basketball.
HISTORY OF LITHUANIA
The territory of the present Lithuania has been inhabited since the tenth millennium BC, after the last glaciers retreated and human settlements were founded. The territory wasn’t occupied by the Roman Empire, but the tribes did maintain a trade contact with Rome on the famous Amber Road. The history of Lithuania begins in the 11th century when the Lithuanians formed an early statehood, which later developed into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
In the 14th century the country entered a union with Poland, which lasted until the very end of the 18th century. The union was one of the strongest states in Europe, but the ruling Jagiellon dynasty was losing control over the more and more determined nobles. Poland had a very strong influence on Lithuania in these centuries, and the two countries grew very close. After the death of the last Jagiellon kin gin 1569, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth became an elective monarchy, a quasi-democratised state in the era of the absolute monarchies all around Europe.
The once powerful state gradually lost competitiveness against the stronger neighbours in the 17th and 18th century, and was partitioned by Prussia and Russia. The idea of Lithuanian independence was kept alive through the 19th century.
Poland regained it’s independence after the First World War, but had to fight for freedom against Russia and Poland. After only four years of democratic governments an authoritarian regime took control of the country in a military coup. In the years of the Second World War Lithuania became a battlefield of the German and Soviet forces, until the victory of the latter. After the Second World War Lithuania became a part of the Soviet Union, under communist regime.
Lithuania became independent from the collapsing USSR in 1991, the Soviet Troops left the country in 1994. The democratic government denationalized the state property, liberated the market and successfully reoriented the country to the Western states. Lithuania has been a member of the European Union and the NATO since 2004.
SOME LITHUANIAN WORDS FOR YOUR TONGUE
Labas [la‘bas] – Hello
Kaip sekasi ? [kaip‘ se‘kasi] – How is it going?
Gerai [gerai‘] – Good/OK
Blogai [blogai‘] – Bad
Nežinau [nezhinau‘] – I don‘t know
Ačiū [a‘chiu‘] – Thank you
Prašau [prashau‘] – You are welcome/please
Atsiprašau [atsiprashau‘] – excuse me
Taip [taip‘] – Yes
Ne [ne‘] – No
Nekalbu lietuviškai [ne‘kalbu lietu‘vishkai] – I don‘t speak Lithuanian
Koks tavo vardas? [kox‘ ta‘vo var‘das] – What‘s your name?
Aš esu pavargęs [ash‘ esu‘ pavarges‘] – I‘m tired
Kiek kainuoja? [kiek‘ kainuo‘ja] – How much is it?
Vienas [vie‘nas] – 1
Du [du‘] – 2
Trys [tri:s‘] – 3
Keturi [keturi‘] – 4
Penki [penki‘] – 5
Brangu [brangu‘] – Expensive
Pigu [pigu‘] – Cheap
Du alaus, prašau [du‘ alaus‘ prashau‘] –Two beers, please
Į sveikatą [i: sveika‘ta] – Cheers
Sąskaitą, prašau [sa:‘skaita: prashau‘] – The bill, please
Ate/iki [ate‘/iki‘] – Bye
Viso gero [vi‘so ge‘ro] – Good bye
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